Sudden closure of Scottish golf club caused by members leaving 'sinking ship'

The sudden move, which followed an AGM on Wednesday, was announced on the club’s Facebook page before also being relayed on its website.

“The Hirsel Golf Club is closed,” read the message. “No bookings can now be taken. Anyone with future golf bookings will hear directly from the club.”

The Scotsman understands that the decision was taken to file for bankruptcy with immediate effect after the membership had dropped to around 120 due to people feeling it was a “sinking ship” and moving to other clubs in the area.

It is also believed that no further assistance could be provided to the club by Lord David Douglas-Home, son of former Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas Home. The course sits on the Hirsel Estate, the family’s ancestral home, but, after the club had apparently been “bailed out a few times”, that was no longer an option.

One member reacted on Facebook to the decision to call time on the club, which was founded in 1948 as nine-holer before being extended to 18 holes in 1998.

“Basically, the last couple of years there has been a significant increase in running costs, materials, rents to landowners, mixed in with a big decline in members has made for horrible reading,” wrote Jamie Nicolson on the social media site.

“Long story short, they held their annual AGM last night and proposed voting on filing for bankruptcy with immediate effect. Sad to see the place go.”

Also commenting on Facebook, past captain James Bell described it as “really bad news for all the members, staff, visitors and the town” but said he hoped “something can rise from the ashes”.

Clubs in the surrounding area, including Eyemouth, Kelso, Minto and Selkirk, reacted to the news by offering to support Hirsel members in various ways, including free membership at Selkirk until March 2025. 

Eyemouth, meanwhile, has offered to become a new home club for Borders Club Members who played at the Hirsel.