This support is appreciated

Sir, – You reported the decision of Perth and Kinross Council to spend £50,000 on improving the historic and delightful Perth North Inch Golf Course. I congratulate them on their belated, if rather limited, support for this under-appreciated and oft-maligned course.

In my opinion, the course is the best in Perth. It provides a good variety of challenges to the club golfer from the short picturesque 16th to the tricky Annie’s Well and playing the course is an enjoyable, not too arduous walk through a park populated by magnificent trees and offering stunning views of the Tay and Perth.

Interestingly, on the day your article was published another newspaper reported on the well-researched fact that exercise staves off dementia. Also, obesity in the young is an ongoing concern in health circles and the media. So anything that promotes physical activity is a boon to the local community.

The North Inch golf course is comparatively inexpensive which has the potential, if marketed properly, of getting more people involved in healthy exercise. There is an opportunity with the Ryder Cup coming soon to encourage youth involvement in the game – just as curling is making good use of the Olympics for a similar purpose.

Hopefully this small beginning by the council will lead to more support in the future. George Thomson. 7 Glenearn Park, Forgandenny.