MUNICIPAL GOLF LINKS ON THE TOWN BELT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 28, 3 February 1914, Page 2

MUNICIPAL GOLF LINKS ON THE TOWN BELT

Di R. A. Cameron has for some time past advocated the laying out of a golf course on the hills of the Town Belt below Vogcltown. A meeting to consider tJiA«propOfial=,«was^Jield in.,- a committee-.-room of the Town Hall last evening. Dr. Cameron, who presided, said that while lie was at Home recently he had examined what was being done ill the neighbourhood of .-Edinburgh in theway'of utilising public grounds for golfplaying The Brunsfield golf course at j Edinburgh was the finest children's playground he had seen. It was surprising how young children took to the game, and it was extremely pleasing to see them playing on the links. There was a wrong idea abioad that golf was a dangerous game, and that to play it on a city reserve would mean driving other people off. On the Brunsfield links twenty times as many people passed over the ground as passed over the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The j game attracted large numbers to the links. A good course could be made for about £500. There seemed an absurd idea that people must not be I allowed to play games on the Town Belt. He intended to begin playing golf on the Town Belt next Saturday. Finance would be a difficulty, but it wa-s being got over. Some arrangement would have to be made with the lessees ; but golf would not injure the pasture, and the clearing of the gorse would improve the grounds. He thought a guinea a year a fair charge for adults, but | the City Council ought to fix the charge. He had promised to give fifty guineas in four years— ten guineas the first year, and if a children's course were opened the first year he would give an additional ten guineas. Mr. P. C. Watt had promised five guineas, and other promises had also been received. The playing of golf on that portion of the Town Belt would not interfere with of her sports, for the land would not be useful for other games. ' A general discussion then ensued, and it was agreed that a deputation wait on the City Council to obtain its sanction. A tentative scale of fees for adults and children was also arranged.