Lochcarron Golf Club opening of new clubhouse
Tuesday May 25 2004
Lochcarron Golf Club has a new £116,000 clubhouse which was officially opened today (Tuesday 25 May) by long term member and former Chairman, Roddy ‘Butcher’ MacLennan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Roddy said: “Having played here all my life with no clubhouse facilities, I think it is marvellous that members and visitors alike are now going to be able to change indoors and come in for refreshments. I hope this will encourage more people to come and enjoy golf here and I would like to thank everyone who has worked hard to give us this lovely clubhouse.”
Standing on a prominent site next to Lochcarron Golf Course, the new clubhouse has excellent views over the head of Loch Carron. Designed by Kyle architect Frank Burstow, it was built by Lochcarron builders MacKenzie & MacKenzie.
The Golf Club Committee expressed their gratitude for the generous support they have received for this project, with financial support coming from the sportscotland Lottery Fund Sport Facilities Programme, Ross and Cromarty Enterprise (RACE), the Highland Council, Lochcarron Games Association, anonymous donors and many members and supporters.
Gordon Cox, Chief Executive of RACE said: “This excellent new clubhouse will enhance the facilities available for both locals and visitors to the area. RACE is very happy to have been able to assist this valuable community driven project. I am confident it will help attract even more members to the club and provide more opportunities for people in Lochcarron to become involved in the sport.”
Club Chairman Norman Cameron said: “We have come a long way since Alastair Beattie, our Secretary, launched a feasibility study nearly six years ago and I am delighted to welcome everyone to our new clubhouse. Frank Burstow and Willie MacKenzie have provided us with an excellent clubhouse which can now be enjoyed by all members and visitors to Lochcarron. I would like to thank everyone who provided funding support; without them we would not be here today.
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland added: “sportscotland is delighted that the new clubhouse at Lochcarron Golf Club, supported by an award of £60,130, is completed, enabling further development of the club’s membership and extending the community use of the new facilities.
“This new clubhouse gives us the base to help us look forward to an exciting future for the club. We hope to welcome new members and visitors and to build on the work we are already doing with the local schools to encourage beginner golfers. I would encourage anyone staying or visiting in the area to come and see what we have to offer.”
The provision of the clubhouse will also benefit the club’s young players taking part in the Clubgolf Programme, Scotland’s national junior golf strategy. The strategy which is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers’ Association and sportscotland has been developed as a direct result of the Scottish Executive’s commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child to the game by 2009.
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland added: “sportscotland is delighted that the new clubhouse at Lochcarron Golf Club, supported by an award of £60,130, is completed, enabling further development of the club’s membership and extending the community use of the new facilities.
“sportscotland aims to increase the number of participants in sport across Scotland by developing the local facilities available. By enabling people to have access to a range of sports in their locality, we hope to raise the number of individuals regularly taking exercise, thus leading to a healthier nation.”
Local catering team Christine & Gus Murray will be serving snacks and refreshments in the new clubhouse. Visitors are welcome to play at Lochcarron for £12 a day; no booking required.