Lothians stalwart Gordon Milligan urges players to support their local golf clubs

Gordon Milligan, left, teamed up with Connor Scott and John Shepherd when the trio represented the Capital club in the 2017 European Club Trophy in France

As many golfers around Scotland consider suspending club memberships during the coronavirus closure, an Edinburgh man is bucking the trend.

Gordon Milligan, a well-kent face in Lothians golfing circles, has reversed his decision not to take out a full membership at Duddingston in a show of support for the Capital club.

“Following the recent chaos in the world, I thought it was only decent to stand up and help out Duddingston in a small way during tough times,” he said.

“I spoke to Duncan Ireland, the club secretary yesterday, and told him that I will pay the full membership fees within the next week.”

Milligan, who was Tom Morris’s double in the film Tommy’s Honor, added: “I am a member of North Berwick and the Bass Rock Golf Clubs, but I honestly felt guilty not rejoining Duddie this year. I did remain a social member as this was my final year as match secretary.

“I help to pay 90 per cent of a young member’s fees who plays for the team. He’s a really nice lad who also plays at Dunbar but works in Edinburgh and enjoys playing in the Summer League.

“In only joining as a social member, I said to Duncan Ireland that I would pay for the team balls this season and also cover George McNeill’s fee for a dinner to celebrate Duddie’s 125 years.

“I had also arranged a sponsor to cover our team outfits but, as I was playing very little golf at Duddie I felt that by providing the above I personally gained more from this than paying my annual subs.”

Brora, one of Scottish golf’s hidden gems, fears it might struggle to exist beyond the current closure period, sending out a warning to members to that effect earlier in the

week.

Elsewhere, a number of clubs have put staff on furloughed leave, with 80 per cent of salaries up to £2,500 per month being paid by the government through the HMRC.

“It’s a very difficult one,” said Milligan, a former club champion at Archerfield Links, in reply to being asked if he felt members needed to stick by their clubs.

“I am in a fortunate position, however for people with a family mortgages and other debts to pay, suddenly the golf club sub is one way of freeing more money and the easiest thing to do is cancel a direct debit.

“The people who have close links with their golf clubs will stand by them. However, I honestly think they will be in the minority.

“There will be no doubt a reduction in clubs to come, but golf clubs have been part of the fabric of the working-class community throughout Scotland and long may that continue.”

Milligan, who was a caddie at Muirfield for more than 20 years, was introduced to the game by his dad when they were both members at Longniddry.

“How times have changed because, in the 1980s, every golf club in Edinburgh virtually had a waiting list,” he said.

“My father and had a great 25 years at Longniddry and all golf clubs had great memberships and characters during this period.

“Society and the speed of life has changed, but the people who really love the game will continue to be there.

“Scotland is the Home of Golf and we have a great golfing community.”