Six jobs at risk as Belfast golf store shuts

SIX retail jobs are at risk following the closure of a golf shop in Belfast’s Connswater Retail Park.

In total, 20 American Golf stores will be shut across the UK as a part of a deal that rescued the retailer from collapse last Friday. However, its store in Belfast’s Boucher Retail Park is to remain open.

American Golf was put into administration last Friday and then immediately sold to buyout investor Endless.

As part of the deal, teed up by business advisory firm Deloitte, 112 of the chain’s 132 stores in the UK and Ireland will remain open. At the time of appointment American Golf employed over 1,000 people. More than 900 jobs will be protected by the acquisition.

Deloitte confirmed six jobs will be affected by the Connswater closure. However, it’s not clear whether staff will lose their jobs or be offered redeployment.

Tom Jack, a partner at Endless, said: “American Golf holds a unique position as the UK’s golf market leader and has been providing specialist expertise to its loyal customer base for over 45 years.

“We believe this is a business with fantastic potential and we’re delighted to be able to protect the employment of over 900 employees as a result of this acquisition.

“I’m delighted that the sale of the business which we have completed has safeguarded over 900 jobs,” said joint-administrator Dan Smith. “We appreciate the support of management and all employees in achieving this aim and wish them well.”