A Bankie who has caddied on some of the world’s top golf courses has revealed that a Clydebank green remains his favourite.

Craig Connelly grew up in Dalmuir and regularly played at Dalmuir Municipal Golf Course throughout his childhood. It is here that he says he fell in love with the game.

The 46-year-old, who has been a caddy for more than 27 years, has carried bags for three top players – Paul Casey, Colin Montgomerie, and Martin Kaymer - on the PGA Tour, LIV Tour and numerous Ryder Cups.

Craig, a former caddy of the year, told the Post that his roots in Dalmuir make it one of his favourite courses in the world and as such he has joined calls to save the green from being downsized/closed.

He said: “I was very, very lucky to have Dalmuir Municipal on my doorstep when I was a kid. It’s important to me that it stays open.

“I was fortunate to fall in love with golf here, Clydebank is still my home and if it wasn’t for Dalmuir I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.

“Not everyone can afford to join a club. Municipal golf courses are part of the foundation of junior golf and for those taking it up for the first time.

“Golf should be accessible for everybody. It would be a travesty if Dalmuir was ever let go.”

It comes after we exclusively revealed that Dalmuir, West Dunbartonshire’s only public golf course, could be axed amid “rapidly reducing budgets”.

On March 6 West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) – which owns the course – will meet to set its budget for 2024/25.

Councillors will be asked to consider more than 50 money-saving options to plug an £8.3 million black hole, one of which is to either downsize Dalmuir to a 12-hole course or close it permanently.

In response to this news Overtoun Golf Club, one of several that play at Dalmuir, launched a petition to save the landmark course.

Craig explained he has given the petition his full backing.

He said: “If you close the course, it’s gone forever and if you downsize it, yeah it’s still there in some capacity but downsizing it is just the same as closing it, it wouldn’t be the same course.

“The golfers were told on February 17 and the budget will be set on March 6, which doesn’t give them time to do anything. Three weeks' notice is pretty poor.

“Various councils across Scotland just seem to be dropping leisure facilities left, right, and centre.

"Who knows what impact this will have? The council aren’t seeing the grassroots of the game they just see it as a cost-cutting measure.

“I know all councils are scrimping and saving just to get by but for years this has been let go to wrack and ruin.

“Dalmuir is a fantastic facility, including the park. I’m sure if you ask any Clydebank golfers where they started, they’d say Dalmuir.

“It is one of my favourite golf courses in the world because it’s where I learned to play. It needs to be saved and I think with a little bit of TLC it could get back to its magnificent best.”

A WDC spokesperson said: “A meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council will take place next month to discuss the budget for the upcoming financial year.

“No final decisions will be taken on any of the options presented until this meeting.”