Municipal courses in Sussex are not feeling the draught of the recession blowing through a number of private clubs.

The extended summer has meant an increase in green fees on most local authority-run courses.

But there are tales of woe from members' and proprietory clubs.

One long-established club in the eastern part of the county is over £10,000 in the red .

Another has even greater debts but manages to stay in business through the deep pockets of the owner. Being closed for weeks on end in last year's wet winter and early Spring is having a knock-on effect.

No club in the private sector was willing to reveal just how hard the downturn is biting and there are a substantial number of the 55 or so in Sussex who have exercised a little belt tightening without any apparent discomfort.

One of the big successes is at Hollingbury Park. Last year was one of the worst in living memory for the Brighton public course due to the incessant rain that swamped courses a year ago. Now, with players still wearing short sleeves in November, there has been a massive increase in business.

Graeme Crompton, the head professional, said: "Obviously the good weather has helped but there are more people playing both here and at Waterhall. The upturn in green fees has been massive here at Hollingbury and we have no complaints."

At Rookwood there is an anticipated five per cent increase on last year's sales, according to Chris Dier, director of Horsham council's leisure services. The popularity of the course adjoining the A24 has been a source of great satisfaction to the local council since opening four years ago.

Hill Barn, usually a sure fire money-spinner, suffered this summer with problems on the greens resulting in a substantial loss of custom. Hywel Griffiths, Worthing's leisure services director, said: "The trouble was caused by last year's very wet winter followed by a very dry period coming on top of each other.

"Thanks to advice from the Sports Turf Research Institute, the problems have been sorted out, but takings were well down.

"So far as golfing trends are concerned, if people can no longer afford private club golf they tend to move to municipal courses. We are the safe option. The local authority doesn't go bust or feel the pinch as some private clubs do.

"Part of the reason is that we have a lot of local course development in the area but this is not reflected in terms of player capacity."

In other words, too many playing outlets are chasing too few players. Inevitably some of the under capitalised private enterprises will sink rather than swim.

At Seaford Head the year kicked off on a low note when the course was closed for nearly three weeks to comply with foot-and-mouth regulations. Clifford Owen, community services director of Lewes District council was, however, pleased with the pick-up in business starting in early June.

Quick draining and very popular with societies, the Head stands up well to wear and tear and is most popular for the stunning Channel views.

Tilgate Forest, at Crawley, was another course to be closed because of foot-and-mouth precautions. Here again the high course quality attracts no end of visitors both local and from afar by virtue of the closeness to the M23.

Sean Trussell, the head professional, says takings are on a par with previous good years and this despite a closure earlier in the year for about two months.

The message is crystal clear to any private enterprise contemplating the building of yet another course in Sussex ... only the strongest will survive and the weakest must go to the wall.

Terry Betts, of Mannings Heath, 65, was runner-up in the UK Golf Association's winter championship meeting at Trevose with 146 (76, 70).