Exclusive: Fears all six South Lanarkshire Council golf courses could close in two weeks

There are fears that six overgrown municipal golf courses in South Lanarkshire  – which have a total of around 1000 members - could FOLD in two weeks without urgent action.
Mags Cathcart, standing on a rutted 18th green at Hollandbush GC, is worried all six South Lanarkshire Council courses face closure without immediate action.Mags Cathcart, standing on a rutted 18th green at Hollandbush GC, is worried all six South Lanarkshire Council courses face closure without immediate action.
Mags Cathcart, standing on a rutted 18th green at Hollandbush GC, is worried all six South Lanarkshire Council courses face closure without immediate action.

Mags Cathcart, manager at Hollandbush Golf Club in Lesmahagow, claims that no greenkeeping work has been carried out at hers, or any of the other five courses, in the two months since the coronavirus lockdown was imposed.

Mags (50) said: “Peter Craig (chair of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture) responded to Lisa Cameron (local MP), who got involved on our behalf.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“And he said the council greenkeeping staff were getting used for essential maintenance work elsewhere, ie refuse collection and grave digging.

“But I know not one man from Hollandbush, Biggar or Larkhall, Torrance House, Langlands or Strathclyde Park has been doing essential work elsewhere, they’ve been sitting in the house.

“Our greenkeeper Stuart Muir thinks that we could lose the greens altogether in another couple of weeks.

“That is really concerning. There’s a risk of disease to the greens, they’re not getting any nutrition. Now the sun’s shining and they’re drying out.

“I think for a new green you’re talking in the region of £30,000. So imagine if you needed to replace 18 greens at any of these courses – they’re not going to open any of them back up.”

Related topics: