Rosny Park Public Golf Course to host its final round on April 24
Golf’s state and national governing bodies have submitted a proposal to council over the impending closure of a much-loved course they hope will save it from its demise. LATEST >>
Tasmania
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- Council wants to transform Rosny Golf Course into public space
- Talking Point: 100-year-old golf course must stay
UPDATE:
GOLF’S state and national governing bodies say they are “extremely disappointed” at plans to close the Rosny Park public golf course and have submitted a proposal that would see the sport continue in some form at the site.
In a joint statement on Thursday, Golf Tasmania president Georgette Chilcott and Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said golf had been played at the course for more than 100 years and they wanted that to continue.
Mr Sutherland told the Mercury the proposal to council had occurred on March 19.
“Golf Australia and Golf Tasmania hope that its joint proposal is received favourably and that the community will still have access to a site that contains an affordable golf facility for all,’’ he said.
“Our over-arching mission is to have more Australians playing more golf, in any form. So we firmly believe that maintaining the sport’s long-standing ties to this brilliant area helps us meet that objective and also fill a demand for public golf not only on the Eastern Shore, but across Hobart.”
Earlier this year, Mr Sutherland suggested the space could be used as a golf learning centre, public driving range, short game or mini golf facilities.
It comes amid news that golfers have only weeks to enjoy the course — next to Eastlands shopping centre — before it closes to the public on April 24.
The lease for the course expires on April 30 as council looks at options of how to use the land as public open space under its City Heart project.
EARLIER:
GOLFERS will soon tee off for the final time at a much-loved Eastern Shore public golf course that has served the greater Hobart area for more than 100 years.
The lease for the Rosny Park Public Golf Course, owned by Clarence City Council and operated by the YMCA, expires on April 30 as council investigates options of how to use the land as public open space under its City Heart project.
It comes after a 10-month extension was given in July last year following fears the course — next to Eastlands shopping centre — would close for good.
YMCA has announced the final rounds will be played on April 24.
For brothers Peter and Andrew Miller, the permanent shut down of the much-loved course – where they have been playing since the 1960s – is particularly sad.
“Our dad had a little kiosk on the 11th hole back in those days. We grew up on the golf course … it kept us off the streets, so to speak,” Peter said.
“It’s a great little spot. Where else next to a capital city do you get a public golf course?”
Andrew said the imminent closure was “tragic”.
“A lot of people can’t afford to join a golf club … so you need something like this,” he said.
“We’ve been playing here our whole lives. We’ve spent just about every weekend over here.”
Matt Potter said the course’s demise was sad.
“From a wellbeing point of view, it’s a great central place for people to meet after work and check in with each other,” he said.
“From the game’s point of view, this is a perfect place for beginners to come, have a go, have a swing and see if you like it. There’s not really anywhere like it.”
Mr Potter said he had hoped to one day take his daughter Billie, 4, to play at the course.
“She’s only very young but she’s got a club and has a swing around in the backyard,” he said.
Alderman Luke Edmunds, who has advocated to have the course stay open, said the timing of the closure was puzzling.
“I think the most galling part for these guys and myself is that golf is being turfed off this site this month, and there’s not really a plan for what’s going to take over, other than a park that no one is going to use,” he said.
“I think that’s a real slap in the face for golfers, when golf has been on this site for more than 100 years.”
Ald Edmunds said the region already had plenty of parks and greenfield spaces, and shutting down the course would take away a meaningful recreational activity for people of all ages.
Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said an initial round of consultation on how to best use the space the golf course currently occupies had been completed.
Ald Chipman said council had authorised its general manager to seek expressions of interest from expert landscape and public space architects to consider ideas gained during consultation.
He said they would then brief the council on options for how the space could be used but in the meantime, an interim plan had been approved that sought to open the area up to the general public.
“We’ve very keen to see it used by the wider public as an open space area,” he said.
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