Closing Dundee’s Camperdown Golf Course could impact on the number of local youngsters playing the game, Fife golfer Connor Syme has claimed.
The Kirkcaldy-born 24-year-old, who recently won his first professional title at the Turkish Airlines Challenge, wants the council to rethink its controversial decision to axe the municipal facility.
Last month, the local authority voted 14-13 in favour of closing the course to save more than £400,000 in subsidises it pays for it and Caird Park.
Syme said for the sport to be accessible, there must be cheaper options.
He said: “I’ve heard really good things about Camperdown.
“I’m really good friends with Martin Jones who has been a member here for a number of years.
“He was talking to me about the price range that Camperdown falls into compared to your Downfields, and it does obviously offer that option for a different clientele for trying to get people into golf.
‘Gobsmacked’ Camperdown golfers react to plans to close Dundee course
“I think you do need that cheaper option to get kids and keep people in the game — as it is an expensive sport, obviously.
“I know Martin’s view that closing down this course would be devastating to this area especially so hopefully with a few people coming together, they can stop it happening.”
The decision to axe the facility has been met with dismay by the club’s 90 members as well as prominent figures in the sport.
BBC ‘voice of golf’ Peter Alliss said the council “need a new set of accountants”, while world-respected course architect Forrest Richardson described the decision as short-sighted.
Syme was speaking on Tuesday after being invited to play a round by the club’s members.
He added he did not believe downgrading the course to nine holes and introducing other increasingly popular activities such as footgolf was a good option.
He said: “That would take away from the golf course. Hopefully the course itself can get the publicity it deserves and that would be enough to keep it going.
“It is one of those things that you maybe take for granted.
“People maybe forget how good it is. When you have the fear of it maybe shutting for good, you get people coming together and trying to save it.
“It has got beautiful surrounds. It doesn’t look like you lose quality in this course despite it being cheaper.
“It does deserve to be saved definitely. It is that option for people that maybe don’t have enough money to join other clubs.
“I’m definitely supporting any move to save it.”
