A Tweet from Caroline Lucas MP

[Hacker Khan]

Their lives possibly if they work in public transport and NHS.?

You could make an argument to let NHS workers and other essential services walk the courses. After all, statistically, it is in the interests of the mostly elderly golf club members to ensure the NHS staff, delivery drivers etc are as rested, recuperated and as well fed as possible. Could be as nice PR touch from some courses as if the most famous course in the world can allow it......

 

[Mudball]

My friend in the US, played two rounds over the weekend. Only person he interacted with was at the club house to pay his fees. Apparently there were over 200 people on the course. Its packed and open. I guess it is good to have a president who plays more golf than care about people

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Listening to LBC this afternoon I have heard rather too many callers for comfort picking up on the idea that the public should be able to exercise (wander about) on golf courses Or am I just being selfish.

 

[AmandaJR]

Surely courses are private land, apart from when crossed by public rights of way? In which case she's suggesting trespass?

 

[Hobbit]

Pretty much every town has council run football fields. Why suggest golf courses, unless of course she's doing it for effect?

 

[User62651]

Pretty much every town has council run football fields. Why suggest golf courses, unless of course she's doing it for effect?

100 yds long vs 6,000 yds long? Football park is dull, a golf course is of often attractive and undulating.

I can see some problems but are those likely to cause damage not going to sneak on to courses regardless of shutdowns etc anyway?

No idea why Lucas has raised it, perhaps a constituent did, I dont think there is any real left wing agenda there, golf has been around for 130 years or whatever and stops development of that land. A lot of courses are managed with birdlife and such in mind and with pesticide reduction strategies these days. There are still a lot of publically owned munis too, although reducing.

Once courses re-open think most people would continue to think it too dangerous to wander about on a golf course with so many fast flying hard projectiles whizzing about.

Attitude reminds me of the Land Reform Act up here started around 2003, landowners fought access rights for the public bitterly but lost - very us and them. There were some high profile court cases early doors around access but it settled down. Times needed to change. Most landowners realised quick that you need to manage people and not bar them, going loggerheads isn't worth it. However in England with a dominant traditionalist Conservative Party it's not the same pressure for change as a Labour then SNP much lefter position for change with us.

 

[Hobbit]

100 yds long vs 6,000 yds long? Football park is dull, a golf course is of often attractive and undulating.

I can see some problems but are those likely to cause damage not going to sneak on to courses regardless of shutdowns etc anyway?

No idea why Lucas has raised it, perhaps a constituent did, I dont think there is any real left wing agenda there, golf has been around for 130 years or whatever and stops development of that land. A lot of courses are managed with birdlife and such in mind and with pesticide reduction strategies these days. There are still a lot of publically owned munis too, although reducing.

Once courses re-open think most people would continue to think it too dangerous to wander about on a golf course with so many fast flying hard projectiles whizzing about.

Attitude reminds me of the Land Reform Act up here started around 2003, landowners fought access rights for the public bitterly but lost - very us and them. There were some high profile court cases early doors around access but it settled down. Times needed to change. Most landowners realised quick that you need to manage people and not bar them, going loggerheads isn't worth it. However in England with a dominant traditionalist Conservative Party it's not the same pressure for change as a Labour then SNP much lefter position for change with us.

Sorry but it just smacks of entitlement attitude to me. Perhaps a trip to a Ferrari dealership and tell them to handover the keys. I don't see it as political, its about ownership. If it belongs to someone else, why even consider access?

 

[Papas1982]

I think it would simply open up to big a can of worms. The main reason we as golfers were golf not to pay was because of the fact that the travel is not essential. So how does that work for all the public getting to courses that aren’t residential?

imo if this was to be pushed through, clubs would be less than inclined to follow advice to stay closed to their members. ‘’

 

[User62651]

Sorry but it just smacks of entitlement attitude to me. Perhaps a trip to a Ferrari dealership and tell them to handover the keys. I don't see it as political, its about ownership. If it belongs to someone else, why even consider access?

What about the municipals then, same view?

 

[Papas1982]

What about the municipals then, same view?

Does she state municipal only?

 

[Hobbit]

What about the municipals then, same view?

As per the reply you quoted back at me, "its about ownership." If the owners, the council, want to open them up, that's their choice.

 

[User62651]

Does she state municipal only?

I dont know, just interested in the views on it. Not important, just chit chat!

 

[Papas1982]

I dont know, just interested in the views on it. Not important, just chit chat!

I’d say Hobbits response sums it up. It should be up to the clubs to allow people to roam them or not. Of course that would then now doubt lead to calls of people being able to play.

 

[MegaSteve]

Caversham GC stepping up and offering their course for 'outsiders' to use for exercise... Just asking the course is respected and distancing maintained...

 

[clubchamp98]

Listening to LBC this afternoon I have heard rather too many callers for comfort picking up on the idea that the public should be able to exercise (wander about) on golf courses Or am I just being selfish.

Isn’t golf just people wandering around on golf courses.
So if it’s ok to wander around
It should be ok to play golf.
No driving there though.

 

[clubchamp98]

My club has asked for members to walk the course for security after a couple of incidents.
To stop people getting on .

 

[Jacko_G]

Will just lead to more confrontation and uncomfortable situations which will ultimately lead to another Western Gailes situation where greens were dug up (allegedly) by a disgruntled dog walker after a heated debate about being on the course.

 

[backwoodsman]

Also need to bear in mind she's Green Party who, I think, are not generally over-enamoured with golf from their view of environment & sustainability. Also that she's MP for Brighton which was where (was it last year??) there was a call (campaign if you like?) for public golf courses to be returned to nature for the benefit of environment/wildlife/sustainability.

Methinks this latest is likely part of a wider agenda.

Edit: pressed send the "post" button too early. I meant to mention, though, that it's not actually her petition. She's just tweeted the comment and posted the link. But my thoughts still apply.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Doesn't seem such a bad idea as long as people can be trusted to do so responsibly (most will, some won't). Effectively happening here anyway.

I suppose it does just beg the question, though... why can people walk all over the course but not play golf? I think that question might become more prevalent if Lucas' idea gains traction.

Apart from the fact that a golf club is a place of social gathering - I think that everybody has to demonstrate that they are making the same sacrifice around their leisure pursuits. Continuing to enjoy ours would not be good optics.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

On the golf courses I used to manage I built in safe public walking routes on them, even a cycle route on one. [which was grant aided]
Worked very well and separated the walkers\cyclists from the golfers. Something I am quite proud of.
Perhaps some of the private clubs should consider this if they have a problem.