A new East End community-based golf facility will open next summer in a bid to make the sport more accessible while creating hundreds of jobs for residents.
Golf It! will be located on the south bank of Hogganfield Loch, in the North East of the city, following the redevelopment of Lethamhill golf course and aims to make the sport more accessible and inclusive for the whole family.
It comes after the R&A secured planning permission from Glasgow City Council last August to create a nine-hole course at Lethamhill, which residents are excited to experience.
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Former SNP councillor and local resident Mandy Morgan said: “This development will be a huge asset to the local community.
“It will be a state of the art golf facility making the sport fun, affordable and accessible for the enjoyment of families, young people and community groups living locally.”
The R&A hopes the course will act as a “new pathway” for those looking to take up golf as it not only features a range of introductory golf formats including a twist on pitch and putt, adventure golf and community putting greens it will also offer a double decker floodlit driving range and a new look 9 hole course for all the family to play.
These will sit alongside other attractions and activities such as padel tennis courts, nature trails, bike hire and street food-style dining and drinks area.
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: “Golf It! is an ambitious project and fantastic opportunity for residents of Glasgow and visitors to the city to be introduced to the sport in a welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable environment.
“The range of features at Golf It! makes this a destination like no other. We want this to be a place where everyone from this great city and further afield can feel at home.
The facility will include something for everyone new to the sport as well as those golfers who already play. The new nine hole golf course will incorporate four sets of tees and an integrated ‘Go Golf It!’ par 3 tee position on each hole to encourage people of all abilities to play.
Lethamhill was first laid out by Glasgow professional David Adams and has been in play since 1907 when the Alexandra Club – previously based nearby at the Alexandra Park – took a 10-year lease of 90 acres of the Lethamhill Estate from the Glasgow Corporation.
The new course has already won the backing of a range of delivery and community partners, which includes Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, Visit Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, Golf Foundation, Active Schools Network, GEO Foundation, Toro, Acushnet, Scottish Power, and Adidas.
Community partner, St Paul’s Youth Forum is a youth project in Provanmill that aims to provide opportunities for young people across the East End of Glasgow.
Young people from the project and local schools have planted a Community Orchard within the golf course and will be running On Bikes, a youth-focused bike charity which delivers free bike access on site.
Neil Young, Youth Team Leader at St Paul’s Youth Forum said: “This isn’t just a centre for golf, it will become the beating heart of this part of Glasgow, pumping investment into the community and creating opportunities for young people.
“With training opportunities and an exciting education pathway at St Paul’s Youth Forum, we’re confident that Golf It! is going to be a facility the whole community can access and feel very proud of.”
The course is expected to open to members of the public next summer.
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