GOLFERS swung into action to spruce up their beloved club.

A dedicated team of members at Greenock Golf Club enjoyed a labour of love to bring the Forsyth Street clubhouse and grounds up to date.

A taskforce of 15 volunteers have been busy painting, pruning and planting since the club re-opened after lockdown.

Alastair Roy, 52, a former vice-captain, and a member for more than 40 years, said: "We wanted to bring the place up to standard for the members coming back.

"It was a bit overgrown and the clubhouse hadn't been painted for a few years.

"So there was a team of boys up painting the sills black as a nice contrast with the white and giving the flower beds a bit of a tidy.

Alistair, of Brisbane Street, said it was hard not being able to play during lockdown."

Alistair says everyone missed being able to get on the course during lockdown.

He told the Tele: "You don't know what you've got until it's gone - you take it for granted.

"We still walked the course every day but it wasn't the same as getting the clubs out and playing.

"I have been a member for 44 years.

"I just love the camaraderie and the friendships I've made here over those 40 years - friendships for life.

"My father died when I was only nine, a year after me and my brothers joined the club, so his friends took us under their wing.

"We had all these surrogate father figures although they are all getting older now."

The club bid farewell last week to one of its best known members, Roy Brabender, who passed away at the age of 84 and had been a member since the 1950s.

Alistair said: "He was part of the fabric of the club and the longest serving member."

Generations of families have come through the historic club, which was founded in 1890.

Alistair said: "My brothers Alex and Kenny have been here for the same length of time as me, Alex was a past captain.

"I'm up here three or four times a week.

"My wife Pauline always says if I'm not here you'll get me at home.

"My grandson Charlie has just joined at around the same age I was."

The work at the club will be ongoing to keep repairs and maintenance up to date.

The impressive clubhouse was built in 1935 and is a source of real pride for members.

Alistair said: "It is an iconic building, on the top the hill with views over the Clyde and Helensburgh.

"It is beautiful, there's no place like it."