Closure fears for all six South Lanarkshire municipal golf courses

Claims that venues have been neglected during coronavirus closure
Langlands Golf Club in East Kilbride is one of the six South Lanarkshire courses that are said to have been neglected by the local council during the coronavirus closureLanglands Golf Club in East Kilbride is one of the six South Lanarkshire courses that are said to have been neglected by the local council during the coronavirus closure
Langlands Golf Club in East Kilbride is one of the six South Lanarkshire courses that are said to have been neglected by the local council during the coronavirus closure

Fears are growing about the future of six municipal golf courses in South Lanarkshire due to claims they have been neglected during the coronavirus closure.

Hollandbush in Lesmahagow, Biggar, Larkhall, Torrance House, Langlands and Strathclyde Park have a combined total of around 1,000 members.

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But it is being claimed they could be about to fold within two weeks unless urgent action is taken by South Lanarkshire Council.

Mags Cathcart, the manager at Hollandbush, told the Carluke Gazette, a JPI Media title: “Peter Craig, the chair of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, responded to local MP Lisa Cameron, who got involved on our behalf.

"He said the council greenkeeping staff were getting used for essential maintenance work elsewhere, such as 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."

Cathcart said that one greenkeeper has told her that the greens could be lost altogether in just a fortnight's time if nothing is done.

She added: “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.”

The six courses were among the first to be closed in Scotland due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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