95-year-old Hertfordshire golf club ceases trading

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir December 3, 2018 16:19

An historic golf club in Hertfordshire, which has been open since 1923, has ceased trading – at least the sixth golf club to do so in the last six weeks.

Potters Bar Golf Club was once the home club of former Ryder Cup captain Tony Jacklin, as well as golfers Alex Hay and Bill Shankland, states the Welwyn Hatfield Times.

Club member Mark Ward said: “I started my golfing career there 12 years ago as an artisan member. It would be nice if it could be kept as a golf course as it had massive potential if under the right management.”

Stuart McCabe-Bell, from Potters Bar, said: “Coming into Potters Bar by train from the north its always a lovely sight of Potters Bar rising up above the course. Sadly I expect it to be gone forever as prime development land.”

Marion Deverill said: “My husband and sons have caddied there. We had many walks over that course – it will be a shame.”

Potters Bar is at least the sixth UK golf club to have closed down in the last six weeks.

Carrick Knowe Golf Club in Edinburgh closed – with reports suggesting that its membership had fallen to just 20 people. The club had hit ‘acute financial difficulties’ according to Edinburgh Evening News, which had seen the facility struggling ‘to pay its creditors’. The venue was established in 1905.

Fishwick Hall Golf Club in Lancashire entered administration with the loss of 11 people’s jobs. The club was established in 1912.

106-year-old Lancashire golf club ceases trading

Raglan Parc Golf Club in Wales announced that it was closing with immediate effect. A statement published on the club’s website suggested the club had been unable to secure a new lease with its landowner. The club had 400 members.

Just two days earlier, Canwick Park Golf Club in Lincolnshire’s members voted to enter voluntary liquidation at the club’s EGM. The club recently said it was struggling to pay the £25,000 per year rent to its landowner, Jesus College Oxford. Reports suggest that the club’s future will now lie in the hands of the liquidators.

Southwood Golf Course in Farnborough also closed in October – months earlier than it was due to, because of the collapse of Mack Golf. 

 

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir December 3, 2018 16:19
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6 Comments

  1. Terry Laffar April 30, 14:16

    I have just found out that Potters Bar Golf club has closed. Unfortunately I have to agree with Micky Mulls about the shoddy way that Societies were recently treated. Over several years I have taken my society to P.B.G.C and our members were always treated fairly and with the greatest of respect. Unfortunately our last visit in August 2018, when we played 36 holes was to see our return to an empty clubhouse at 6.00 pm where there were no staff present. A representative was rushed from her home to serve us Fosters in cans purchased from a local store. It is such a shame that a good club has now closed and course that always provided a good challenge is no more.

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  2. Mikey February 6, 17:56

    I was an artisan member and a caddy in the early 1950s. I KNEW Tony Jacklin personally, great lad.

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  3. Mickeymulls December 4, 13:14

    So sad but the directors to blame there is not a proper bar for socialising after a game . The SOCIETY I run played there a few years back and after we had played the place was closed with all our kit inside no bar open and had to go to a pub in the area for food and drinks.no way to run a golf club the directors didn,t give a shit . The golf course has great potential in the tight hands

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  4. Sean December 3, 12:11

    Tony Jacklin started his career here ….sad sad news

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    • Winn June 10, 20:36

      Started as an assistant green keeper in 1971 and learnt to play golf under the tutorship of Kevin Spurgeon who is now on the pro senior tour.was a member of the Artisans until i left to work at Bush hill park golf club .I am saddened to hear of this news as I loved working and playing golf there( rebuilt the 8 th green hot summer of 1976.The place will always be in my heart !

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  5. stephen December 3, 12:09

    Tony Jacklin was assistant pro there too. #tragic #signofthetimes

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