Six municipal South Lanarkshire golf courses back in the pink just weeks after fear of extinction!

Back in May, two months into coronavirus lockdown, Hollandbush GC manager Mags Cathcart said the Lesmahagow layout and the other five equally overgrown courses faced closure within two weeks without urgent action.

But, with the municipal layouts at Hollandbush, Biggar, Strathclyde Park, Larkhall, Torrance House and Langlands now in fine condition and busy with players after extensive greenkeeping work, golf is booming again just a few weeks after it looked like the end could be nigh.

“Golf has absolutely gone through the roof here and at the other five council courses,” Mags (50) told the Carluke and Lanark Gazette.

“We have 41 new members this year and are still taking memberships, even now.

“A lot of people have said: ‘Will I play golf or will I get a season ticket to go to the football?’ but this year on Saturday afternoons they can’t go to the football.

“In my opinion it’s also a lot to do with golf’s pricing. It was cut so it’s been more affordable to play this year.

“If we keep this pricing strategy for next year then hopefully these people will rejoin, it won’t be a one-year thing.

“Being honest, I thought back in April that the courses could shut (without remedial work) because it might have been too expensive to do the work and get them back.

“I was very worried, not only for myself and my livelihood, but for the other people’s livelihoods who were connected with the clubs and also the membership who are passionate about their club.

“But now I’m greatly relieved. The future of golf in South Lanarkshire should be secure for the foreseeable future if we continue to do things right.

“People have been commenting on how good the course has been looking.”

Competitions at Hollandbush – and the other five council courses – have now been running regularly for several weeks.

The most recent event at Hollandbush saw a successful charity golf day on Saturday, with £1345 raised for Macmillan Cancer Care.