Many of the Netherlands 153 golf clubs are experiencing financial difficulties because of the economic downturn, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Monday.

The paper bases its claims on research by Horwath accountancy group on behalf of the golf sector association NVG.
Four years ago, clubs made a profit of between 4% and 18% of their turnover, but this has now turned into a 3% loss. Many clubs are now trying to increase membership fees to boost their income, the paper says.
And while the number of players went up by 30,000 to 360,000 last year, they play fewer rounds and spend less money in the club bar, the paper said.
But Egbert Mulder of the country’s biggest golf group GMG said his firm had enjoyed an excellent year. ‘Our turnover was up 6% at €21m and I expect similar growth this year,’ he told the paper.
Some 60% of golf clubs in the Netherlands are run by a foundation or trust. The rest are owned by private companies.