MUNICIPAL GOLF.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1974, 3 February 1914, Page 8

MUNICIPAL GOLF.

ON HILLS NEAR VOGELTOWN.

USE FOR TOWN BELT,

For a long timo a few enthusiasts, of whom Dr. R. A. Cameron is. perhaps tho most enthusiastic, havo been anxious to have a .public golf course laid out on the hills of tho Town Belt below VogelA meeting called for giving definite sliape to tho proposal was held in a. committee room of tho Town Hall last night, at which about 20 people, including Councillor A. H. Hindmarsh (who expressed himself as in favour of the scheme) wore present. ', Dr. A. A. Cameron, who presided, said,that whilo ho had been at Homo he had done all he could to investigate the municipal golf idea, and ho had been surprised at the result of his investigation. Ho could say, without fear of contradiction, that tho Brunsfield Golf Course at Edinburgh was the finest children's playground in tho world. It was surprising how young children took to the game, and it was extremely pleasing to see them playing on these links, which were right in the city. There was altogether a wrong idea abroad that golf was a dangerous game, and that to institute golf on the city reservos would drive the people off them. Nothing of the sort would happen. Over these Brunsfield linta twenty times as many people passed in a day as over the Basin Reserve. The play had no terrors for them. • On the contrary, it attracted them to tho links, and here the effect of playing golf on tho reserves would be to induce people , to go on to the reserves. People would be induced to go through the land, and the laying out of a golf course would make the passage easier by reason of turnstiles being made through, some of the formidable' barb wire fences there. Anil there was a pavilion ready to hand. wh,ieh it was hoped'the council would give. It. was the building erected as a plague hospital, and it had never been put, to any use. If established, the game would be taken' up readily by very ma.ny people who found that other amusements, such as tennis, were unattainable for them because all the clubs were full. It would be an additional attraction here for visitors, and there were few enough attractions now. A good course could be made for the sum of £500, and he would guaranteo the council a greater revenue from, it than from any of their £13,000 recreation grounds. There seemed' to be an absurd idea that people must not. be allowed to play games on our' Town Belt. To his mind such an idea was absurd. For his own part, he thought the golfers would take a lot of keeping off; he intended to begin playing next Saturday. Finance would be. a. but it was being got over. Some arrangement would havo to be made with the. lessees' of the Town Belt, but golf would , not injure the pasture, and the clearing of gorse would even improve the grounds. The cattlo would not be molested. Hβ had. thoiight a guinea a-year a fair charge for adults, but the charge ought to be fixed, by the council. Ho himself had promised to give SO guineas in four years, ten guineas for the first course opened, andif a- children's course were opened within the first year he would give an additional ten guineas. Mr. P. C. Watt had, promised five guineas a year, and a number of others had pro- ; unused a guinea. In all ■' about 100 pineas wero available for the first year. . The playing of golf would not interfere with other , .iiispbrts; for 'the land would not lie useful for any other game. The ground was suitable for a very good course, .and it : had beejivreryiliavoui-i ably .reported xipori by thVtwo 1 'proies'siionals, Simpaon.and Watt. Ho knew, of course, that,niuch of the land was gorse-covered, but the clearing of it for golf would increase the value of it for lessees. , ■ ■ , ,- '

There followed a general discussion on the project, and the opinion of those who knew tho ground and knew the game was that the scheme was practicable, and desirable. Dr. Cameron insisted that the- fixing of fees to be charged must be left to the council, but a guinea, a year for adults did not seem to him to be too much. There was a suggestion also that those who did not wish to pay a guinea subscription should be charged a small sum for a round. This, as was pointed out, would not prevent others from having season tickets, and beforethe proposal was put to ..tho council it would be wise to have ah idea of what the revenue would be. This could only be ascertained by guaranteeing a number of season subscriptions. ■■■.'" .-; Mr. J. M'lntosh was elected actingsecretary. '• :• \ It was. agreed that a deputation wait upon the council to get sanction for the edheme. "''"■.. It, was resolved: "That in the meantime, with the object of obtaining knowledge of the'financial'position, the following maximum scale of fees be submitted for the approval of the council: Yearly tickets for players over 19 years, one guinea; yearly tickets for players from 16 years to 19 years; 10s. 6d.; yearly tickets ,for players, under. 16 years, ss: for. the first child,: and'2s. 6d. for every additional child in the same family. , ' , - • It was further suggested that tho rate for casual players be sixpence per game for players over' 19 years, and threepence per game, for other players. A further proposal was agreed to that all present, ascertain , what'people would be willing to contribute towards 'the funds, j ■