Popular Scottish golf club facing “imminent closure”

A popular Scottish golf club’s fate could be doomed to closure in just three weeks’ time. 

It is understood that Hollandbush Golf Club could be axed by South Lanarkshire Council along with other community facilities at the next council meeting on February 21.

A post on the Hollandbush Facebook page is calling upon users to “bombard” their local councillors in an effort to “stop this resource going to waste”.

“The course has never looked better, never been busier and the clubhouse is thriving,” adds the post. “You all know we support every charity, every group in any way we can.

“Some have worked tirelessly for 20 years + bringing it to what it is today.”

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The club has already received the support of Scottish Conservatives councillor Ross Lambie, who said: “I for one will not be voting in favour of any cuts which include the closure of Hollandbush Golf Club.

“I learned to play here as a junior, and it’s amazing how much the course has matured over the years. It provides massive amounts of benefit to the surrounding area.”

Other followers have been quick to share their disgust at the prospect of the 69-year-old club being closed.

“The course has been looking great the last few years,” wrote one Facebook user. “Probably the best it’s ever been. And it certainly wont be losing the council any money. There will be a motive behind it like selling land for housing or something along those lines. They certainly wont be closing it for it to lie and do nothing.”

Another wrote: “It’s a sad state of affairs, it’s many peoples lifeline I’m afraid. When I play the course, I instantly feel better about things.”

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A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture told bunkered.co.uk: “Unprecedented budget pressures mean some extraordinarily difficult decisions are having to be made across public services. This includes South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, which, as well as our existing financial gap, is facing a £1.5 million reduction in the income it receives from its biggest funder South Lanarkshire Council, which itself is having to save more than £20 million this year.

“Through two public consultations we have asked local people to help us prioritise the services we provide. Following that, we have identified the withdrawal of our service from one of the six golf courses we run across the area as a potential saving. Staff at Hollandbush have been informed of this.

“The potential saving will now be subject to a further period of public consultation, specifically on the future of Hollandbush Golf Course.

“The final decision, however, will be taken after South Lanarkshire Council’s budget meeting on 21 February where a decision of the £1.5 million reduction in South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture’s management fee will be taken.”

Hollandbush is one of six golf courses operated by South Lankarkshire Leisure & Culture.

It was feared it might close as a consequence of low maintenance during the original COVID-19 lockdown but came through and, subsequently, reported a huge increase in participation and new members.

In an interview in August 2020, the general manager of Hollandbush was quoted as saying “the future of golf in South Lanarkshire should be secure for the foreseeable future.”

Just three-and-a-half years later, that no longer appears to be the case.

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