Outgoing Captain Brian Fulton welcomed a healthy attendance of 75 members to the Largs Golf Club’s 121st annual meeting. In opening his remarks he paid tribute to members who had died during the year and all present observed a minute of silence in their memory.

He went on to describe a year of radical change. In recognising a UK wide drift away from golf club memberships a number of sub committees had been set up to place the club on a solid business footing. Coupled with that, best practice from elsewhere had been examined. In particular, a group of members travelled to visit the management board of Lymm Golf Club in Cheshire. Lymm had been voted the “best managed club in England” for the past two years. Many useful pointers were gained from that visit and were being introduced to Largs.

The captain also recorded his thanks to all staff and voluntary helpers. There was special mention of the Sports Turf Research Unit Annual Report which placed Largs Kelburn at the very peak of condition for West of Scotland parkland courses. This was due to the efforts of Head Greenkeeper Iain Barr and his highly motivated team.

Congratulations were offered to the main prize winners during the year - Club Champion Iain Macdonald, Ladies Champion Jenny Linklater, Ben Gunn Memorial Trophy winner, Andy Smith, Ladies Bronze Bucket winner, Jan Dow, and Junior Champion Hamish Mills.

In addition, the captain congratulated the club’s senior league team who retained their league title- the first time that had been achieved.

Reports and discussions on the club’s finances and business objectives followed and there was a willing consensus as to direction. This included a recognition that the club needs to be more outward looking and that the clubhouse should offer a wider welcome to both golf and social visitors.

Next came the election of office bearers for 2013-2014. Lord Glasgow was re-elected Honorary President by acclamation.

Vice captain David Macdonald was proposed as captain and this was enthusiastically accepted. In handing over the captain’s badge to his successor, Brian Fulton thanked David for his support during the year and wished him well for his captaincy.

David Macdonald stated it was indeed an honour to be club captain. He pledged to carry on the good work of his predecessor and to meet the present day challenges facing golf clubs, supported by an active and capable committee. He asked the meeting to endorse his proposal of Doreen Reid as his vice captain and that was accorded by acclamation. He further proposed that Mrs M. Love continue as auditor, again carried unopposed.

There were three main formal motions for the meeting; a) That Junior members could sign in junior members of other clubs; b) that the road distance limit for country membership be reduced to 25 miles, and c) that a new category of membership, known as lifestyle, be introduced to attract less frequent players at an affordable level of subscription. These motions were debated and passed, as were the budget proposals for the incoming year.

Captain Macdonald closed the meeting at 9pm.