Delighted golfers have hailed news the council has frozen rent for a unique Perth golf club to “pave its way forward.”
Amid uncertain times for many Perth and Kinross golf clubs, members of Perth Common Good Fund committee voted to freeze King James VI golf club’s rent for five years.
The news is a boon for members after Glenisla and Whitemoss recently closed and uncertainty has surrounded the future of the historic North Inch club nearby.
Once described as a “jewel in Perth’s crown” by former Perth and Kinross Provost John Hulbert, the King James VI golf club was founded in 1858 and is understood to be one of the few island courses in the UK.
Councillor Alexander Stewart, who voted for the rent freeze, said he was “very pleased” to support the move to help the historic golf club.
He said: “The club has done a huge amount to get people involved and all credit to them for doing that.”
“By agreeing to freeze their rent for the next five years we (the council) are giving them an olive branch. Hopefully this will help the golf club develop and pave the way forward for them.”
Councillor Willie Wilson, who also voted on the rent agreement, added: “The freezing of the rent is a good move by the council and I hope by doing this, we will help towards the future of the King James VI golf club.
“The club had a terrible time last winter when large areas of the course were damaged by flood water. Club members did a great job in repairing the damage and I was proud to support the move to help them as they move forward.”
Dennis Brown, club captain of the King James VI golf club, said: “We welcome the fact that the rent is not going up for the next five years.”
