Local golf: whither now for our munis?
On March 31st maintenance of two of our municipal golf courses ended.
In a double blow for public golf in Wirral, both Brackenwood and Hoylake courses closed as Wirral Council attempts to save £20 million pounds and present a balanced, legal budget.
The other two municipals, Arrowe Park, and the nine hole Warren in Wallasey, will remain open. Of the four courses, these are the two most viable.
When cuts are made by councils, leisure services are often the first to endure the axe. Nine of the borough's 24 libraries and a leisure centre have also been told that funding will be withdrawn, but at least they will continue until November 1, whereupon they will also close, unless community groups can put together successful bids to take them off the council's hands.
The same is true of the two golf courses, though time is a little tighter, and golf may not necessarily be the land's new purpose. Expressions of interest in adopting them must be received by September 30, and In the budget passed on February 28 it was stated that there will be: "A full exploration of all proposals submitted during the consultation period for Hoylake and Brackenwood golf courses, including options for increasing fees, alternative provision and environmental projects."
The demise of Brackenwood and Hoylake will save the council £328,000 a year.
Naturally there has been great disappointment. Jackie Watts, secretary of the ladies section at Brackenwood, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The course means a heck of a lot, we've been here since 1935. We have very strong men's and ladies sections.
"A lot of people are playing into their late eighties. It's incredible that the council is closing it, it's the jewel in the municipal crown."
Ms Watts felt all of the courses should remain open. "It shouldn't be any of them [that have to close]. We have got an alternative operator who wants to take [Brackenwood] on, but they have to go through the hoops of the council.
Ms Watts added the ladies section has 41 members and the men's has around 100, with many others turning up and playing on a 'pay and play' basis. She said the atmosphere at the course creates a "great, vibrant clubhouse".
Speaking in March about the difficulty of finding a new provider after the course has closed down, Keith Marsh, secretary of the men's section at the club, said: "With a library, you can close it down and do a bit of maintenance and cleaning and open it again.
"But when the council closes the golf course in April and does not do any maintenance it will go to wrack and ruin."
Natural decline hasn't been helped by vandalism which has damaged the course since its closure.
The uncertain future of Wirral's public courses has been discussed for as long as the council has been trying to address its finances. Until recently, Hoylake municipal was regarded as bullet proof because part of it is used as the practice range for the world's greatest players when Royal Liverpool hosts The Open. The course also performs as parking space for spectators' cars and support vehicles.
The members' practice facility is put to better use as home to part of the tournament's infrastructure, including media facilities. Hence competitors are taken on the very short journey to the municipal course, a set-up which worked perfectly in 2006 and 2014.
The good news is that there is no risk to next year's or any future Royal Liverpool Opens - the council, the Club and tournament organisers The R&A have all resolved that the necessary land will be cared for and available come what may.
It's sad to see two local courses lose the support of public money, especially at a time when The R&A is determined to take the 'post-COVID opportunity'. In May last year, following research showing that, in 2020, golf participation increased by 2.3 million, Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, "We have seen a real surge in the number of golfers in Great Britain and Ireland playing the sport and this is reflected by the high demand for tee times and clubs reporting a strong interest in membership.
"Golf has shown that it can provide significant health benefits and this has been important for many golfers during these very challenging times. It is vital that golf seizes the opportunity to maintain this heightened interest by offering new and returning golfers compelling reasons to stay within the sport and enjoy it with friends and family."
Since then, the world has been darkened by a brutal war and our cost of living crisis deepens day by day, so the game of golf may seem the least of our worries.
But if people, especially youngsters, want to take up the sport, they need somewhere to cut their teeth and discover if it's for them.
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