Scotland’s West Dumbartonshire Council is facing further backlash after indicating a second ‘budget meeting’ has voted to close Dalmuir Golf Club while all may not be lost.
The council had initially voted last year to close the public access golf course, located to the north of Glasgow on Scotland’s west coast however a petition disagreeing with the decision nipped that move in the bud.
However with matters seemingly sorted not to close the course and the immediate future of Dalmuir safe, the Council advised that a second ‘budget meeting’ would be held today (March 5th) to again decide whether or not to close Dalmuir.
This second move generated enormous disgust and led to a second and even larger petition demanding council not close the course and with the likes of the winning European Ryder Cup captains Paul McGinley and Luke Donald adding their names along with Scottish golfers Paul Lawrie, Stevie Gallacher and currently top-ranked Scot Robert MacIntyre.
Also Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau happily signed the petition.
Dalmuir Golf Club.
But alas, council has ignored this second petition that had gleaned more than 3,500 signatures.
Gerald Smith, who was looking after the petition exhibited his digust and also the disgust of all those who added their name, sent out a group email saying:
“Thanks everyone from around the world for your superb support but unfortunately west Dunbartonshire council (labour) have chosen to close the golf course without any consideration or consultation for the people of west Dunbartonshire. “This is a sad day for everyone and it paves the way for more drastic cuts from a very weak council”.
A sad day is an understatement.
It’s a shameful, gutness, unforgiveable below the belt act on the part of faceless members of the ‘Budge Committee’ at West Dumbartsonshire Council not only not to meet with the likes of Smith or Craig ‘Wee Man’ Connelly, who caddies for Martin Kaymer but to not even to issue a statement saying that they had even considered the petition.
However we are learning, via our good friends at Bunkered Magazine that local MP Douglas McAllister is set to head up a ‘task force’ that will attempt a community asset transfer (CAT) of the Clydebank facility and if successful take the financial and overall running of the club out of council’s hands.
McAllister, formerly the provost of West Dumbartonshire Council, says he has had assurances from the council that it will continue to operate and maintain the much-loved course for the foreseeable whilst he and a working group try to transfer running of the course to the local community.
This claim has been corroborated by a current sitting member of the council, who told Bunkered the “course will continue to operate whilst this process is ongoing”.
Scottish Golf CEO Robbie Clyde will be a part of McAllister’s save Dalmuir ‘task force’.
“I’m from Clydebank and played Dalmuir growing up. It means a lot to me. I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing”, said McAllister speaking with Bunkered.
“Now is the time to step forward and make Dalmuir a golf course that is run by the community for the community.
“As I told representatives of the council, if the course goes, it’s gone for good. I couldn’t let that happen. I’ve had positive conversations with Robbie at Scottish Golf and I’m confident we can make a success of this. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in.”
BREAKING NEWS …..
West Dumbartonshire Council has been speaking saying it would explore opportunities for the course to be passed into the hands of the local community via an asset transfer.
It said it spent about £145,000 subsidising the course in the last year, equating to about £805 per member.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “Despite significant efforts, regrettably membership and usage of Dalmuir Golf Course has continued to decline.
“Our budget gap for 2025/26 was £7.7m and we expect further financial challenges in coming years so we must prioritise protection of the essential services we provide to residents including education, housing and citizen support.”
