TWENTY SEVEN of the 44 clubs in the Durham County Golf Union have suffered a loss in membership numbers over the last 12 months, but collectively they insist North-East golf is far from struggling.

Figures released in the Unionfs annual report, claim there has been a cumulative 387 members who have turned their backs on paying membership subscriptions.

The negative numbers is not a reflection on golf in the region as a whole, with certain clubs reporting promising increases which has ensured there are still 22,636 members around the region.

It is widely accepted that the growing trend for pay-as-youplay golf and societies has contributed hugely to the drop, although there is also a belief that there are encouraging signs of improvement from set-backs suffered in recent years.

And the evidence suggests that Blackwell Grange, in particular, have benefited greatly from tremendous work behind the scenes, given how their playing male member tally has gone up by 44 to 596 from 2006 to 2007.

gI would not get overexcited about the rise because what I would say that the level we are at now suggests we are stable,h said the recently appointed captain of the Darlington-based club, Brian Hennessy. gWe had a real set-back about two years ago, like many others did, and what we have done has got it back to normal.

gThe recovery is down, largely, to the huge team effort from the committee and open days we have held. Itfs good to be able to see the work of ourselves reflected in this way. We just hope it continues.h Blackwellfs rise is only bettered by that of The Ramside, who has seen male membership levels increase by 186 in the last 12 months, something which has been largely unheard of at clubs around the country.

gThe rise in people just rolling up to courses and playing is obviously having an impact on golf but we are finding that we are still attracting members,h said Hennessy, 73, who also insisted that the upturn could not be down to tinkering with green fees, which have remained relatively the same.

But for every club that did enjoy a rise in fortunes on the members front there is another, and more, to have suffered.

According to the report, Seaton Carew were the worst hit, with a loss of 117 male members, but clubs claim such figures are not a true reflection due to fluctuating memberships throughout the year.

Seaton Carew was recently listed among the top 75 classic links courses of Great Britain & Ireland and, like so many other clubs, there was a lengthy waiting list not too many years ago.

gThe figures have not been reconciled,h said captain Steve Smith. gIt is true that all golf clubs are faced with issues, such as the pay-as-you-play courses, and that you no longer have to be a member of a club to get a handicap from the English Golf Union.

gGolf is a much more expensive past-time, there is further expenditure for the green staff and costs are much higher in general now. But golf at our club and others is far from in decline.h Seaton Carew has recently invested heavily in its winter greens and yesterday the course was open when many across the region were closed due to the heavy downpours.

And there is a feeling that the financial outlay on the course will benefit the club in the long run.

gMembership numbers have dropped, although I would say that our drop is around half of the 117 that has been recorded,h said Smith, who has been a member at the Hartlepool course since 1989.

gBut the fact that more people are playing when they want, where they want, can also help us. Take today Monday for example.

More than 30 clubs are likely to be closed because of the weather but because we have exceptional winter greens we are able to stay open.

gWe also have a growing juniors section, which is now 90- strong and not so long ago it was a quarter of that. It is factors like that which we are positive about.

Golf remains strong.h Peter Durno (Chester-le- Street) has been elected for a second year as president of the DCGU.

Harry Willis (Ryton) is president elect for 2008, while Les Inskip (Beamish Park) remains treasurer. Derek Olley (Billingham) and Norman Brown (Durham City) were elected vice presidents for this year.

It was also confirmed that John Kirk (Billingham) and Alan Walton (Durham City) will join the executive committee for four years, with Ron Baines-Bennett (Boldon) and Peter Dewar (Wearside) newly elected on to the executive.