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Golfers in Dundee have reacted angrily to news that the city’s last remaining public golf courses are to be closed.

Dundee City Council yesterday voted in favour of shutting the two tracks at Caird Park.

The venue – which has an 18 and 9-hole golf course – will be closed net year as part of plans to plug a £500,000 black hole in the city’s finances.

Calls for the committee to delay a decision until after the Scottish Government budget is set later this month were rejected.

Speaking at the meeting, Caird Park Golf Club captain Ian Gordon said: “Dundee is the fourth largest city in Scotland and it could be left without a municipal golf course – that is disgraceful.

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“If it closes, it will have a detrimental effect on the community and jobs will be lost.”

However, councillors voted 15-13 in favour of the proposal, with the courses set to close for the final time on April 30.

The news has been received with widespread condemnation on social media.

One called the decision “criminally short sighted”, adding: ‘see what they’ve done at @northinchgolf for what you can do to make a muni course a massive asset to the area.”Another said: “How come this council can maintain and cut every football pitch in Dundee, but doesn’t have the money to maintain Caird Park?”

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“Feel for the older regulars of the golf course who probably see it as their wee bit of regular enjoyment,” added a third. “SNP supposedly want a healthier public yet are closing outdoor activities.”

The decision comes 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.

topics

Caird Park golf courses

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