Golf course to close but museum's fate delayed

Dundee councillors have voted to close the city's only municipal golf course, but the future of Broughty Castle Museum is still to be decided.

Amid increasing financial pressures,  Leisure and Culture Dundee proposed closing the two city attractions to save about £500,000.

Caird Park Golf Course will close in April, with a final decision on Broughty Castle expected to be made in February.

The city's Mills Observatory, which was also under threat, will remain open under the proposal, after securing additional funding.

A public consultation was launched earlier this year which sought local opinions on the closure plans.

A report to councillors noted that every round played at Caird Park Golf Course is currently subsidised by Dundee taxpayers at a cost of £9.10.

Addressing the council's city governance committee, Caird Park Golf Club captain Ian Gordon urged them to consider other avenues to keep the course open.

He said: “Dundee is the fourth largest city in Scotland and it’s going to be left without a municipal golf course. We find that absolutely disgraceful.

“We’ve brought through junior golfers in our club for longer than I’ve been there and it gives them something to look forward to.”

An amendment was put forward by Scottish Liberal Democrats councillor Craig Duncan asking committee members to delay a decision on the closures until after the Scottish government budget.

He said: “We should not feel coerced into making any decision on anything tonight until we are in full position of the facts.”

However, the majority of councillors voted in favour of Deputy Lord Provost Kevin Cordell’s motion to close the Caird Park Golf Course and delay the decision on the future of Broughty Castle.