clubs seek to ensure their survival in Ireland

The AGM in the Golfing Union of Ireland occurred the other day high were no major issues arising.

However, GUI honorary secretary Albert Lee admits how the quantity of Union-affiliated golfers is expected to fall in 2012.

Figures are known only at the end of each and every year when clubs submit their annual return of members, as well as the recent years a drop which is between 5pc and 6pc (7,000 approx) continues to be typical.

In 2004 the membership was 177,000 GUI golfers; since then approximately 30,000 have left, leaving the entire since October 31 last at 147,000.

GUI affiliation fees of €13 never have increased within the last three years, and will not surge in another three years, but a loss of profits of around 7,000 members Titleist 910 D2 Driver  annually means a decrease in income of about €90,000 per annum.

The Union has brought cost-cutting measures and is committed to continuing that down the road.

"Clubs are under pressure, there is not any doubt that," said Lee. "And nobody knows how a next several years will go.

"The bright spots are that because of the success of Rory (McIlroy), Graeme (McDowell), Darren (Clarke) and Padraig (Harrington), the profile of Irish golf is incredibly discount golf clubs high, and we've an excellent crop of young players coming up.

"Our junior golf programmes to have young people considering the sport are working very well and our coaching and development is paying dividends.

"A new feature could be the extent of movement of  Mizuno MP-69 Irons golfers between clubs. With entrance fees disappearing, especially in the cities, folks are changing clubs.

"Sometimes they're going back and rejoin normally the one they left after a year or two.