MUNICIPAL GOLF LINKS CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 244, 16 July 1928, Page 10

MUNICIPAL GOLF LINKS CHARGES

Sir, —I notice in your columns this morning a proposal by the Reserves Committee to increase the charges on the municipal golf links to 2s. 6d. If this were done it would drive many people from the municipal golf links, either into private clubs or, in the majority of cases, out of the game altogether. The present charge of 9d. for nine holes and Is. for 18 apparently returns the City Council a good revenue, but I take it that it is not extra revenue they arc. looking for but to relieve the congestion. This the increased charge would certainly do, but I think at the same time the revenue would fall off very considerably. At, present a player paying Is. foils holes on Saturday and Sunday and playing on an average of twenty weekends a season pays £2; if. however, it. cost him ss. a week-end the cost per season would be £5, which is as high, if not higher than, the subscription for most private dubs. Therefore, for those who could afford it, it. would be a much better proposition to join a private club, since such arc kept in better condition and are not so crowded as the municipal links. There would lie a large number, however, who could not afford ss. n week for their golf, and these would have to give up this healthful, beneficial exercise.

Regarding the congestion, there is uo doubt, that this is acute at times, lint players as ;i rule do not mind this, as they arc. getting their golf cheaply. Nor do they mind particularly having the greens cut up with high heels and suebfor the same reason. If they do they should not play there. The principle of raising the charge to cut out this congestion is an outrage against the public and totally undemocratic. The only way it would work would be to cut' out those people who could not afford it and who, for that reason, should bo all the more encouraged to play by. a lower tariff. Then, ns I say, those who can afford it would join other clubs or expect a better service than at present. The idea of a public golf links is to provide golf for the masses, mid if the charge were increased this object would be defeated. I frankly admit T have no remedy to put. forward for relieving the congestion, but I repeat that, golfers are willing to put, up with that if they get their golf cheap. Raising the charge would make the links equivalent to a private club, and Wellington would no longer be able to boast about its municipal golf links. Therefore I hope that, if anything more is heard about raising the charge, that others will rally to the attack and combat it.-1 am, etc., „ ALAKMEn „ Wellington, July