A popular golf course on Hobart’s Eastern Shore will stay open for 10 months, but long-term future is tenuous

Golfers will be able to enjoy a popular public golf course near Hobart, but an end date is in sight with other uses being considered for the land. Find out more >>

A PUBLIC golf course on Hobart’s Eastern Shore will stay open for the next 10 months but its future beyond that is under a cloud.

Clarence City councillors approved a recommendation at Monday night’s meeting to keep open the course, which is leased to the YMCA.

Council will pay $2500 per month towards the operation of the asset, in addition to maintaining the irrigation system.

The new lease will expire in April next year, but there are no guarantees it will be extended thereafter, with the land subject to consultation under the City Heart urban renewal project.

The immediate future of the course had been under a cloud due to falling patronage and the potential for the land to be used for other purposes.

The course, which sits next to Eastlands shopping centre, has been run by the YMCA for the past 10 years.

Alderman Luke Edmunds said the interim arrangement would keep the course open but sounded a “warning bell” that the council would not provide continuous subsidisation.

But Ald Edmunds said there was benefits to keeping the course open, including its accessibility and affordability.

He said it was now up to the YMCA to devise a strategy to make the operation of the course more tenable.

Golfer Harrison Doyle of West Hobart at the Rosny Park public golf course as the golf course has an uncertain future. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Alderman Dean Ewington said he was excited by the opportunity for what the land could be used for in the future.

He said while it would be disappointing for golfers if the course did shut, but said the short-term lease allowed time for council and the community to determine the best use of the land.

Cr Tony Mulder believed that at the end of the 10 months, it would be the end of golf as the sole use of the area.

Cr Mulder said the land was “prime open space” and there was potential to create small active areas, walks and nature trails at the site.

“You are looking at very valuable real estate. It should not be made for the exclusive use of some people all the time. It ought to be open for the public and ratepayers’ funds should be used to support all ratepayers,’’ he said.

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Council’s general manager Ian Nelson told the meeting that the vast majority of the land on which the golf course sits was subject to a community purpose covenant.

He was responding to a question from Alderman Beth Warren who said she had heard concerns from the community that the land could be sold to a developer.

YMCA Hobart chief executive Melissa Carlton said she was hopeful the golf course could remain in operation beyond the new 10-month lease.

She encouraged people to have their say about the land through the consultation process.

“We want to continue on at the course if that’s what the community wants,’’ she said.

“We’ve really enjoyed being part of the history of the golf course.”

Ms Carlton said YMCA appreciated council’s support to keep the course running in the interim.

The course has been in operation since 1970 and was initially operated by the council, but has been leased to a private operator since 1984.

Golfers tee off there for between 18,000 and 22,000 rounds each year.