03. Numbers

We were determined to overcome the perennial problem of folk not knowing when a putting green would be open. For clarity we decided to publish that we would be open five days a week ... Thursday to Monday ... and between 1pm and 6pm.

You cannot putt in the rain so we provided a weather check on 07423 412 428. Our excellent Duty Manager agreed to substitute a dry Tuesday or Wednesday for a wet normally open day. As a consequence we were virtually open each day when it was not wet.

Next year we might alter the opening time slightly ... some workmen wanted to play in their lunchtime, and the Seafront gets quiet from about 5pm. 

We were always keen on putting in the early evening. Next year are contemplating promoting early evening putting on a few nights per week at the height of the season.

As a community asset we wanted encourage locals to keep coming back. For this reason we wanted cheap prices. This is possible because as a Community Interest Company we do not need to maximise a profit for shareholders / owners. People appreciated this. A grandparent and a grandchild can putt for £3, and a family for just £5. At the close of the season we offered £1 to putt over the Gold Cup Weekend. This stimulated demand and was regarded as a nice gesture.   

Over 1000 people putted ...  good mixture of young and old, fit and not so fit. People of all ages genuinely had fun teasing and joking with each other throughout their round. But it is not just the numbers which matter.

• grandparents putted and interacted with grandchildren ... our first volunteer Mike putted on several occasions with his 3 year old grandchild;

• a woman who walked with the aid of stick was able to substitute a putter;

• somebody putted from a wheelchair;

• an almost 80 year old golfer who recently had a triple heart bypass and a new valve, putted for the first time for 3 years;

• a chap from Prestwick in his mid 80s passed by to wish us luck ... he had worked in the kiosk back in the early 1940s ... he was so glad to see that the putting had returned and congratulated us all for our effort.