Use of Covid-19 grant is defended

A PAST captain and president of Omagh Golf Club has defended the local club’s use of a Covid-19 sustainability grant worth over £50,000, amid mounting criticism of Stormont’s delivery of a hardship scheme for sporting organisations.

Brian Mellon spoke out after auditors found that some clubs, such as Royal County Down Golf Club, which was in receipt of £1.5 million of public money, had pre-pandemic profits underwritten by the Sports Sustainability Fund (SSF).

According to a BBC report, the Audit Office said this was ‘not an appropriate use of public spending’.

But Mr Mellon pointed out that there is a huge difference between larger clubs like Royal County Down, which hosted the 2015 Irish Open, and Omagh, which, he said, operates on a “shoestring.”

Under the scheme, which opened in December 2020 to help local sport emerge from Covid-19, a total of 25 clubs across the North shared in an allocation of £4.2m.

Royal County Down received the largest grant of £1.5m, dwarfing Omagh’s allocation of £56,660.
Another local club, Newtownstewart, received £5,651.

Amid the ongoing controversy, the UH was contacted by a member of Omagh Golf Club who said they were “embarrassed” that it was awarded such a significant sum of over £50,000. “I can’t understand why they needed so much money,” the person, who did not wish to be named, remarked.

“It’s different for other sporting organisations who rely on gate receipts etc and were in genuine hardship.

“But Omagh Golf Club still received normal fees during the lockdown as members didn’t get any refunds; in fact, the club has been boosted by scores of new members since restrictions eased.

“I just think there are so many other local businesses and organisations in genuine hardship. I feel uncomfortable and embarrassed that the golf club received so much when I don’t feel they actually needed it.”

However, Mr Mellon said that, unlike clubs such as Royal County Down, Omagh had been in great need of the sustainability grant when the application form was received.

He said, “We were closed at the time and we had no income coming in from green fees or takings from the bar, only what we received from membership fees. But we still had to maintain the grounds, even though there was nobody playing the course.

“So, the money was used to cover our overheads. In terms of Omagh, it was very much-needed at the time.

“I couldn’t understand how a club like Royal County Down got £1.5m, when it has huge reserves in the bank. We live on a shoestring in Omagh. I find it incredible that they were awarded so much, but the auditor is looking into it and there is going to be repercussions. At the time, I thought it was very unfair. Those clubs never needed the money.”

Since reopening, Mr Mellon said there had been an increasing number of people looking to become a member of the club, but added that he was unsure if there would be a long-term gain. “I think that a lot of people wanted to join as they were very frustrated by the isolation of the lockdown and just wanted to get out. Whether they remain as members in the long-term is a different matter,” he said.