Locals launch petition to block Caird Park golf course closure

A petition opposing the closure of the courses at Caird Park has attracted just under 1,000 signatures in less than 48 hours.

The local authority announced on Monday that the last public golf provision in Scotland’s fourth largest city will shut on April 30 next year.

The venue – which has an 18 and a nine-hole golf course – will make way as part of plans to plug a £500,000 black hole in the city’s finances, councillors voting 15-13 in favour of the proposal.

However, that has attracted an angry backlash from locals, with one calling the decision “criminally short-sighted”.

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Now, a petition has been launched at Change.org calling for the council to think again.

“Shutting will have an immense effect on the whole of the community,” it states. “This golf club and its closure is another shot in the armor for the Dundee public and enough is enough.”

Many signatories have also added their thoughts.

Paul Johnson said: “We must fight this. Don’t let those out of touch councillors decide to close those iconic nine and 18-hole golf courses.

“It’s up to us to decide what happens, at a time when health and fitness is paramount this should not be happening. It’s an attack on the working class people of Dundee.”

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Margaret Angus added: “My husband recently started playing golf at Caird Park. It gets him outdoors and is great exercise for him. He meets up with friends and enjoys having laughs and the social aspect of the outing.”

The decision to shut Caird Park follows the controversial closure of Camperdown Golf Course in April 2020.

As of March 2024, there was an average of 1,188 members at Caird Park during the year, and there were 7,584 nine-hole and 28,798 18-hole rounds played in 2023/24. It has been claimed that each round played at Caird Park is being subsidised to the tune of £9.10.

However, following a public consultation of 598 people on the future of Caird Park, 82% said the course closures would have a negative impact on them.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor