Clarence Council wants to transform the Rosny Golf Course into public green space

A lobby body for golf has appealed the decision to close an Eastern Shore course, saying there was not adequate consultation with users.

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GOLF Australia is seeking a meeting with the Clarence City Council in a bid to reverse a recent decision to close the course.

At last week’s council meeting elected members voted for the golf course lease not to be renewed beyond its April 30 expiry date.

Council wants to transform the land in central Rosny into public green space.

However Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the Rosny Park public course run by the YMCA was an important piece of community sporting infrastructure in southern Tasmania.

Montana Kennedy, 8 of Bellerive Primary and Stephen Weston, 8 of Cambridge Primary at Rosny Golf Course. Photograph Eddie Safarik

“We are concerned that council’s decision was made in the absence of adequate consultation with Golf Tasmania and users of the public golf course,” he said.

“As a public course and one of only two in southern Tasmania, Rosny Park is a vital community facility that provides a low-cost venue for people to engage in sporting activity and exercise.

“It gives players, particularly younger golfers, the opportunity to participate in the sport without having to pay club memberships and green fees associated with professional golf courses.”

Mr Sutherland said prior to COVID-19 more than 19,000 rounds were played each year at Rosny, with more than 12,000 rounds played this year, with the peak summer months to come.

“Golf Australia and Golf Tasmania would welcome a broader discussion as to how the Rosny Park course space could be used even more effectively as a golf learning centre, public driving range, short game or mini golf facilities to attract even more golfing participants,” he said.

“Golf has long been a mainstream Australian sport that is now enjoying even further growth.”

A spokesman for Clarence City Council said council had not had any engagement from Golf Australia prior to the meeting request made on Monday.

He said council conducted an open public consultation on the golf course between February and June, and Golf Australia did not provide any input into the consultation.