MUNICIPAL LINKS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18149, 12 August 1924, Page 8

MUNICIPAL LINKS.

GOLFING NECESSITY. BOTTLE LAKE RESERVE SUGGESTED. The poularity of golf continues to grow, and every year sees it increase its number of devotees. It has tho advantage over such games as football and cricket in that, although considered on a proportional basis, it does not draw an oqu;il number of spectators, it; certainly attracts moro players. In order to meet the increasing demand for grounds a club was recently started at Harewood and another j\t Brooklands, both of which are already prospering. There was .1 time, and itwas not so very long ago, when golf was looked upon cis a game only for the well-to-do, colour beiug lent to the idea by the entrance i'ecs and subscriptions of the more exclusive clubs, and the value of tho beautifully laid cut and well-kept links many of Them possessed. Within recent year?., however the gamo has taken on a mora cosmopolitan aspect; hence links may be found in many little oountry towns and backblocks settlements, even the Lako Coleridge settlement, which is thirty miles from the nearest railhead, boasting its' golf course. For tne game to enjoy the popularity it reallv deserves it is necessary that it should be taken up by tho vast workaday public and many an expression of regret is lienrd that up to the present such has not .come about in Cliristchurcli. It is considered that the game will not attain tho degree of popularity it should have until the links are provided by the municipality, as is the case at Wellington, where the municipal links, which are situated at Borhanipore, -nave proved a gieat success and have placed golf witliin the reach of people who otherwise would have to forgo its pleasures because of the cost of belonging to a club. A representative of "The Press" had a conversation yesterday with Mr A. 'l3i:: sett, who was able to give him some interesting facts concerning municipal golf in Scotland. Mr Bissett was a member of the Carnoustie Golf Club, of Carnoustie, near Dundee. This club was one among a number of others, the members of which used to play on tho municipal links. The subscription was within the reach of any who desired to play the game, being os for the year, of which 2s 6d was paid by the club to the burgh for the use of the links. An additional chame. of Is <3d was made for a locker, and . apprentices were allowed membership on an annual subscription of 2s 6d. This latter sum was also the coat of a residential qualification ticket to play on the links, but iii respect of this the payment waa optional. The result of such assistance was that golf was regarded as practically the national game in this part of Scotland, and it was played by all sections of tho community. When a young player became enthusiastic over the game, he was <vblo to indulge in it for hours because of the early dawns and lengthy twilights experienced in this northerly latitude. As an instance of the proficiency attained by the golfers of Carnoustie, Me Bissett stated that over 200 professionals who were doing well in America had graduated from the club to which he had referred. There were municipal links in other parts of Scotland, and he had no doubt that they were regarded as valuable assets wherever tbev were. Asked if ho thoueht municipal links would be successful in Christchurch, he said he had no doubt of it, judging by the experience of other places in this connexion.' and he would like to see the proposal carried out.

This raises the question, "Where is there a suitable ground for such a purpose among the reserves owned by the city of Christchurch? There is one ground which, from a topographical point of view, appears to possess many advantages for laying out a,< 4 links. This is a portion of the Bottle Lake Reserve, on which the City Council is carrying out tree-planting operations. It consists of old sand dunes gently undulating, and if cleared of the shrubs which grow on it in parte, and property 'drained and sown in good grass, it sbouid ultimately became among the finest links in Canterbury, The area of the block in view ia about 90 acres. 3lr James Young, Superintendent of City Parks and Reserves, is of the> opinion that the block could be made into excellent links, but he is afraid that they would be too far from the city, the distance about sis: miles. This would mean nothing, he says, to anyone possessing a motor-car, but people who can afford to own a car can also afford to bclone to ft private club, and it is not for them that municipal links would be Required. To inake suoh links a successful proposition he considers that they should be situated where they could be reached enaily from any of the existing tram services. As a matter of fact it is just a shade over two hiiles from the site of the proposed links to the stooping place of the North Beach cars, beside the Burwood War Memorial. Would this be "too far for golfers to walk ?