The future of Rosny Park Public Golf Course is uncertain, with lease agreement about to expire

One of the few public golf courses in the Greater Hobart area which hosts almost 20,000 rounds per year could be about to close, with fears for its future when a lease agreement ends later this month.

THE future of a prominent public golf course on Hobart’s Eastern Shore is uncertain, with fears it could be closed when a lease agreement expires in less than four weeks.

The Rosny Park Public Golf Course is owned by Clarence City Council and operated by the YMCA, but the lease is due to expire at the end of this month.

Golfers tee off for between 18,000 and 20,000 rounds each year at the nine-hole course, which sits next to the Eastlands shopping centre.

Negotiations on the future of the course are ongoing between council and the YMCA — and there are differing opinions among councillors about how the space should be used.

Alderman Richard James said he was “really fearful” the course would close and said he was in favour of council further subsidising the course.

“In my view it’s a key element in our social fabric of the community on the Eastern Shore,’’ he said.

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

“It’s a public golf course where people can feel free rather than to subscribe to an annual fee or be locked into an annual membership. It’s available for everyone to enjoy.”

Ald James said the YMCA should be given a chance to increase patronage to make the running of the golf course more viable.

But Cr Tony Mulder disagrees, saying it could be better used for the benefit of all residents.

“The golf course has been here for a fair while and it was cut back from 18 to nine holes several years ago,’’ he said.

“Now it’s struggling along, I don’t think it’s financially viable and council shouldn’t be subsidising it.”

YMCA chief executive Melissa Carlton said negotiations were ongoing with council about YMCA continuing to manage the course beyond June 30.

“We have been having positive conversations with council officers and it is going to come up at a council meeting in the next couple of weeks,’’ she said.

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said council was in negotiations with YMCA about the lease.

“Due to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the council and community, the council is concerned as to whether it can afford to subsidise the golf course and provide a balanced budget,’’ he said.

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“It would be premature to speculate on the outcomes of the negotiations at this stage.”

Council said negotiations had been taking place in recent weeks, with a decision expected to be made soon.

Council said the area of land was subject to consultation under the City Heart urban renewal project.

Golf Tasmania development manager Simon Weston said public courses were places where many golfers were introduced to the sport.

“Public courses are a starting point for them which is good for our sport and more often than not, they’ll tend to graduate and become a member of a club,’’ he said.

“[If it closed] I think it would have a very negative impact on the sport. They serve a demographic of people who may choose not to join a golf club and certainly we would be very concerned to see it close.”

Keen golfer Harrison Doyle, of West Hobart, said a round of golf with mates at the course was an almost weekly occurrence.

“It’s great to have a nice local golf course that’s accessible to everyone, so it’s disappointing to hear it might be in jeopardy,’’ he said.