Giving clubs benefit of their experience
They’ve teed-up 200 years of golfing experience and now a Perth and Kinross quartet are determined to give something back to the game they love.
Dougie Cleeton, Steve MacDiarmid, Pete Craigon and Iain Simpson have created ‘Golf Insights’ to allow clubs large and small across Scotland an opportunity to tap into their wide-ranging skills base – for the price of a four ball.
They’ve already given feedback and reports to management at high profile clubs like Royal Dornoch, Panmure and North Berwick.
But, with a new season on the horizon, they are ready to take to the road and give a helping hand to courses ranging from local nine-holers to the finest Scotland has to offer.
Dougie, who enjoyed key club management roles with Turnhouse,
Blairgowrie and Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society, said: “The idea of Golf Insights was sparked by my 90 year-old dad when he suggested it was a shame that four pals with so much experience amassed in golf and business was being lost now that we had retired.
Kinross-based Pete tapped into an international market with Morton Golf Holidays for 16 years; one-time teacher Iain, from Bridge of Earn, was club managing secretary at Crieff Golf Club and Perth and Kinross County Golf Union secretary; and, now living in Glenfarg, Steve’s extensive business background includes a global management role with Sky, based in the Middle East.
The foursome, who have membership at Milnathort Golf Club in common – among other club loyalties – decided to offer something back to the sport.
Dougie, who now calls Abernethy home, continued: “Between us we have played most of the courses in Scotland but the common denominator is a lifelong passion for golf and we didn’t want all that experience to go to waste.
“We recognise that golf clubs need support and may benefit from a fresh perspective on the way they operate, whether they are one of the big boys welcoming visitors from around the world or being run by volunteers for the benefit of their local communities.
“We aren’t really looking to run this as a profit-making business. It is a hobby.
“We want to give golfers information on what to expect, and give golf clubs a barometer check on what they can realistically achieve. If our services are sought, we arrive early, play golf and eat in the clubhouse afterwards if there is catering.
“The feedback so far has been very positive. The bigger clubs have appreciated our detailed reports, which range from car parking to check-in and aspects of clubhouse service as well as the golf course.
“We all come at it from a different background in golf and that influences what we look for in our visits.
“I’d like to think our experience provides all manner of clubs with independent and helpful observations on their product, whatever level they are operating at.
“We already have a number of visits to different types of clubs lined up for this year.
“Some clubs might be struggling despite the potentially short-lived postCovid boom. Economic pressures on household budgets may start to bite.
“We may be able to offer them a few pointers which could prove beneficial – and we are also running informal reviews on our Golf Insights website, which might even include recommending the homemade cake to visitors!”
For further information, contact enquiries@golf-insights.co.uk.