Maybole Golf Club’s 118 years of history came to an end yesterday - with the news the club has folded.
Ayrshire Live can reveal that members pulled the plug on the club due to a “lack of support.”
A statement on Maybole Golf Club’s Facebook page from Lyn Mansell, the captain, read as follows: “Sadly, due to lack of support, Maybole Golf Club has folded.
“If anyone would wish to reclaim a trophy donated by a family member over the years, please get in touch with myself or anyone else connected to the club.”
The decision to pull the shutters down on the club has been described as “so sad.”
One Ayrshire golfer said: “It’s so sad that it’s come to this.
“I loved playing Maybole over the years, specifically because it was a nine-hole course and its configuration suited me better than, say, the more challenging 18 holes at Girvan, Troon or Turnberry.
“But the decision to close the club will no doubt be a blow to the members.
“I’m sad that all that history will disappear.”
Now the future of the actual nine-hole municipal course will undoubtedly come into question.
Maybole Golf Course comes under the auspices of Golf South Ayrshire, the group specifically set up to administer and promote golf in the region.
Unfortunately, Maybole Golf Club did not have its troubles to seek in recent years.
In March 2016 we told how the battle to prove there was a future for golf in Maybole had begun.
At the time one source said there was a “strong desire” among golfers in Maybole to do all they could to secure a future for Maybole Golf Club and members had arranged a host of events to help boost club’s profile and membership.
The municipal Maybole Golf Club had been in existence since 1905 and at the Memorial Park since 1924.
However, its existence was questioned in 2016 due to ongoing budget cuts to South Ayrshire Council.
As with many nine hole golf courses, Maybole struggled in recent years to retain members.
And with illustrious neighbours such as Turnberry, Royal Troon and Old Prestwick, membership at Maybole steadily declined over the years.
Although the axe did not fall at the time, the club limped on.
However, this latest announcement will be a bitter pill to swallow.
A spokesperson for South Ayrshire Council said: “Golf South Ayrshire is disappointed that Maybole Golf Club has decided to close down due to a lack of members.
"Maybole Golf course will continue to operate as part of our portfolio of eight municipal courses.”
SNP Councillor for Maybole, William Grant, said: “It is very disappointing to read about the demise of Maybole Golf Club, sadly it has been noticeable that the course is not being well used for many years.
“The council has tried to promote the course by offering annual membership of Maybole Golf Course alone at a very fair cost.
"We need to get young people interested, and with the opening of the new Carrick Campus it should surely offer the opportunity of a partnership with the council .”
Councillor Brian Connolly, Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure, said the closure of the club will not affect the running of the course.
He said: “Sad news about Maybole Golf Club, but in no way does it change the Council’s goal with the Memorial Park.
“Our objective is to increase the usage of our green areas and we are working with local groups to improve Memorial Park.
“Along with the Golf Course we will soon have the Pool building available and looking to introduce Trails, Zip-line and cycle hubs, plans are available on the NCCB website.
“ There is no threat to the future of the Golf Course.”
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