Golf courses running out of ‘allotted’ time?
City may transform golf courses into allotments
GOLF courses in Edinburgh could be turned into allotments because of a fall in the number of people playing the game.
An audit by the city council has identified an over-provision of council-run golf courses in the Scottish capital.
At the same time, the waiting list for allotment plots continues to grow, with latest figures showing more than 2,100 people are on the list.
The council is now to investigate if some courses could be closed and replaced by allotments or used as other sporting facilities as part of a city-wide review of Edinburgh’s “open space”.
The latest audit found a quarter of all the city’s open space is taken up by golf courses.
Dave Anderson, the council’s director of city development, said: “Indications of falling demand for golf suggest potential over-provision of courses. Set in the context of significantly increased demand for other facilities, such as allotments and sports pitches, this raises major strategic issues for open space as golf courses constitute a significant proportion of the city’s total open-space resource.”
A draft open-space strategy is now being drawn up in conjunction with Edinburgh Leisure, golf clubs and national groups.
There are six council-run courses in the city
– Braid Hills, Carrick Knowe, Craigentinny, Portobello, Princes and Silverknowes.
Hamish Grey, chief executive of the Scottish Golf Union, said the recession had hit private golf clubs across the country, with membership falling by 2-3 per cent.
However, he said pay-and-play courses remained popular and the union was “looking forward to discussing with Edinburgh City Council how to maximise enjoyment of the courses”.
Whilst an initial review has identified potential new allotment sites, Mr Anderson said the open-space strategy was “an opportunity to consider sites for which there may be declining demand for another use ”.
Green councillor Alison Johnstone said: “It doesn’t make sense if we are using a massive percentage of our green space for a smaller group of people than would be interested in allotments or other uses. But any review should be as equitable and sensible as possible.”
A council spokeswoman said: “As golf courses make up a quarter of the open space in Edinburgh, it is important they are included in the study. However, information on how these facilities are being used is still being gathered.”
Source: The Scotsman
2009 Golf Course Environment Award winners announced
THE inaugural STRI Golf Course Environment Awards Programme is now complete, and winners have been selected. The full list of Awards winners is as follows:
Overall Achievement Award - St. Andrews Links Trust
Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year - Matt Worster - Minchinhampton Golf Club
Regional Winner (Scotland) - Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee
Regional Winner (Northern England) - Fairhaven Golf Club
Regional Winner (Southern England) - Burhill Golf Club
Regional Winner (Wales) - Aberdovey Golf Club
Conservation & Biodiversity Management Award - The Bedfordshire Golf Club Integrated Turf Management Award - Lymm Golf Club Waste Management Award - Loch Lomond Golf Club Water Management Award - Penlanlas Golf Club Case Study - St. Andrews Links Trust
For further details about the Awards visit
www.golfenvironmentawards.com or alternatively contact STRI’s Ecology and Environment Team direct on 01274 518903.
The awards were sponsored by:
For the Turf Management and Groundscare Professional
Exhibition Tuesday 19 January 2010 Wednesday 20 January 2010 Thursday 21 January 2010
Education 17-21 January 2010
Venue Harrogate
International Centre North Yorkshire England
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