New golf clubhouse will swing into action
Go-ahead for new base in Callander
Callander Golf Club looks to have teed up a new clubhouse after approval for the facility was granted by National Park planners.
The 130-year-old club submitted an application to build a new base, off Aveland Road, in a bid to safeguard the future of the club, and has put its current clubhouse up for sale.
It is planned to build the new clubhouse on the plot of an existing practice shed which will be relocated within the site.
In their decision, park planners said: “The existing clubhouse is too large for the needs of the club and is costly to heat and maintain. The club intends to sell the existing clubhouse and relocate to a new smaller clubhouse to the north of the existing main car park.
“The club provides a valued outdoor sports facility for both locals and visitors. The principle of a new clubhouse within the grounds of the course is supported by policies which support the retention of outdoor sports/community facilities.
“The change of use of the existing clubhouse is not part of this application and would need to be considered on its own merits. It is noted however that the existing clubhouse is close to existing residential properties and has its own separate access and parking.”
Current clubhouse is in need of extensive renovation to make it fit for purpose
Planners consider the ‘modest size’ of the new clubhouse – to be constructed in the style of a timber chalet with shallow pitch roof – would have no adverse landscape impacts and was further away from residential properties than the existing facility. Parking and access arrangements remain the same.
Callander Golf Club was founded in 1889 and moved to its current location in 1892. The nine-hole course layout was designed by the famous Scottish golfer Old Tom Morris and served the community and visitors well until 1914.
In May of that year, Callander Town Council purchased the existing course and adjacent land to create an 18-hole course. Willie Fernie, a Scottish golf course designer from Troon, was engaged to make the required changes.
A firm of estate agents marketed the existing clubhouse at offers over £250,000. It was described as extending to 7,370 square feet and suitable for purchase as a restaurant with living accommodation.
A spokesperson for the club said recently the new clubhouse would be a modern, cost effective and energy efficient building, adding: “The current clubhouse has been developed over many years and is in need of extensive renovation to make it both fit for purpose and energy efficient. The clubhouse is also much larger than is required to serve the current and predicted future level of membership numbers.
“It will provide both members and visitors with a comfortable lounge area, kitchen and bar, changing facilities, toilets and office. Crucially these essential changes will assist in ensuring that the Callander community and businesses and wider Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park area do not lose the wonderful facility that is Callander Golf Course.
“The existing building will be developed by the purchaser in accordance with the requirements of and with the approval of the planning department at the national park.”