MEMBERSHIP at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club is falling at “an alarming rate” and over 240 junior or student members, between the ages of 23 and 33, have left the club over the past five years, management at the facility have confirmed.
They said the drop off is mainly attributable to a €1,000 levy for the Killeen course and increased fees when students or juniors move up to the full subscription rate.
“A student member who has just finished college sees their subscription go from €279 this year to €1,830 next year under the current structure. This has to change if the membership is to thrive in years to come,” a statement issued to members pointed out.
The joint statement, issued by the management council as well as the ladies and the men’s committees, is a briefing document in advance of a special general meeting to be held this week, as reported by KillarneyToday at the weekend.
The club points out that in the past nine years, annual income derived from membership has dropped by €600,000 since its peak in 2008. In the past two years alone it has fallen by €270,000 or 22 per cent.
Age profile is another major issue facing the club is that 27 per cent of members are over 60 years of age with 40 per cent over 50.
A proposal to be put to members at the special general meeting is aimed at generating a minimum of €300,000 more over the next five years by restructuring the membership subscriptions in some categories.
The club wants to retain its junior membership to help promote stability for generations to come. As it currently stands, members over the age of 66 are entitled to a 50 per cent discount on their annual subscription and the proposal is to reduce the discount to approximately 25 per cent.
The club – considered one of the finest in the country – has invested over €150,000 on new machinery, course developments and clubhouse improvements over the past 12 months.
Despite the serious issues facing the club, the management council has reported two solid years of trading with green fees income increasing.
