Five of the six municipal golf courses in Glasgow are under threat of closure as part of a costing-saving proposal.
The Scotsman newspaper has reported that Littlehill, Lethamhill, Linn Park, Ruchill and Alexandra Park are all reported to be under threat as Glasgow City Council looks to plug a funding black hole.
The closure of the courses, which would leave Knightswood, a nine-holer, as the only municipal course in the city, would save an estimated £530,000. The proposed cuts come after the courses in question reported a 15% drop in rounds played in the last four years.
Reacting to the news, Scottish Golf chief executive Andrew McKinlay, said: “Public courses are the fabric of the grassroots game in Scotland. In certain local authorities the municipal course finds itself as a direct competitor to private clubs offering discounted rates via third parties.”
A spokesman for the council said: “Glasgow City Council will need to make budget savings which could be in the region of £50 million. The cross-party working group asked officers for savings options and they will present their budgets at a meeting on February 20.”
A number of private clubs in Scotland have been forced to close in recent years due to dwindling membership. They include Eastwood and Mount Ellen in the Glasgow area, as well as three near Edinburgh – Lothianburn, Torphin Hill and Whitekirk.