Golf course once known as 'Scotland's Augusta' left to rot despite historic past

As the Open Championship at Royal Portrush captivates golf fans, another storied UK course has tragically fallen into neglect. Letham Grange in Angus, just north of Arbroath, was once celebrated as 'Scotland's Augusta' due to its striking beauty and resemblance to the iconic Masters venue.

The estate, featuring a mansion designed by Archibald Simpson, dates back to the 1820s. In the latter part of the 20th century, it was transformed into a hotel. Meanwhile, golfing icon Henry Cotton graced the opening of the golf club in 1987 shortly before his death. Boasting two courses, the Old Course and the Glens Course, Letham Grange quickly earned acclaim for its stunning landscape. However, the club ceased operations in 2019. Subsequent proposals were made to construct 250 new homes in the area, which would have financed the revival of the course.

However, these plans were abandoned following local resistance, reported The Courier in August 2024. The Taiwanese Liu family, which owns the site, said ploughing a million pounds into a planning application was an "unsustainable risk" they could not take.

Currently, the site, which also served as a venue for curling, stands dormant, with boarded-up windows and areas overrun by weeds. In 2023, a past club member captured images of the dilapidated site during a cycling trip.

Posting the photos to the Scotland from the Roadside Facebook group, Bob Durnan wrote: "While out cycling today I stopped at my old golf club. It's very sad to see this stunning building falling into disrepair.

"I was a member of the golf club for 10 years back in the late 90s, the building was stunning and the course got the nickname 'Scotland's Augusta'.

"The curling rink (complete with chandeliers) was used for international events and was the home ground of one of Scotland's curling champions Kelly Wood (Schafer), and in the summer the ice was melted and the room was used as a wedding venue (hence the chandeliers).

"We had Christmas parties in the hotel and a friend was married there, oh and the bedrooms were enormous. The victim of an ownership dispute for the past 15 years the building has been left empty and is literally falling to bits. So sad."

Fellow group members shared their dismay at the site's dilapidation. One said: "Fond memories of this fantastic course. Just waiting for someone to bring it to life again."

Another expressed regret, saying: "Sad, it was an impressive place to visit and a great golf course."

A third recalled: "Played golf there many a time in the 1980's. So sad to see the state of it now." A fourth commented on the heartbreaking images: "Just devastating to look at these pictures! You can tell it must have been beautiful at one time!"