A group of Norwegian golfers who have been travelling to Angus to play at Letham Grange golf estate for the last decade, have offered their support to a campaign to save the course.
Trip organiser Ole Grimsmo (43) has yet to hear back from the country resort owners following its closure last month and is unsure whether the £400 deposit he paid for his party will be refunded.
The band of 16 friends enjoy a few days in the area every summer and have become close to the staff who were made redundant.
It was only through a chance internet search Mr Grimsmo read about the estate folding on The Courier website, and he is now attempting to make plans to move the golf outing to Perthshire.
Flights have been booked and paid for and the group stand to lose thousands of pounds if they fail to secure another venue.
“At this stage I don’t know anything and we are really just waiting in anticipation,” Mr Grimsmo said. “I have not heard from the owners, but our flights are booked so we don’t have any other option but to come over.
He said that every year they have been over they have always been aware of the problems.
“We felt it was certain it would be okay this time, but clearly it is not going to be.”OfferDespite the problems, Mr Grimsmo, who works in the Norwegian oil industry, said he would be willing to help fund efforts to keep the course operational.
He estimates the group spend between £14,000 to £15,000 on each trip to Angus and would be keen to give his backing to plans from the Letham Grange Golf Club committee to keep the course operational.
“I would have expected an email or a phone call from management to tell us that we are not going to be able to play there, but we have received nothing,” he said.
“We are looking into other golf courses, but we would all rather play at Letham Grange. Even just to stay somewhere else but travel over to play at the club would be an option.
“The staff there know us very well and were always very friendly and welcoming. They have our support.”
The group have promoted the Letham Grange venue to other golfers from the Stavanger area of Norway, leading to additional bookings over the years.
A party of 20 golfers from the country also had to change their plans after booking 18 rooms at Letham Grange for the April 29-May 1 weekend.