Golfers get back in the swing but clubhouse repairs could take years
THE fire-ravaged clubhouse of one of the world’s oldest golf clubs can be saved – but it will take two years to be restored to its former glory.
Three quarters of the 19th-century historic headquarters of the Glasgow Golf Club, the ninth oldest in the world, was gutted by a blaze last Thursday night.
It has now been revealed staff braved the fire before it took hold to help salvage most of the Bearsden-based club’s “priceless” artefacts, including one of six Calamity Jane putters used by golf legend Bobby Jones.
Also rescued was the Tennant Cup, the trophy for the world’s oldest amateur strokeplay in the world – running since 1880.
Club captain David Sifton told of his “absolute devastation” when the blaze destroyed the majority of the B-listed clubhouse.
The club has been closed since the fire, but managers believe they can at least get the course open again by Wednesday.
Basic temporary facilities, including toilets and changing rooms, should be in place by then.
But restoring the Georgian Killermont mansion house will take a lot longer.
Chris Spencer, club general manager said: “It could take two years, because it is a B-listed building and, as a result, Historic Scotland will have quite an input to ensure that its characteristics are maintained or replaced.
“But it can be saved. The insurers have been round and Email news@ eveningtimes.co.uk or
0141 302 6520 are confident the building can and will be saved.
“We are not talking about demolition, they seemed to be quite content the external walls are safe and secure.
“We are covered by insurance, and it is more than adequate to cover the cost of repair and reinstatement.
“The roof is burnt out pretty much but the external walls we believe are still quite sound. It is a typical 18th-century build, so it is solid walls. The internals will be reinstated to a standard that was there before.
“It is the internal beams and floor supports where they might think there’s a problem.”
There were two staff in the clubhouse who discovered the fire in a kitchen and raised the alarm.
Then came moves to salvage the club’s historic artefacts.
Mr Spencer added: “That putter is now in safe storage. It was one of the first things that was saved along with models and all of our trophies. We managed to rescue those before the fire took hold in those areas.”