Saved Scottish golf course handed huge boost

A popular Scottish golf course that was saved from possible closure last year has been granted a huge new boost.

Mags Cathcart, the club manager of Hollandbush Golf Club in Lesmahagow, has confirmed that South Lanarkshire Council has granted it an asset transfer for the course.

Immediately after councillors approved the transfer, Cathcart said in a video on Facebook: “Just came out of a meeting of Housing and Technical Services, where Hollandbush Golf Club was approved for an asset transfer of the course.

“Here we go. The hard work starts now on a transition period, and we hope the community continues to back what we are doing. Thanks again for all your help.”

The 18-hole course, which is located only half an hour from the centre of Glasgow, stretches over 6,000 yards and dates back to the early 1920s.

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But it faced “imminent closure” last January as the council looked set to axe several community facilities at an upcoming meeting.

They soon backed down on the decision to shut the municipal, though, as a proposal to support the course through increased investment in the Community Fightback Fund was supported instead.

A post on the club’s Facebook page read: “On behalf of the committee, a huge thank you to our golf/social members, starters staff and greenkeepers for their dedication to Hollandbush.

“To our communities from the bottom of our hearts we thank you all. We will be working now to move forward with the help of SLC to make Hollandbush bigger and better.”

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At the time, Hollandbush was one of multiple municipal golf courses under threat, with Caird Park and Dalmuir fighting for survival.

Dalmuir, near Clydebank, remains in that scrap despite also being saved last year.

A new petition, backed by footballers like John McGinn and caddies such as Craig Connelly, has been set up in the hope of sparing it from closure for a second time.

Sign the petition!

Join more than 2,700 others in showing your support for Dalmuir Golf Course by signing this petition.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.