Queen forced to open up Balmoral golf course to public for £50-a-head after loss of income due to crash in North Sea oil
The monarch's private estate is open to corporate customers for £2,000-a-day but has been bringing in less revenue with local businesses hit by downturn in oil industry
THE Queen is throwing open her private Balmoral golf course to the public at £50-a-head.
The monarch is feeling the pinch because of a downturn in the oil industry which has hit local businesses, it was revealed yesterday.
Her nine-hole course on the Aberdeenshire estate had been open to corporate customers at up to £2,000-a-day.
But a lack of company bookings has forced the estate to allow individuals to play a round - which is normally only open to members of staff, Royals and their guests.
It costs up to £3m a year to run the estate, which comes directly out of the Queen’s pocket.
Last year there were over 60,000 visitors on the 50,000 acre Royal retreat.
Yesterday Richard Gledson, the Estate’s Factor said: “We thought it wold be a nice idea to open it up to people.
“Two things [prompted this] - firstly we are not getting a many corporate days as we had in the past - because of the downturn in Aberdeen.
“Also we do get a lot of requests from members of the public who would like to come and play at Balmoral, and because we have some spare capacity, because we are not having the corporate days - so effectively they will come on the days that were corporate days, so as not to interfere with our membership.”
He said that previously they had 11 or 12 corporate bookings a year. Reportedly they brought in £25,000 annually for the Monarch - with clubhouse barbecues on sunny days.
Aberdeen has seen rising unemployment and cuts backs after oil peaked in 2014, however there are early signs of a resurgence in the local economy.
Applicants for the 26 days available are invited, with four possible times to tee-off during the day.
The estate website states: “We have a limited number of dates / tee times available this season andthe cost is £200 for up to four players per tee time.
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“This entitles you to: A 18 hole round of golf for a maximum of four players; Score cards; Use of the club cabin and parking facilities: Access to the grounds, gardens, exhibitions, gift shop and cafe included; and Admission tickets for non playing guests available at a special rate of £5.00 per person.”
However one person is unlikely to play on the course this summer, US President Donald Trump, who it was rumoured would like to make a visit to the Queen’s private estate.
Buckingham Palace rubbished the claim, pointing out that only one American President has ever been to Balmoral – Dwight Eisenhower, who made an informal visit in 1959.
