AN appeal has gone out for more members to dip into their pockets to help save a golf club threatened with closure.

So far around 150 have pledged a total of £350,000 in a counter bid after it emerged the owners had sold Taunton Vale Golf Club, at Creech Heathfield, subject to contract to be turned back into farmland.

A number of individuals are putting up £10,000 each, while others are promising smaller amounts.

A business plan is being prepared to attract funding from financial institutions ahead of a members’ buyout offer matching the £1.8million price already agreed.

Chris Pratt, who fronts the bid, is underwriting the legal fees if the bid fails, in which case members will get their money back.

Otherwise, they will probably have to wait five years for the return of their investment, which could include interest.

Former club captain John Paterson has issued a rallying call to other members who have expressed an interest but who are “sitting on the fence awaiting the business plan”.

“It’s a chicken and egg situation,” said Mr Paterson.

“We can’t finalise the business plan without everyone committing to support the bid financially.

“The more money committed, the lower the loan we’d need, potentially reducing the interest rate and amount we have to repay.”

If successful, the club would initially look at raising more money by: *opening the clubhouse bar and restaurant for longer hours; *increasing bar prices, which are “unrealistically lower than pub prices”; *running more club functions; *greater promotion of the clubhouse for outside functions; *higher green fees, which would already give the club a 20% increase in income as they would no longer attract VAT; *implementing a nine-hole membership scheme.

A professional manager would be hired to “look after the members’ best interests in minimising costs and maximising profits”.

Long-term, improvements to the course and buildings could be funded by allowing some development, such as a sports and leisure centre, on excess land.

Mr Paterson said: “All this can be achieved, but only with the support of the members.”