A FORMER Rangers and Scotland star is backing a campaign to stop the controversial closure of a Scots golf course.
Dundee City Council revealed plans on Monday to shut down the facilities at Caird Park, the city’s only remaining municipal golf venue.
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Caird Park golf course in Dundee is due to close in 2025Credit: Caird Park golf course
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Dundee-born Charlie Adam is a keen golfer and wants to save the courseCredit: Scottish News and Sport
The decision has led to outcry from locals and golf enthusiasts from further afield.
A petition has been started to save the course and among those backing it is Charlie Adam.
A Dundee native himself, Adam is also a keen golfer and he called on others to join the campaign.
He shared a post by Michael McEwan, editor of Bunkered magazine, that contained a link to the petition.
Adam, who also played for Liverpool, Stoke and Dundee in his career wrote: “Please sign the petition.”
McEwan said: “It’s Dundee now but it could be your city – worse, your course – before long.
“So please, step up, sign up and get behind this.
“I’ll keep on saying it until people f****** listen: munis matter.
“The health of the game depends on them.”
McEwan has also penned a letter to First Minister John Swinney as part of a wider call to stop the cull of public golf courses in Scotland.
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He shared his letter on LinkedIn and in the comments section, golf pro Gary Alliss said: “As an English golf professional, coming from a family steeped in golf history, I am both amazed and appalled by the Dundee City council’s decision.
“My granddad and dad always said Scotland was the greatest advocate and supporter of grass roots golf.
“Whilst a forerunner of golf may have emanate from Holland, Scotland gave the game to the world, but now the SNP seem determined to deny the residents of this fine city a chance to have a go at golf.
“Shame on the council and councillors.”
A caddie who frequents Caird Park, Ryan McGuigan, added: “I also have strong feelings about the closure of Caird Park.
“I am not a native of Dundee but live close to the golf course. When I am home from tournaments I regularly see people passing with their golf clubs on the way to a round of golf. It was disappointing to see Camperdown close at the start of the pandemic, (at a time when it was needed the most) I feel the decision to leave Dundee without any public golf course is wrong.
“How can the closest major city to St Andrews the home of golf not offer a council course for its residents?
“I appreciate the financial challenges Dundee City Council have had to face dealing with vandalism at both Camperdown and Caird Park, but surely a little short term financial pain needs to be absorbed for the long term benefit for the city?”
The petition itself, set up by an anonymous member of the public, has almost 1,500 signatures so far.
It reads: “I’m starting up a petition to save Caird Park golf course as the council decided on Monday night to shut it down.
“Members are shocked to hear this including its club captain and this shutting will have a immense effect on the whole of the community. Enough is enough.
“That’s why I ask all the individuals up in arms at this to sign this petition to show that the Dundee public will no longer accept this council to shut services that are in grave need and such a golf course that is a gem.”
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Dundee City Council leader Mark Flynn described criticism of the decision as unfair.
Speaking to The Courier, he said: “We don’t want to close anything to be completely honest but the budget situation is really quite critical.”
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Michael McEwan, deputy editor of Bunkered, has written to John Swinney
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He is calling for a change in approach to golf from the SNP governmentCredit: MICHAEL MCEWAN
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