Glasgow golfers make last-ditch plea to save munis

Glasgow golfers have called upon councillors to vote against scrapping the city’s municipal golf courses ahead of a potentially decisive meeting this week.

The city council is set to vote on a new budget on Thursday, with fears growing that the six courses operated by the local authority – Littlehill, Lethamhill and Linn Park, as well as Alexandra Park, Knightswood and Ruchill – could be shut to help plug a financial black hole. It is thoughts that closing five of the six courses could save over half a million pounds.

However, a public meeting in Dennistoun last night saw impassioned calls for the facilities to be kept open.

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It came hot on the heels of news that the public consultation into the future of the courses, undertaken last summer, revealed that a majority of people are opposed to their closure.

Labour councillor Elaine McDougall attended the meeting, organised by pressure group ‘Friends of Alexandra Park’.

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“I will be opposing the closure of any of the golf clubs,” Glasgow Life has quoted her as saying.

SNP councillor Allan Casey was also present, adding: “I want to keep as many clubs open as possible. I’m going to look at the consultation results and what that tells m.

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“I cannot say absolutely no, I need to look at the evidence. We need to find a way we can get people interested in playing golf again.”

One attendee insisted that the closure of the courses would have a significant societal impact.

“We’re in the East End, one of the poorest areas in Britain and people want to take facilities off us,” he said.

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