Golf club sale is a non-starter

A bid to sell Brodick Golf Club looks to be dead in the water before negotiations had hardly begun.

Club professional John Wilson, who was leading a consortium of German businessmen said to be interested in buying the club with a view to making a big investment, has left his position and the club has no plans to hire another full-time professional.

And while a sub-committee set up to start talks said any possible deal was still under consideration, it seems highly unlikely that club members would back it following last week’s sometimes acrimonious annual general meeting.

It was only in December that members gave their backing to talks with the consortium who Mr Wilson claimed to be ‘ultra high net worth individuals’ at a packed meeting in the clubhouse. But Mr Wilson, who had only been at Brodick for less than a year, has now left his position as professional. He also ran the club shop but it is understood the club could not afford to keep him on.

The club now plans to run the shop itself and while there are no plans to hire a new professional, members hope a young professional from the mainland may come to the island one day a week to give lessons.

It had been hoped any sale of the 120-year-old club would lead to much needed investment in the course and clubhouse. The club is also struggling with an ageing membership.

Retiring club captain Lindsay Keir said: ‘The offer to buy the club is still under consideration. We will just have to wait and see what happens.’