Scotland icon joins last-ditch campaign to save popular golf course from closure

JOHN MCGINN has joined a campaign to save a popular golf course on the outskirts of Glasgow from being closed for good.

The Scotland hero is a keen golfer himself and was recently spotted practising his swing with international team mate Scott McTominay.

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The 29-year-old was gutted to read the news that Dalmuir Municipal has been earmarked for permanent closure by the local council.

McGinn was born and raised in Clydebank adjacent to where the course is based and is hoping councillors reconsider plans to erase it from the local sporting landscape.

Dalmuir is run by West Dunbartonshire Council and the par-3 14th hole, called Gully, is a favourite of golfers across Scotland and has been voted as one of the best and most challenging par-3s in the country.

The facility has a reputation as one of the best council-owned golf courses in the country.

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But a letter sent by the local authority to members at the course over the weekend warned that, due to “rapidly reducing budgets,” it has to consider reducing the size of the course (to nine or 12 holes) – or shutting it down altogether.

A petition to save the golf course from a sad demise is up and running online and McGinn is one of the hundreds of signees so far.

The Tartan Army talisman shared the petition on his Twitter (X) account and captioned the post: “Gutted to read this. Please sign if you can!”

The Aston Villa star was echoing sentiments of compatriot Craig Connelly, a seven-time Ryder Cup caddie whose home course is Dalmuir.

Connelly has carried the bag for three legends of the sport in Colin Montgomerie, Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer, with whom he won two majors alongside.

He wrote: “This is my golf club and course. It’s where I fell in love with this beautiful and wonderful game. If it wasn’t for this place I don’t know where I’d be today.”

In a separate impassioned post, Connelly again called for urgent help from his followers and beyond.

He said: “Seriously, please share and retweet this, and if you can, sign the petition. We’re seeing happen time and time again with local authorities recently. We need to stop this. It’s the lifeblood of the game.”

The petition itself was started by members of Clydebank Overtoun Golf Club, who play on the muni course.

It reads: “West Dunbartonshire Council are planning to close the only public golf course in the area. This would be detrimental to its residents as it offers a place where all residents no matter age, race, or gender can not only enjoy golf and the positive effects it can have for your physical well being, but is also a place that offers social gatherings to those who otherwise would not be able to do so.

“Dalmuir Golf Course has been there for the residents of West Dunbartonshire for almost 100 years, bringing people from all over Scotland to play and taking this away would be a great loss to the community.

“By signing this petition, it will let the council know just how much this means to not only the residents of West Dunbartonshire but also to the west of Scotland. 

“So please sign this petition to save an important part of history in West Dunbartonshire.

Golfers who have teed it up at Dalmuir shared fond memories of the layout and praised its value for money.

One punter recalled: “Was one of the best municipal courses in the area. Queue started at 6am for a tee time.”

Another said: “Hope it survives. I played it last summer and it was in decent nick for a municipal course, and great value for £11.”

A third commented: “Played last year for the first time and greatly enjoyed, course was in very good condition given the hot weather. I would have happily paid more.”

This regular visitor added: “I cut my teeth between there and Knightswood as a youngster and I still love the course to this day. I always try and play it at least once a year for old times sake and it has some if the toughest holes you’ll find anywhere in Scotland.

“I’d be gutted if it closed.”

Another took direct aim at the council: “It’s a continuously busy course with good membership, this is all about selling the land by a council who is skint nothing more. A total disgrace.”

West Dunbartonshire Council said: “A meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council will take place next month to discuss the budget for the upcoming financial year.

“No final decisions will be taken on any of the options presented until this meeting.”

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