
Words & Photos by Ben Pryde
It has been 95 years since Dalmuir Municipal Golf Course first opened its doors to the public, yet people from across the community still flock to play the peaceful yet enthralling municipal course.
As it’s not nationally ranked or part of any major competition, local golf enthusiasts – young and old – use it to refine their skills and improve.
Martin Jordan, a course regular, spoke with me about Dalmuir and golf itself, talking about the reasons behind his love for the sport, his early memories of the course and what spurs him on to keep playing the same 18 holes almost every weekend.
“I first started playing golf in October 1973 when I was 12 with the fee being sixpence, if my memory serves me well.
“I took up golf because I fractured my hip playing football the year before.
“It was discovered I had a brittle bone condition and was advised it wouldn’t stand up to the rigours of football, so it was suggested I take up golf.
“I’ve managed to play nearly 400 courses, some of which I wouldn’t have expected to get on in a million years, so I’ve been very lucky… but I always end up back at my first golfing love – Dalmuir.”
The course is one of the best 18-holes in the west of Scotland and with 30 Club captains for Clydebank Overtoun Golf Club since 1970 – it is still competitive, while providing a relaxed setting for those new to the golfing scene.
Martin added: “When I started playing regularly on a Saturday, Dalmuir was chock-a-block with golfers queuing from around 5am to get a sharp start.
“In those days there was a starter’s hut with a ball shoot to determine the order of play. As the starter did not appear until around 7.30am, balls were placed between 2 bricks before being transferred into the shoot for the first tee time at 8am.
“A normal Saturday for me would be a 7am pick-up to just get out before the club as they had the tee reserved from around 10am. Thank God for the cafe which did a roaring trade!”
From an architectural perspective, the course is up there with the best and, spanning more than 5,000 yards, it is so easy to be lost in the beautiful bunkers, fabulous fairways and great greens.
Every hole of the 18 has a unique charm to it and is brilliant for those snaps to stick on social media!
Many golfers have a favourite hole on their regular course and Martin is no exception. “The Gully, which is now the 14th hole – when I first started playing it was the 3rd – is such a test from the back tee and a complete card wrecker. I also like the Dog Leg with a par 4, greeted like a lottery win.”
However, another was host to one of his favourite memories on the green.
“May 9 2021 was my one, and so far only, hole-in-one.
“No surprise it was at the Wee Drap, around 8.45pm on a murky Sunday evening.
“Because of the light, it was difficult to see if it was in the hole but I kind of knew it was in as it appeared to stroll to the hole at a perfect pace.”
The Wee Drap is the most popular of the holes due to the drop of the hill in the hole. This is the 12th hole of the course and, some say, the most fun to play.
The facilities at the Course include a well-run shop, with top-tier golf equipment and clothing and the cafeteria providing refreshments to those golfers who need a water break during their round.
Lessons are available from trained coaches with anyone able to sign-up, from the beginners starting to play the wonderful sport to the experts trying to maintain and refine those superb skills of theirs.
There is also a plethora of individually run clubs – other than the main Clydebank Overtoun – who play weekly tournaments with memberships available on request during the off-season.
These clubs play on Saturday and Sunday mornings, with one being an over-65 club for retirees looking for competitiveness and – most importantly – fun and general positivity with other members.
Dalmuir has been, and still is, significantly influential to Clydebank’s society, with no member fees and reasonable payments during this winter season.
Priced at £11 for an adult on weekdays – £16.50 on weekends and public holidays – with juveniles being £5.50, the real question is why would you not spend time with your friends and family playing these excellent 18 holes?
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