Both Clubs have reported losses for their last financial year, with the decline in poker machine profits a factor in both. It is further evidence of the severe detrimental effect the presence of poker machines in hotels is having on Clubs, particularly in country areas.

The Golf Club, at its recent annual meeting, was strongly affected, with almost all its loss for the year being attributed to the drop in income from poker machines. The Services Club reported a less significant poker machine drop in its report to the annual meeting, held on Sunday, April 17.

Smaller country clubs have been severely affected by hotel operations over the past 15 years or so. The first cracks appeared with extended hours for hotel opening, followed by the even more troublesome Sunday opening.

The biggest crunch of all was the installation of poker machines in hotels. Many clubs, city and country, have had to close their doors because of the drain on their traditional sources of income.

Bowling Clubs in particular have proved vulnerable. Clubs have closed at Moss Vale and Goulburn, and Crookwell still has its bowls facility because of a takeover by the Services Club. Golf Clubs in many country areas are struggling to maintain profitability.

Crookwell Club has been able to continue operations because of its highly successful voluntary maintenance of the course itself - regarded as the best nine hole course in the Southern Tablelands.

One of the detrimental effects of this for country towns is that Clubs have lost much of their capacity to support local organisations - and to continue to provide important amenities for their communities such as bowling greens and golf courses.

Whether the downward trend in poker machine usage extends also to hotels is information not available to the public.