Rutherford Castle closes its doors

• Another Scottish golf club goes to the wall
• Rutherford Castle had been open since 1998
• Becomes the second Scots club to close in a fortnight

RUTHERFORD CASTLE

Less than a fortnight after Castle Park closed its doors for the final time, another Scottish golf club has lost its fight for survival.

bunkered.co.uk has learned that Rutherford Castle GC, just south of Edinburgh, is no longer in business.

It is the fourth club in the broad vicinity of the capital to go in the last 18 months following Castle Park, Lothianburn and Torphin Hill and, at the time it closed, it reportedly had only 56 members.

Opened in 1998 during the course construction boom at the end of 20th century, Rutherford Castle was built by Henry Wallace, who had farmed the land for 15 years before deciding to ‘fulfil his dream of having a golf course in his back garden’.

Following Wallace’s death in 1999, his family continued to run the club before selling it to property developer Manor Kingdom in 2003.

In August 2008, the company revealed plans to upgrade the facilities at Rutherford Castle and turn it into the ‘first truly world class, luxurious 5 star hotel and conference facility befitting the magnificent scenery of the Scottish Borders in West Linton.

“This is sad news for the members of Rutherford Castle.” – Andy Salmon, SGU deputy chief executive

It was reported at the time that top hotel chain De Vere had also signed up to operate a new 150-bedroom, on-site hotel.

However, those plans never materialised and, though the club battled on, it has finally succumbed after much speculation over its future.

Andy Salmon, the Scottish Golf Union’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “This is sad news for the members of Rutherford Castle.

“We hope and anticipate that former members at Rutherford Castle find the right membership for them at a local club nearby, with various memberships at a number of courses available.

It is also bunkered.co.uk’s understanding that, despite two high-profile closures in the first six weeks of the year, no other golf clubs are believed to be in immediate danger of going out of business.

Rutherford Castle :: Your reactions

Did you ever play Rutherford Castle? What are your reactions to the news it has closed its doors for the final time? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

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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

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