Caird Park Golf Courses in Dundee May Change Hands, Sparking Hope for Community Ownership

The Caird Park golf courses in Dundee have been closed since April, with the city council citing financial reasons for the closure, aiming to save over £400,000 a year from the Leisure and Culture Dundee budget. However, a recent email from the Dundee City Council has revealed that the land is currently under offer, sparking hopes for a potential takeover by a third party or even community ownership. Friends of Cairdy and the Golf Course have been pushing for the revival of the sport at Caird Park, and it appears that their efforts may not be in vain.

Key Takeaways:

• The Caird Park golf courses in Dundee have been closed since April, with the city council aiming to save over £400,000 a year from the Leisure and Culture Dundee budget.
• The land is currently under offer, subject to due diligence, but no details have been revealed about who is behind the potential takeover or what the land could be used for.
• Friends of Cairdy and the Golf Course are pushing for community ownership of the site, which is designated open space and part of the city's Green Network.
• Any change of use would require councillors' approval, as the land remains under public ownership.
• The council has previously expressed openness to suggestions on the use of the site, and Friends of Cairdy are optimistic that community ownership could still be possible.
• Paul Johnson, leader of Friends of Cairdy, stated that the group will continue to push ahead with their bid for asset transfer of the courses.

Statistics:

• The city council aims to save over £400,000 a year from the Leisure and Culture Dundee budget by closing the Caird Park golf courses.
• The land is designated open space and part of the city's Green Network, making new housing an unlikely option.

Sources:

• Wearmouth, P. (2023, April) Dundee golf fans bid farewell to Caird Park courses. The Courier.
• Johnson, P. (Personal interview with The Courier)