Missing donation sparks row between golf group and South Ayrshire Council

Apr 16 2010 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THE group who run junior golf in South Ayrshire claim they face closure.

And they’ve accused South Ayrshire Council of withholding money and trying to drive the club into the ground.

South Ayrshire Junior Golf (SAJG) insists extinction is on the cards after a massive row with the council.

All committee members on the golf group have quit in disgust and say the final curtain will come down next month.

They claim the council, who sent officials on a golf trip to Dubai last year, have failed to use donations they received in the Middle East for junior golf.

A junior golf source claimed: “They tried to justify their trip to Dubai by saying junior golf in South Ayrshire would benefit from a huge donation.

“Sure enough, they came back with a cheque for £7500, but it’s almost a year on and none of it has been spent.”

SAJG were eventually given the cheque last September, but decided to hand it back to the council so they could equally divide the money around the clubs.

But they say the money has never been seen again and claim the council has pocketed the donation that was intended for kids’ golf.

The source added: “The council has no interest in junior golf and have made that clear to us with their actions.

“It’s handy to them for the odd headline and picture opportunity, but other than that it’s just a hassle they can’t be bothered with.

“All we wanted to do was work in partnership with them for the benefit of junior golf in the area.

“Instead they’ve refused to put in any effort and have shown no desire to develop the game for kids, which they keep claiming they want to do.”

A series of tense exchanges between the SAJG committee and council chiefs has taken place since September, with the Dubai donation seemingly lost in space.

But the council’s head of community development, Roddy Macdonald, has repeatedly insisted the money would be spent as intended.

In one email to the committee, he stated: “I am pleased to confirm that the donation received will be used solely for junior golf activities.

“Discussions with colleagues are underway to ensure that the maximum benefits are achieved.”

That was in January. And with no sign of movement from the council, a mass walk out has taken place on the SAJG committee.

But Mr Macdonald insists the cash, donated by Leisurecorp, will be spent.

He told the Post: “South Ayrshire Council is fully committed to junior golf.

“A strategic golf group has been formed comprising local authority and external members.

“The group is particularly keen to see junior golf flourish.

“The development of junior golf is being funded by the council as well as the £7,500 donated by Leisurecorp.”