Clogher Valley loses handicap rights
9th January, 2012 by Jenny Yu
A Northern Irish golf club has had to end its affiliation with the Golf Union of Ireland (GUI) due to a dispute with its owner over a lease.
A spokesman for 11-year-old nine-hole Clogher Valley Golf Club in County Tyrone said: “Irreconcilable differences between ourselves and the owner in relation to renewing the lease have been impossible to overcome.”
As a result, the club has been unable to field the required number of officers, including a captain, secretary / treasurer and handicap committee elected by the members, to keep the club affiliated to the GUI, meaning it can no longer offer its members a relevant handicap.
“All members who have a GUI handicap have been issued with handicap certificates and they can join another GUI club with these handicaps which remain valid for six months for men; ladies’ certificates are valid for 12 months,” said the spokesman.
“Although the affiliated golf club is ending, the bar, restaurant and bed and breakfast are still open for business, and the course remains open to green fee players.”
The club’s website now just features a statement saying: “The GUI have confirmed that they would have reconsidered our affiliation if they had known that the owner was putting stipulations on the council rather than letting the council run the club as they see fit.”
Its Facebook page’s last update, on January 4, states: “And it’s goodbye from us…”