Royal Dornoch Winter Newsletter 2024

Our Capital Projects, the greenkeepers shed and
moving the bowling club from our audited
financial statements they appear to have all been
materially over-budget. We wasted a great deal of
money of practice facilities and a computer system
that didn’t work it had to be scrapped. We still
don’t have a computer system.
And most recently a window was broken on the
front of the clubhouse on the evening of August
4th. It was boarded up at the peak of the tourist
season for 35 days.
I will be shocked if this project comes in on
budget, but if it is £18 million, that is £3 million
more in fees and interest that we can’t afford. That
is why I think it is irresponsible.
Let me share what we can do. A new Struie and
new practice facilities and even yes, an oversized
clubhouse debt free with an intelligent and
coordinated process.
First, let’s build the Struie. The new McGillivray
land truly extraordinary - I shared that with you
David. We can even have a senior and kids 9 hole
practice area on some of the Struie holes.
But here what is critical. It will solve our tee time
crisis and it will be profitable immediately. We
have modest incremental costs. The revenue for
playing the Struie will increase dramatically.
Recall Neil and I on the Coul Links process said
over 10,000 golfers come here ever year. They get
in their bus and turn round and leave.
The Struie is as good as Golspie and will get them
to stay and everything changes for the better. It will
ensure the prosperity of this club and of the Town
for the next 100 years – debt free, and I am certain
that is what John Sutherland would do today.
With an interview of 5 or 6 of the best architects
that should compete for the business Tom
Mackenzie should not waltz in like they appear to
have done.
I believe we can get this design complete by next
summer and begin at a cost of £3 - £4 million.
After we have launched the Struie plan we can
launch the new clubhouse. We can do this and we
should do this.
This is the wrong time to borrow a ton of money
on a project that most of us are at the best
ambivalent about.
We have important challenges we need to address
here at Royal Dornoch. The most important of
which is tee times. They generate revenue.
So. let’s develop a comprehensive plan starting
with the Struie and then the clubhouse lets avoid
financially strangling the club with debt.
Let’s hold our management team responsible for
solving our major challenges first with potentially
creating more.
Together we can build a better debt free future for
everyone.
Christine Callingham spoke briefly and was
interrupted by the Captain wishing her not to keep
replying to other members opinions. She said that
we have professional people involved including
yourself (the Captain) and he (Todd Warnock) told
us they were not competent.
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