A near 70-year-old controversial ban on Sunday golf ban in Stornoway remains in place after the course landlords refused to change the rules.
Directors of the community-owned Stornoway Trust have gone 6-3 against golfers teeing off on the Sabbath.
Under a historic clause in the lease golf has never been played, reflecting the historic local island values of observing the Sabbath.
The heated issue has raised tensions within the elected body.
The Stornoway Trust declines to announce the decision until it officially meets with the club management later today.
But trustee Colin Maclean revealed the meeting opted for “no Sunday golf”, adding: “It was 6-3 against. That’s pathetic.
“Times are changing. The Lews Castle is open, shops and bars are open in town” on Sundays while planes and ferries also operate seven days.
He believes it is double standards as people play football on Sundays on trust-owned pitch behind the club house.
At their recent annual meeting, golf club members present unanimously backed a move to allow seven-day golf.
The lease ran out last year and the course is currently rented under a temporary arrangement.
For many months both sides have been involved in discussions over drawing up a new agreement.
Increasing the token £50 annual rent for the 18-hole course is also likely it is strongly believed.
Conflicting desires within the community puts the publicly elected Stornoway Trust between a rock and a hard place.
Dramatic change in the Sabbath landscape compared to just a few years ago has seen the introduction of seven-day ferries and planes while a number of pubs and a couple of shops now open on the Lewis Sunday.
However, many islanders who are not churchgoers nor particularly religious strongly back Sunday observance where shops, public services and facilities are closed.
Sunday is the only time people can enjoy a stroll across the golf course without the risk of being in the way of a flying golf ball.