A COUNTY golf club picked up its flags for the final time last weekend.

Castle Park Golf Club in Gifford closed last Saturday, after the Wilson family, who own the course, did not receive any offers to keep the land on as a golf course after they decided to retire.

The land is set return to farmland, much to the disappointment of the village’s community council.

The course was established in 1994, initially as a nine-hole course, before expanding to 18 holes in 2002.

A statement from the Wilson family on the golf club website said: “The reasons for [the closure] are two fold: since we announced our impending retirement in early December we have had an unprecedented loss of members and as a result the golf course business will not be viable for 2015; and we have had offers for the land to revert to farmland and none at all to purchase a golf course.

“This is not how we intended our ownership of the course to end, but have accepted one of the offers.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you all for the past nine years and it is with sincere regret that we have to bow out on such a sad note.

“It is better to make a clean break at the end of the golfing year, January 31, and allow you all time to get fixed up with another club, in good time to get signed up for spring and summer competitions.” Jim Wilson owns the course with wife Lorna and son Craig, and he told the Courier: “It’s quite simple really – we gave notice that we want to retire and sell the course and not many people were forthcoming with offers.” And he added: “Golf clubs in general have been hit by falling memberships – but that is not the reason we’re selling. We are long since past retiring age.” The final day’s play at the Gifford course attracted a number of members, keen to play their final rounds on the course before it closed its doors.

And Mr Wilson admitted that the chance to sell the land for farming was one that seemed sensible, once the prospect of retaining a golf course on the site was ruled out.

He added: “Farming prices have soared recently and golf club land is suitable for farming. It made sense.” Craig McLachlan, Gifford Community Council chairman, said: “It’s a huge blow – I don’t know if there are sufficient words to describe it.

“There have been talks that there’s nothing concrete about it returning to farmland, but I know that members are greatly upset at its closure.

“With the way East Lothian is going, we really don’t need leisure facilities to close and it would be tragic if one of the better ones vanishes in one fell swoop.” Malcolm Duck, director of East Lothian’s ‘Scotland’s Golf Coast’ marketing campaign, said: “It really is a great, great shame.

“The drink-driving thing [new Scottish Government legislation lowering the drink-driving limit] is making it hard for all the clubs, whether it is golf clubs or others. People are not staying behind and having a glass of wine, they are just going home. How does the club drive revenue?

“East Lothian golf is still very strong because we have so many good links courses, but places like Haddington and Gifford are excellent and they shouldn’t be forgotten about either.

“Castle Park members need somewhere to play and I’m sure the East Lothian clubs will work together and help their members find alternative courses.”