Carrick Speakers Golf Club set to disband

Golf in Ayrshire has suffered a fresh blow with the news that another club is folding and announced its intention to disband.

Maybole-based Carrick Speakers Golf Club is coming to an end after being part of the Ayrshire golf community for 35 years.

It is the second closure of an established golf club in Ayrshire in recent years and it follows the collapse of Maybole Golf Club in February 2023, ending a 118-year history.

The Post told last year how Maybole Golf Club’s members were forced to pull the plug on the club due to a“lack of support.”

Now a second Maybole-based institution has gone.

In advisingThe Ayrshire Golf Association of their decision to disband, Carrick Speakers Golf Club Secretary, Hugh McKay, said:“We have persevered and tried to keep going, but our numbers have not been sustainable for some time.

“This together with increased costs, the changes in administration and the technical changes introduced by Scottish Golf, means we have decided to call it a day.

“We will look to join other stronger clubs and hopefully continue to enjoy the game for many years to come.

“It’s a sad day for us all. I would like to express our thanks to the Ayrshire Golf Association for the work you have done over the years and I’m sure we will continue to enjoy the rights, privileges and protections that you offer with our new clubs.”

For several years the Carrick Speakers Golf Club staged a successful open competition over the Girvan golf course, alongside several club events and championships.

A statement from the Ayrshire Golf Association said:“The Ayrshire Golf Association are sorry to see the demise of one of our member clubs, which now takes the total membership to 63 clubs, and send all former members of the Carrick Speakers Golf Club best wishes, and hope they continue their involvement and enjoyment of the sport within other member clubs in the county.”