‘Disgraceful’ – Councillor blasts proposed closure of two Scottish golf courses

An opposition councillor has hit out at the “disgraceful” proposed closure of two municipal golf courses in Dundee.

Just weeks after the closures of Hirsel and Torrance Park, another club popular with visitors is facing the axe this week.

Caird Park – a longstanding venue with 18-hole and 9-hole courses – has long faced a precarious future,  but a vote will be taken on Monday to close the final remaining municipal layouts in Scotland’s fourth biggest city.

There is now growing frustration that Monday’s vote could render the widespread public opposition as meaningless in the council’s drastic cost-cutting exercise.

“The recommendations to close Caird Park Golf Course and Broughty Castle Museum are disgraceful,” Lib Dem councillor Daniel Coleman told The Courier.

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“Caird Park Golf Course is in my ward and I know from so many local residents its loss would be keenly felt.

“There are many who enjoy golfing there for both physical activity and it is particularly for more elderly course users a social outing.

“This recommendation to close the golf course would simply be the council promoting loneliness, isolation and loss of physical activity amongst its own population.”

Dundee City Council leader Mark Flynn thinks such criticism is premature.

“I think what the opposition members are saying is a bit disingenuous,” Flynn said.

“On Monday, we will make the decisions as a committee and all the options will be considered.

“It’s a bit too early to say it’s disgraceful because there’s not been any decisions made at this time.”

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.