Hollandbush handover heralds exciting new era for Lanarkshire club
Two years after closure fears, hopes are high that 70 new members can be added to a current total of 340
Just under two years after it had been feared it could be doomed for closure, Hollandbush Golf Club in Lanarkshire is now officially in the hands of its members and looking as though it can go from strength to strength.
After the terms of a Community Asset Transfer granted last year by South Lanarkshire Council were met through sheer “hard work”, a Handover Ceremony took place at the Coalburn/Lesmahagow course on Sunday.
Instead of being lost as a facility, Hollandbush now has a five-year business plan in place and hopes are high that 70 new members can be added to a current total of 340 for the 2026/27 season.
"This is one of the most ambitious community asset transfers in South Lanarkshire and it is an example of what practical community action and genuine partnership can achieve,” Joe Fagan, leader of South Lanarkshire Council, told The Scotsman. “It is really heartening to see so much hard work come to fruition.
‘It feels exciting’
"From a crisis - and, make no mistake, councils faced a budget crisis - has come a remarkable opportunity and it is an opportunity the team at Hollandbush have made the most of. It is a people-powered community venture that shows what can be achieved when we work together."
The CAT granted to Hollandbush is similar to the one that saw Winterfield in Dunbar take over the day-to-day running of its course and clubhouse from East Lothian Council and EnjoyLeisure last April.
“It feels exciting,” admitted Jeph Hamilton, chair of a new board of trustees at Hollanbush, of the handover taking place. “The CAT was granted on 26 February2025 and we will have completed the transition in 11 months - no mean feat.
“The board of Trustees and the club manager, Mags Cathcart, and staff have put a huge effort in to get to this point. The members continue to be hugely supportive and want to be part of our journey to support community and grass- roots golf.”
In what has been a “huge transition effort” with South Lanarkshire Council and South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture, a sum of £275,000 has been raised in grants to cover set-up costs, specifically greenkeeping equipment, the recruitment of three greenkeeping staff and three course starters.
The five-year business plan covers marketing, social outcomes and improving the golf course for members and visitors alike.
‘The club is very positive about its future’
“The club is very positive about its future,” added Hamilton, “but, at the same time, everyone recognises the hard work that will be needed to make it a success. Being a charity, we aim where we can to leverage grant funding for social outcome projects and environmental outcomes such as solar and water capture projects to reduce utility bills.
“Growing and retaining members and driving up pay-as-you-play income will be key, and this will be supported by our head greenkeeper, who has a lot of great ideas to improve the course and is engaging our membership to establish realistic priorities, making Hollandbush a members-led course.”
It was Cathcart who raised the alarm about the future of Hollandbush in a social media post back in 2024 and she is now delighted to be part of an exciting new era for her beloved club.
“The biggest change over the last 12 months hasn’t just been workload - it’s ownership. Everything sits with us now. Success feels personal. So do the challenges,” she said.
“Running the day-to-day engine of the club in peak season is already a full-time pressure cooker. Twice-weekly competitions don’t organise themselves. Opens need entries, tee sheets, volunteers, prizes, catering, results. Outings expect a seamless experience. Behind all of that sits the invisible stuff, invoice processing, supplier contracts, payroll, insurance, utilities ticking away whether the sun shines or not.
“Operational stress is immediate and practical. Asset transfer stress is long-term and consequential. We’re not just keeping the lights on; we’re trying to secure the future of the club at the same time.
‘The club feels different’
“My commitment and adrenaline have got me very far. Further than most people realise. They’re powerful fuels, especially when I care deeply and I know what’s at stake. The club feels different, there’s energy, direction, intent. That only happens when people care enough to take on ‘the hard work’.”
What is the membership looking like heading into this new era? “By transitioning in February, we are taking on the reins ahead of knowing our signed up membership quotas for the 2026-27 season,” said Hamilton. “Our target is to gain 70 new members and retain around 340, and early signs show that we remain on track for that.
“Membership offers have been established that support retention and new members, too. This is a key part of our business plan and one we remain hugely focussed on in the build up to the new season kicking off in April.”
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