‘Hundreds will be affected’ by Scottish golf course closures

Concern is growing that two Scottish municipal golf courses could soon shut their doors. 

Golfers are worried that the last remaining public courses in Dundee could close following reports they could face the axe in a new round of council budget cuts.

The Courier has reported that the 18-hole and nine-hole layouts at Caird Park are at risk after being recommended for closure by the board of Leisure and Culture Dundee.

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The proposals still need to be ratified by the Dundee City Council – but it is believed the Caird Park closure would save upwards of £335,000 per-year, with local authorities looking to find total savings of £800,000.

Tom Alexander, a member at Caird Park for 60 years, told the Courier that he was outraged by the plans.

“This is unbelievable. Hundreds of people will be affected,” he said. “We currently have a membership of around 80 but in the summer we get hundreds of visitors to the courses.

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“It cannot be right that they close the city’s last remaining municipal golf courses as part of budget savings.

“Those of us who are members will certainly be making our thoughts known about the proposed closure. I very much hope this won’t be allowed to happen.”

Caird Park is a storied venue with over 100 years of rich history. It was regarded as one of the most visited public courses across Europe in the mid 1980s, with players enjoying fine views north over the Sidlaw Hills.

It became Dundee’s first municipal golf course when it opened in 1923 and is still a popular club with local players to this day.

The course’s closure would be a huge blow to the city’s golfers after Camperdown Golf Course, the city’s only other municipal, was closed down in 2020.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.