POTENTIAL BLOW TO NEW CLUBHOUSE PLANS

      The Broadhill Bar building which has been vacant for years ... but is suddenly the centre
                  of attraction for five potential bidders. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency

 ABERDEEN LINKS CLUBS' PLAN IN 

DANGER OF BEING STYMIED BY RIVAL

BIDDERS FOR BROADHILL BAR SITE


By COLIN FARQUHARSON

When the Aberdeen Links Golf Club formed by the merger of the present Bon Accord, Caledonian and Northern clubs, comes into being on April 1, the hopes were that they would move across Golf Road into a brand new clubhouse.
The plan was to purchase the vacant, almost derelict Broadhill Bar building from Aberdeen Town Council, knock it down and put up a smart new two-storey golf clubhouse, capable of housing the 600 to 700 members envisaged for Aberdeen Links Golf Club.
But the bad news is that suddenly - after years of business apathy towards its future - it would seem that there are at four or five bidders for the site.
Where have they been over the past 10 to 15 years?
Why have they waited until the golf clubs are on the verge of amalgamating and want to build their new home there?
That's what Caledonian Golf Club captain Derek Johnstone would like to know.
"We have learned that we face stiff competition in our bid to buy the Broadhill Bar premises," said Derek.
"Aberdeen Football Club, apparently, want the building as a training centre for their young players .... another company want to buy it to re-open as a public house ... and we hear that a developer is interested in using the site for an office building or housing.
"So it's not good news for the new golf club."
The danger is that Aberdeen Links Golf Club gets caught up in a "sold to the highest bidder" auction.
Until they sell their own land, presently occupied by their clubhouses and car parks, the officials of Bon Accord, Caledonian and Northern golf clubs do not have that kind of financial option.
So where would the new Aberdeen Links Golf Club go if not across to the Broadhill Bar site? 
That is the 64 dollar question.
Aberdeen Town Council apparently have the future of the site of the agenda for a meeting next Tuesday.