Harry Colt's Caird Park, Dundee

[Gary Slatter]

I've just met a director of The great TORONTO GOLF CLUB and in conversation I mentioned Caird Park in Dundee being a newly discovered COLT design.  Armed with the golfclubatlas info they will try to play it this week. 

Toronto Golf is looking forward to the restoration by HAWTREE and ASSOCIATES and have taken the bold move to close the course to get the work done.  I've managed to play it a few times over 30 years (Leo Bradshaw has maintained membership there even while playing as a professional) and love the course, it would fit in well if it were next to Sunningdale, it's very British.

[Brian_Ewen]

For the sake of muni golf in Dundee , this connection to Harry Colt , should be kept very quiet .

[Paul_Turner]

I've just met a director of The great TORONTO GOLF CLUB and in conversation I mentioned Caird Park in Dundee being a newly discovered COLT design.  Armed with the golfclubatlas info they will try to play it this week. 

Toronto Golf is looking forward to the restoration by HAWTREE and ASSOCIATES and have taken the bold move to close the course to get the work done.  I've managed to play it a few times over 30 years (Leo Bradshaw has maintained membership there even while playing as a professional) and love the course, it would fit in well if it were next to Sunningdale, it's very British.

Gary

I don't think the work at Toronto will be a restoration.  More like a renovation or redesign.

[Cristian]

These pics are some great examples of interesting greens on flat sites. It shows that there is nothing wrong, both tactically and visually with mounding around the green to create strategic interest. It's the backdrop mounding that makes holes look very artificial and out of place. Some of the green sites look like extreme versions of the Toxandria(also Colt) pics in the thread on greens on flat sites. Perhaps this was the young and wild Colt at work!

The 17th green is a fantastic green site, and judging from the picture it merits a visit just by itself. At 26 UKP weekday greenfee, it's one of those reasons why you have to love Scotland.

[Brian_Ewen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esBxfobNh7U

[Simon Barrington]

Not great news after a supposed reprieve


https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/popular-municipal-golf-courses-facing-renewed-closure-threat/

[Marty Bonnar]

Councillors vote next week:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c75lpw2qqvyo
I’m not holding out much hope. Councils are facing budget shortfalls in the tens of millions and, speaking from very personal experience, leisure facilities are always at the front of the firing line.
F.

[Simon Barrington]

Bumped...
Tony Muldoon mentioned there were a few other Colt courses still to be found.
(Going by what he noted is likely an outdated list on the Colt Assoc. website...)
Downe
Highclere (Newbury)
Lampeter
Lelant
Lockinge
Southend on Sea
Waddesden
...
Hendaye - France

Sorry if this is known but the course at Waddesdon Manor (One of the many Rothschild Country Houses) was designed by Tom Dunn and then revised by Tom Simpson

For some great Simpson sketches and more detail see:
https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/england/central-east/buckinghamshire/555-bucks-waddesdon-manor-golf-club-bucks?highlight=WyJ3YWRkZXNkb24iXQ==

Cheers

[Marty Bonnar]

It didn’t go well:
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/5136650/caird-park-closure-broughty-castle-stay-of-execution/

[Marty Bonnar]

A wee reminder of what we’re about to lose:

F.

[Niall C]

FBD


Couldn't help noticing that at the bottom of that article there was plenty of comment from someone with the initials MB !


Anyway, shocker of a decision and having seen how useless they are in Glasgow at running these facilities it wouldn't surprise me if Dundee Council are as bad. Why not consider the option of having a private operator take over ?


Also, in a lot of ways this would have been a better option for the R&A to do their Golf It! development rather than Lethamhill in Glasgow. For one thing they could run the existing course as is, with hopefully an upgrade in maintenance, while doing their short game/pitch and putt/driving range etc using the 9 hole course thereby keeping the income flowing on the main course meantime. With there being no other muni's in Dundee it surely would be serving a need.


Unfortunately, as I understand it, Golf It! was very much a Martin Slumbers baby and as I also understand the development was less than smooth, meaning their is probably not a lot of interest from the R&A. But still, surely someone else could be found ?


Martin - any idea if they have alternative plans for the land ?


Niall

[Marty Bonnar]

Not my MB, Niall! I’d have signed it FBD, of course!
Re alternative plans: I’d assume, if Camperdown is any example, they’ll simply stop maintaining it and let it, ahem!, ‘return to nature’…
In other local news, we’re hearing that Kingsbarns attempted coup at Scotscraig isn’t going down at all well with the natives. 

[Niall C]

FBD


If you're fit enough, do you fancy getting a game in before they pull the plug ? I appreciate it might be a bit wet during the winter but it would still be good to see.


Niall

[Marty Bonnar]

FBD


If you're fit enough, do you fancy getting a game in before they pull the plug ? I appreciate it might be a bit wet during the winter but it would still be good to see.


Niall

Defo.
Apparently closing end-April, so let’s look at Feb/March weather-dependent. I’ll be back to full fitness by then too. (Still be crap at golf, obvs!)
F.

[Stewart Abramson]

Golf in Scotland is sinking fast

[Brian_Ewen]

Golf in Scotland is sinking fast

Fixed it for you.

[Simon Barrington]

For those that care, here is another sadly needed petition:

https://www.change.org/p/save-caird-park-golf-club

[Stewart Abramson]

Golf in Scotland is sinking fast

Fixed it for you.

 :'( 


Golf in Scotland The world is sinking fast

[Niall C]

shrinking fast is more like it, judging by the last post