Dalmilling Golf Course will close

Apr 17 2009 by Mike Wilson

DALMILLING golf course is to close for financial reasons.

That’s the claim from council leader Hugh Hunter, who says crucial savings have to be made.

It comes despite senior councillors saying the course could be used for a new school.

Cllr Hunter has penned a letter to political rival Sandra Osborne in which he insists money is the main reason for closure.

He tells the Labour MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock: “The closure of Dalmilling golf course was part of our budget setting exercise for 2009-2010 and was announced along with the other budget decisions.

“The closure date of January 1, 2010 was chosen because we recognised that to have closed the golf course from April 1, 2009 would have been grossly unfair to those season ticket holders who had bought their tickets in good faith expecting to be able to use Dalmilling golf course for the full calendar year.

“As the closure will not come into effect until January 1, we have not anticipated any financial savings in the present year but clearly there will be savings in the financial year 2010/2011, therefore helping to bridge the funding gap in that year and of course in future years.

“At the same time the closure was announced officers were instructed to review the potential use of the site in advance of its closure and this work will take place during the year and will be reported to members in due course.”

But Cllr Hunter’s comments are sure to cause further confusion after council colleague Nan McFarlane went public on plans for the course.

Two weeks ago, the SNP leader told golfers that South Ayrshire Council want to bid for a £30 million grant from the Scottish government.

And the money would be used to build a new secondary school on the site of Dalmilling golf course.

But Cllr Hunter insists its budget and not building that is uppermost in the council’s mind.

His analysis also comes hot on the heels of our revelation that Dalmilling has made £46,000 of profit in the last four years.

He told Ms Osborne: “As a former councillor, I am sure that you understand that setting a budget is one of the most difficult tasks undertaken by councillors and that tough and often unpopular decisions have to be taken to move the council forward to secure financial footing for the future.”