Pro Dismissed by Slinfold Park

PGA professional George Mackay has had his contract at Slinfold Park Golf and Country Club terminated following a change of management company.

Mackay, 51, had a commercial contract to provide Golf Professional Services at both Slinfold Park and Rookwood Golf Club, a public pay-and-play facility operated by Horsham Council.

Rookwood secretary Stephen Blake said: "Ensign Leisure Limited purchased Slinfold Park from James Longley Ltd in July 1998 and the takeover included the transfer of the management contract at Rookwood. Mr Mackay reapplied for the Slinfold contract which was due to expire but was unsuccessful. He re-deployed himself at Rookwood from February of this year before his contract terminated."

Mackay, who has contacted the PGA lawyers over his dismissal following support from the captain, president and members at Slinfold, said: "They are interested in making money not in the game of golf. I want to be part of a club and part of the game but if I have to get a job outside of the game then so be it."

But Blake stressed that the dismissal had been above board and would not effect the running of the Rookwood Golf Club: "GM Golf (the name of Mackay's company) was one element of a multi-discipline management team," he said. "The success of this facility will be unaffected by the termination of his commercial subcontract."