A PENSIONER is teed off at a "heavy-handed" letter from a golf club banning him over a levy row.

Terry Bilboe, aged 79, says he has been banned from The Kidderminster Golf Club despite being a member for 47 years.

The ban came after he refused to pay a £100 levy imposed on members and claims the club has now threatened him with a small claims court.

The club says the members unanimously voted in favour of the levy at a meeting.

Mr Bilboe, of Parkland Avenue, Kidderminster, says he decided not to pay the levy as he will not be renewing his membership, which runs out on April 1 this year.

Mr Bilboe said: "I decided not to pay it because I wasn't going to rejoin next year.

"It's just not value for money anymore. I'm paying £1000 a year".

"The letter states that they will seek redress via the small claims court and point out that it will adversely affect the banned members’ credit record.

"It is a bizarre situation whereby the club are charging members for not being a member [due to the ban].

"In addition, the club say they will retain the banned members' handicap certificate so that they will not be able to play competitive golf should they join another club.

Mr Bilboe says he believes many other members in the same situation - but the club has not confirmed if this is the case.

Mr Bilboe said he felt intimidated and said it was “no way” to treat long-standing members.

He added: "I just think it's disrespectful and very heavy-handed to say the least.

"It's not the sort of approach you'd expect".

A spokesperson for The Kidderminster Golf Club said: "The Kidderminster Golf Club is a member-owned golf club, run by a committee of members who are elected by the membership.

"We have club rules that are in place and the committee action those rules, the levy was taken to the membership last year and was voted on, this was unanimously voted in by the members of the club and the overwhelming majority of those members paid the levy. For those that decided they are not paying the levy payment, they are in breach of the club rules and the committee took action, on behalf of the members that have supported their club.

"It would not be fair on the majority of the members who have paid if the committee did not action club rules, in fact it would be an insult to those members that have paid into a club that they own if no action was taken".