Cash cuts council splashes out on deal for top golfer
A CASH-STRAPPED council was criticised yesterday after recruiting a golf star “ambassador” in a £50,000 deal.
Catriona Matthew, the first Scot to win the Women’s Open, will wear a Carnoustie Country logo in the two-year contract with Angus Council.
It comes as the council’s sports centres are running at a £2.5million deficit, while front-line services were facing cuts.
Ms Matthew will also give four service days hosting corporate events, playing, and tuition and speaking engagements as well as promoting the area during the Women’s British Open championship, at Carnoustie, in July.
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The deal comes on top of £21,100 sponsorship package also agreed by Angus Council towards the championship.
Councillors approved the move this week after arguing it would bring worldwide advertising for the golfing town.
But Eben Wilson of TaxPayer Scotland said: “General awareness sponsorship deals compete unfairly against other claims on taxpayers’ money. Angus Council badly needs to re-think its priorities.
“Promoting tourism already involves VisitScotland, tourism operators, local groups and Chambers of Commerce.”
Hiring a top female golf professional as a brand ambassador triggered angry debate among councillors. Six supported two amended motions by education convener Peter Nield, who argued that £50,000 could be better spent.
He said: “There is no way on earth I can support the payment of £50,000 to a professional golfer who lives a lifestyle that the vast majority of people in Angus could only dream of.
“How can I explain to my constituents that they can’t have their paths done or their roads repaired because we spent the money on a golfer?”
Matthew, 41, was dropped by main sponsors VisitScotland and financial services firm Aegon just weeks after winning the Women’s Open, in 2009.
Councillor David May, Angus Council’s economic development spokesman, defended the sponsorship deal saying: “This is an innovative way to help the economy of Angus. It is a strategy to sustain jobs in tourism and in other areas of business.”