Growing membership numbers at sporting business Close House Golf is helping it drive through the pandemic, having taken a hit during the first national lockdown.
The Heddon-on-the-Wall venture, launched and owned by Sage co-founder Graham Wylie, had started 2020 on a high with a boom in bookings into the summer season.
However, all play was postponed from the end of March when England entered the first lockdown, leading to a fall in turnover from 拢3.89m to 拢3.17m, and Ebitda dropping from 拢304,222 to 拢97,667. The firm鈥檚 operating loss widened from 拢12,043 to 拢164,949.
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Despite the lockdown, the company, which has 101 employees, maintained staffing levels and tapped into Government support in the form of 拢221,469 from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Once Close House was able to reopen, it saw a surge in players keen to visit, to play and to dine at its Number 19 club house, which led to August and September last year being its busiest months in its history, thanks to the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.
It also hosted the British Masters once again on the European Tour in July, which owner Mr Wylie said had once again helped increase its national and international exposure of the club.
Looking ahead, Mr Wylie highlighted in his report how the club鈥檚 future is looking healthy on the back of growing membership numbers.
In the report he said: 鈥淭he beginning of the year was very strong, and we had outstanding business on the books for our summer season. Unfortunately these bookings were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
鈥淭he end of March 2020 saw the 海角视频 go into lockdown in response to the Covid-19 global pandemic. This created significant challenges for the staff, however by adapting to the changed circumstances and utilising valuable government support, the company managed its way through a difficult period when facilities were closed and revenue severely impacted.
鈥淭he quality of the staff are essential to the future successful business. Once play was permitted to resume at the club interest in golf was very strong and we enjoyed a huge uplift in member play and new member enquiries.
鈥淒uring the year the club also agreed a multi-year agreement with its attached professional Lee Westwood who continues to compete at the top of the world game.
鈥淭he company has seen an increase in membership numbers during this period which will bode well for trading in the year to 30 September 2021.鈥
The accounts added how directors intend to continue to invest in the business to enable further development and growth of the company.
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