Balls up in the air
ONE of the few public golf courses in the Greater Hobart area could close, with fears for its future when a lease agreement ends this month.
The Rosny Park Public Golf Course is owned by Clarence City Council and operated by the YMCA, but the lease is due to expire in four weeks time.
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.
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 expires 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 — but 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 it. “In my view it’s a key element in our social fabric of the community on the Eastern Shore,’’ he said. “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 disagreed, 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 Hobart chief executive Melissa Carlton said negotiations were ongoing with council about YMCA continuing to manage the course beyond June 30.
Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said it would be “premature” to speculate on the outcome of the talks, but added: “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.”
Golf Tasmania development manager Simon Weston said public courses were places where many golfers were introduced to the sport.
“[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 with mates at the course was a regular 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.