Ryder Cup stars including two of Scotland’s legendary players and also one of the Home of Golf nation top caddies have stepped forward joining a second push not to close down Scotland’s Dalmuir Golf Club.
The popular municipal course in Clydebank, located to the north-west of Glasgow, looked set be shut down last March as part of planned cuts by West Dunbartonshire Council until a very passionate petition denouncing the move seemed to have saved the club.
The council had met as part of a 2024/25 budget meeting and were presented with more than 50 money savings options in order to plug an £8.3m budget black hole, and one being the seemingly easy option to either close or downsize Dalmuir golf course that council runs.
Dalmuir Municipal course course and now facing a threat for a second time in a year to close.
The campaign opposing any such move was led by a Gerry Smith, Match Secretary at the next door Clydebank Ovetourn Golf Club, and with almost 8,000 supporters signing a petition not to close the club, including legendary Scottish and Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn.
However, Councl is facing a second backlash as it looks set to ignore this first petition at another budget meeting early next month, hence a second campaign being launched on Wednesday to stop this latest move in closing Dalmuir. Steering this renewed drive is Smith along with top Scottish caddy Craig ‘The Weeman’ Connelly, and the long-time caddy to double major-winning and now LIV star Martin Kaymer.
Connelly got onto his ‘X’ account saying: “Really don’t know what to say… I drive/walk past the facility they have there in the park every day and it is an utter disgrace that @WDCouncil has left it to rot away. 2 bowling greens… gone. 2 tennis courts… gone. A cafe that has laid derelict for years.”
Caddy Craig ‘The Weeman’ Connelly with LIV star and double major-winning Martin Kaymer. Image – Getty
Connelly’s work is paying dividends among those he’s known for so long on the DP World Tour including with victorious 2014 Gleneagles European captain, Paul McGinley along with likely 2027 Adare Manor European captain Justin Rose adding their name to over a 1,000 who have signed the petition.
Also, lending their weight behind this renewed call are the duo of Stephen Gallacher and top-ranked Bob MacIntyre who has been on his @robert1lefty ‘X’ account lending his support to Dalmuir.
Gallacher, and a four-time DP World Tour winner and double junior Junior Ryder Cup captain, said: “I’ve grown up playing golf at Dalmuir.
“There is a big community spirit within all the clubs that play there. Shutting the course would be a disgrace given the media attention this received last year”.
MacIntyre said: “How do we keep the course open?”
His fellow Scot pro Conor O’Neil jumped-in suggesting a fund-raiser involving himself and MacIntyre taking on the Henry brothers, John and Scott, and with each living in the region of the Dalmuir course.
MacIntyre did not need to be asked twice in replying: “Anytime I am home, no problem!”
And local Clydebank and District Golf Club pro Gary McFarlane voiced his disgust with the council saying: “It’s ridiculous.
“The course is a great asset and should be getting money spent on it for the surrounding area, not threatened with closure.”
West Dunbartonshire Council will now week on March 5 for a second time to discuss the course’s future.
You can lend your support by signing the petition by clicking on: https://www.change.org/p/save-dalmuir-golf-course
