Martin Slumbers “very concerned” about threat to council golf courses

As he prepares for his last professional event as the chief executive of the R&A, Martin Slumbers has issued an impassioned plea to the local authorities responsible for the country’s public golf courses.

“Work with us.”

Slumbers was speaking in St Andrews ahead of this week’s AIG Women’s Open. Just 30 miles away, Dundee is in the middle of a public consultation into the future of its last remaining municipals at Caird Park.

Depending on the outcome of that, there’s a very real possibility that Scotland’s fourth biggest city could soon be without a public golf offering.

This comes as Trump Turnberry is planning to charge visitors up to £1,000 to play its iconic Ailsa Course next year.

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In short, as the top courses become more expensive to play, the very existence of courses at the more affordable and accessible end of the spectrum  hang in the balance – and, in some instances, are disappearing altogether.

As somebody who has made it his mission to increase participation at all levels during his time in charge of the R&A, Slumbers admits to being “very concerned”.

“We talked quite a bit at Troon just a few weeks ago about the importance of the pyramid for the game and being able to invest in the bottom of the game,” he said.

“Golf has had an unbelievable eight years of growth. If you look at the R&A’s jurisdiction, we have 62.3 million people consume golf at the moment. Five million increased between 2016 and COVID, and five million more since COVID. We are going to need more facilities.

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“But I think it’s paramount on us and many others to actually prove to the councils who are under incredible tensions and pressures in their own businesses that keeping these golf courses going is important, and it does add value to society.

“It’s something that the golf development team led by Phil Anderton are very conscious of and talking about a lot. I take this point very seriously.”

Addressing local authorities directly, Slumbers added: “I think [our message to them] is work with us a little bit more and help us explain that golf is good for people’s health, which has a benefit to the council in terms of national health spending.

“It’s good for the economy. It’s good for society. It’s good for the environment. And how we can stack all that up.

“They have a very difficult job balancing their priorities, and I feel for them, but we want to work and help them make some of those choices.”

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