Dalmuir golf course community transfer plan considered by council

Golfers campaigning to save Dalmuir Golf Course say they have been reassured that the course will remain open while the council explores options for a possible community asset transfer.

A decision was taken to close the course during West Dunbartonshire Council’s budget meeting on Wednesday, March 5 – but it was agreed that the local authority “would be willing to explore” options for either a community asset transfer or lease with current user groups.

It was confirmed that local Labour MP Douglas McAllister would set up a task force with the aim of continuing to operate the golf course by way of community asset transfer – which will allow the council to transfer ownership and management of the land to a community organisation.

Officials stressed that any transfer plan would need to be ‘viable’.

Gerry Smith, who launched the petition to save Dalmuir, said on Saturday that his club – Clydebank Overtoun – were looking at options for a community asset transfer.

Speaking about yesterday’s budget decision he said: “After contacting both Douglas McAllister and councillor Lawrence O’Neill, they have assured me that a community asset transfer is now being implemented and the course will remain open until this is completed.

“This is great news but the lack of communication regarding this has been pretty poor.

“I had emailed all councillors with this idea and when council voted to cut all funding, myself and many others, including local press, who all assumed the course will now close.

“I am delighted that the course will remain open, but lack of communication is disappointing.”

During the budget discussion questions councillor Lawrence O’Neil asked for reassurances that the course would remain open until the transfer was completed.

He said: “In terms of the decision that the Labour motion has moved that closes the golf course, can I seek an assurance that whilst a potential asset transfer is undertaken, that the golf course will remain open until such time as that becomes viable or unviable.”

Peter Hessett, Chief Executive of West Dunbartonshire Council said that the decision in the motion was to close the golf course and officers would move to implement that decision.

He said: “You don’t implement savings instantly on April 1, it is not possible to do that. There is a period of consultation before it occurs.

“We would move to implement, depending on where discussions are and if it looks like [transfer] is a viable option, we can consider that and take a view at that point.

“We would really need to see something viable appearing.”

SNP councillor Lauren Oxley said she had reservations about the golf course and MP Douglas McAllister setting up a taskforce.

She said: “If any interested parties who want to take over this golf club, will they then come to the council and then be referred to Douglas McAllister and his taskforce.

“Will this ultimately come back to the IRED committee to make a decision? To me it sounds like the Labour party trying to cover up the fact they are closing the golf course and sticking Douglas McAllister’s name on it.”

A council officer confirmed that the decision would come back to the council through asset management who would look at any applications from any interested parties in terms of the golf course.

Michelle Lynn, asset manager, said: “If there are multiple groups as always we will try and get the groups together so that there’s a collective rather than individuals looking at things on their own and as we have done in the past that would come back to a future IRED committee.”

The local authority says that the timescale for closure will be dependant on a number of different factors including a period of consultation for impacted employees. All requests for community asset transfer will be explored.

A spokesperson said: “Following the decision taken by Elected Members, work will now begin to progress the closure of Dalmuir Golf Course.”

They added: “Despite significant efforts, regrettably membership and usage of Dalmuir Golf Course has continued to decline.

“This meant last year, the Council subsidised the club by more than £145,000 or £805 per member, and this is no longer sustainable.

“Our budget gap for 2025/26 was £7.7m and we expect further financial challenges in coming years so we must prioritise protection of the essential services we provide to residents, including education, housing and citizen support.”