AN age-old problem is at the forefront of one of Heworth Golf Club’s biggest obstacles, writes Tony Kelly.

In Thursday’s edition, The Press examined a far-reaching development plan launched by the club in a bid to increase membership and revenue during the bleakest of economic messes for several decades.

Club secretary Joe Baxter said the club had to alter its image if it was to prosper beyond its centenary celebrations planed for 2011.

“We have to get more youngsters in as not enough are coming to Heworth to play,” said Baxter.

He was only too aware how a major percentage of membership at the Muncastergate-based club comprised the older generation.

And it did not take a degree in applied mathematics or economics to work out how just a couple of resignations or deaths could gravely impact on club revenue.

Hence the need to keep existing members from straying to other clubs and to generate a new influx of players.

The club’s action plan, drawn up after consultation with the club’s landlords, City of York Council, and with the English Golf Union, has pinpointed an increase in membership of around 17 for each of the next three years covered by the plan.

So that means, added Baxter, going out to local schools and the wider community to try to recruit a new Heworth generation with taster days, and events in the school holidays as well as striving to attain cherished EGU Golfmark status.

“We have to get rid of the image that golf clubs are stuffy places,” said the secretary of Heworth GC for the last three years.

“We are York’s city golf club and we need to foster as many links as we can with the local community.”