A North West of England-based management buying group has been established with ground-breaking plans to revolutionise the way the region’s golf clubs operate and to save them thousands of pounds in the process. Thanks to the newly formed Golf Management Group (UK) Ltd, individual clubs can now join an ‘alliance’ to help ease the pressure on their annual operating costs.
Previously golf clubs have operated independently, now more than 600 clubs in the North Region are expected to take advantage of the vast resources that the collective buying power produces.
Scott Partington, creator of Golf Management Group, explained: “This business was really born out of frustration. I knew hotel chains and multi-national golf courses were getting a far greater deal than a standalone club and I obviously didn’t like that scenario and decided to address the balance.”
The Cheadle-based company has a simple but effective philosophy. “An individual club is no longer just negotiating for their spend of £2,000 a year on sand, for example. They would become part of a staggering £1.2 million spend. That’s the difference, that’s where they will benefit,” says Partington. “Substantial savings are available from office stationery to the world’s first hybrid greens mower by Ransomes Jacobsen.”
The savings are spread across nearly 50 different categories. Many blue chip companies – for instance Thwaites Brewery, ADT security, 3663 First for Foodservice, Office Depot and Burrows Grass Machinery – have thrown their weight behind the management group.
The former club professional added: “By utilising this phenomenal collective spend we have secured preferential terms with leading suppliers across almost every category of expenditure. As a result, your payments will be significantly reduced.”
It will provide a welcome respite for clubs across the region as they battle to reduce their cost whilst still delivering an excellent service to its members.
Industry stalwart Phil Aitken and PGA pro David Valentine have since joined the GMG stable and Aitken said: “I am delighted to be joining a company that is dedicated to reducing clubs annual spend, from a single scorecard to the latest in machine technology. We really can make a huge difference.
“We realise lots of committees are made up of volunteers doing a fantastic job, which mostly goes unnoticed. We’ll work in tandem with these committees and club officials. We certainly don’t dictate where they spend their money, however having GMG as a partner offers reassurance they are getting the best deal available.”
One of the first clubs to benefit was Flixton Golf Club, in Manchester. John Dowd, the Manchester and District Alliance president, said: “At first we wondered how a relatively small club like Flixton could benefit, after meeting with the GMG team we were astounded to learn of the cost savings we have managed to make, especially in these uncertain times it has been a breath of fresh air.”
Clubs are charged a fee of £299 per annum (£5.75 per week). Partington adds: “It really is a no-brainer. We are so confident that we guarantee that if we do not demonstrate a saving of at least double a club’s annual subscription fee, we will provide them with a full refund.”