Balfron Golf Club in Scotland has opened its new clubhouse to members, guests and the local community following an 18-month construction period.
The new building, whose £500,000 costs were part funded by a grant from SportScotland’s Sport Facilities fund and from The Paul Charitable Trust, boasts many eco-friendly features as part of a commitment to the Scottish Government’s ‘Let’s Do Net Zero’ campaign. These include solar panelling with battery storage, an air source heat pump, LED lighting and double insulation.
Following the transition to its new home, the West Stirlingshire-based club, formerly known as Balfron Golf Society, has been rebranded as Balfron Golf Club.
As part of its commitment to inclusivity, the clubhouse features fully accessible toilets and showers, widened doors for wheelchair access, dedicated parking outside the entrance on the same level, and a disabled access ramp to the door.
The facility includes male and female changing, toilet and shower facilities, lounge, kitchen and storage and an outside patio area. There is also a dedicated junior room to support the activities of the club’s 100-plus younger members.
David Pettigrew, Balfron’s club captain, commented: “This has been a challenging but extremely worthwhile project for the club, delivering a state-of-the-art golf clubhouse for our members, guests and the community of West Stirlingshire. It will undoubtedly enhance the experience for the many golfers who visit us but also be a facility that will now drive golf participation and membership.”
The project has been welcomed by SportScotland chief executive Forbes Dunlop, who said: “Balfron Golf Society has a long history of providing opportunities for the local community to take part in golf and wider activities and it is fantastic to see their continued ambition through this clubhouse development. The commitment to inclusion built into this project was a key factor in our decision to support the development through National Lottery investment from the Sports Facilities Fund.
“We know that improving the places people take part in sport is crucial for widening opportunities, but it’s the commitment of partners like Balfron Golf Society to ensure that the needs of the local community are met that will ensure this club will continue to be a huge asset to Balfron and the surrounding area for many years to come.”
Baltron Golf Club can trace its history back to 1905 when nine holes were first established on the site overlooking . However, after being given up for the war effort in 1939, the course was not returned to sport and became farmland. In the 1980s a group from Balfron sought to re-establish the course and nine holes were reopened in 1994. The club then purchased further land in the 1990s with support from Sport Scotland and the Millennium Fund and opened an 18-hole golf course in 2001. The current adult annual membership fee is £495, with juniors paying £60, while visitor green fees start from £30.
