Lothianburn GC

[Brian_Ewen]

Looks like Lothianburn GC is another casualty of the downturn in Scottish golf.

Designed by James Braid.

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/241144-lothianburn-golf-club-closes-as-gleneagles-counts-down-to-ryder-cup/

Golf club forced to close as Scotland counts down to Ryder Cup 2014
STV 27 September 2013
A Scottish golf club was forced to close amid falling membership numbers as the country prepares to host the Ryder Cup next year.

The 120-year-old Lothianburn Golf Club in Midlothian shut at the weekend after it saw its membership drop from 820 to 270 in less than a decade.

The Scottish Golf Union, the governing body of the amateur game, confirmed that in the past 18 months around 80 clubs have approached it for business planning advice, including financial, marketing and governance guidance.

It believes the country’s 597 clubs are outweighing demand from members. This issue, coupled with the economic downturn, has left many golf clubs in a difficult position, the union said.

The closure of Lothianburn came as a publicity campaign was launched to mark one year to go until the US and European teams meet in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Perthshire on the back of The Open being held at Muirfield in East Lothian in the summer.

Alan Greenshields, captain of Lothianburn Golf Club, said: "Membership numbers is the one factor that certainly hit us hard. Up until 2004 we were probably in the region of 820 to 830 members in all categories.

"Last year we dropped down to about 350 and this year we’re round about 270, so we’re talking about a drop of two thirds."

The club is hoping to reach a deal with neighbouring Swanston Golf Club to share facilities and keep its course in use.

VisitScotland estimated in 2009 that golf tourism brings around £220m into the Scottish economy each year, while the tourism agency's chairman Mike Cantlay said that 2014 is a "massive year" for golf in Scotland because it is hosting the Ryder Cup.

US team captain and legend of the game Tom Watson spoke of the golf being part of the "fabric of life" in Scotland this week, while The Open will be held at St Andrews in 2015 and Troon the following year.

Hamish Grey, the golf union’s chief executive, said: "We have more courses than we need for the current playing numbers. I guess part of our challenge is, how do we grow those numbers, and take that forward.

"In doing so, how do we make sure we keep such a good geographical cover that Scotland enjoys. It is one of the key elements of why, in Scotland, the game is so accessible."

According to the golf union, there are around 219,000 active golf club members in Scotland while the number of courses has increased by 20% since 1990, at a higher rate than those playing the game.

Its research found that there are around one course per 9800 people in Scotland, compared to one per 27,000 people in England and one per 112,000 of the population in France.

The closure of Lothianburn came after Inchmarlo Golf Club near Banchory in Aberdeenshire was placed into liquidation earlier this year before being sold off and reopened by another firm.

Whitemoss Golf Course in Perthshire was shut in November 2011 after the owner decided to retire and return it to farmland, while Letham Grange Golf Course near Arbroath in Angus was forced to close for a period in 2011 amid issues over its ownership.

In December 2010, Craibstone Golf Centre on the outskirts of Aberdeen was closed and placed into liquidation with debts of £500,000, before new owners bought over its assets and reopened it.

Scottish professional golfer and former Open champion Paul Lawrie said times are tough for a lot of golf clubs in Scotland. He added: "Everyone is trying to get more juniors into the games as junior memberships become senior memberships.

"I think a lot of clubs are trying very hard and a lot of clubs are very good at that. We just need to keep working hard and keep making it enjoyable for people to play golf."

[Niall C]

Brian

I wonder where the members went and what the reason was for their leaving. I've never played there (Willie Park design ?) so don't know if it was a conditioning issue or with the rank and file falling out with the committee and joining another nearby club or whether the members simply gave up being members of a golf club ?

Interested to know.

On a similar note, I've heard of two members clubs locally to me that are close to closing. One of them is quite a nice Braid design with an old country house type clubhouse that you would have thought would have stood up quite well to retaining its membership. Clearly not the case.

Niall

[Eric Strulowitz]

Sad story.

On many a day at my  club,  I look around and the average age looks like it is  well over 65.  Many guys in their 70s and 80s playing and playing well to their credit.  I am in my mid 50s, I feel like the baby out there.

Young people are not migrating to golf.    There are a multitude of issues concerning this, but I think that the obsession with texting and electronics in general makes it impossible for young people to focus on one thing like a 4+ hour of golf plus all the practice that goes with the game.  And many middle aged players are dropping out because of long rounds and cost.  The economy still stinks, and what is going to turn it  around, I fail to see it.   A club membership is the first thing many give up when things get tough, I love my membership, but would give it up in a heartbeat if I had major financial worries or kids to raise or put through college.

There will always be golf and clubs for golfers to play, but the game has seen its heyday.    What a shame, what a great day out, been playing for over 40 years, and still look forward to every round.