Third UK golf club in one week announces closure
By Alistair Dunsmuir
A third UK golf club – and the second in Scotland – has announced it is closing down in less than one week.
Torrance Park in Lanarkshire has said it has reached the point in which its losses cannot continue, and it will go out of business in October.
The club’s website’s homepage now has the statement: ‘For a significant period of time the Torrance Park Golf Club has been experiencing challenges to being able to run as a profitable business. Unfortunately, it has been loss making for a number of years and has reached a point where this cannot continue. We have therefore undertaken a review in relation to the sustainability of the club, to look at whether or not it is viable to continue operating into the future.
‘As a result of this review, in which we looked at all possible options, we have identified that there is no alternative other than the closure of the club and as such the golf club and clubhouse will close with effect from 1st October 2024.
‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers and former members for their support over the years.’
Originally designed by former Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas, Torrance Park opened as an 18-hole course in 2009 before being reduced to nine holes in 2023.
This is the third UK golf club in just six days to announce a closure.
Hirsel Golf Club in Scotland closed with immediate effect last week while, two days later, Caddington Golf Club in England announced it would close in less than one month’s time.
By Alistair Dunsmuir
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While not having played this course at all, it is strange that within 15 years of opening it has closed down. Having already gone from 18 to 9 holes. Was the land the. Sold / used for property development?
While golf has seen a bounce back post Covid I believe some clubs have seen it as an opportunity to raise fees and try to cash in. Who on earth is going to go from being a member to a pay to play at £35 a go?
I play at two courses who are at opposite ends of club experience, one is a 9 hole course with extra tees for 18holes, modest fees but no club house, toilet,pro shop, just golf with a small cabin for notices, doing scorecards etc. £350 a year, 95% of comps free to enter.
2nd club is £1350 a year, nice club house, course etc. pay for comps. Only 450 or so members and as I’m retired I can play it a lot so more than justifies the fees. It is run as a business there is no big organising committee, reserved parking for captains secretary etc. hopefully we don’t have another July to May that we had last year.
Golf clubs are not a licence to print money, lack of playing time last year made many re evaluate the value they were getting for the number of games they could play. For many golf fees are low down in the priority of bills and will be dropped if times get hard.
Had approx 5 to 600 members 2half years ago and was offered from members to pay at least £250 more in fees and this was refused. Cut it to 9 holes spent a £100,000 on 2 new greens when this wasn’t necessary had members playing on these new greens with in 4 months and they weren’t ready. Felt sorry for greenkeeper staff as they were told to use them. Then 6 months later told us we’re going to a pay as you play format £35 for a Saturday and Sunday to go round twice. In the former members opinion they shat it because it was a fantastic 18 holes and were more interested in development in the future. Who closes clubhouse at 6pm in the summer months. This made none members go on and play course in summer months for free. Self inflicted loses.
Absolutely heartbreaking.