Dr Peter Haynes could not have got his PhD in science. Otherwise he would not have pushed rubbish facts and statistics on the well informed and frustrated MARA attendees on Monday night as he tried to justify the AELB’s disastrous decision to chop up Chamberlain Park He outlined the AELB reasoning: 1 A steady decrease in the number of rounds played. This is not true. With 50,000 RPY (rounds per year), Chamberlain Park is the second most popular (and public) course in Auckland (Takapuna 60,000) and it is set to rise with the increasing population and the aging population. The decrease he refers to is historic and occurred when other clubs opened their courses to green-fee players. In fact, Peter the Albert-Eden and Central Sector of Auckland has a critical shortfall of golf capacity. In fact that while there are 39 golf courses in Auckland, there are only four 18 hole and one 9 hole course in the central sector, the sector with the largest population, the greatest density of population and the sector which will have the greatest growth in the remainder of the 21st century. So where is the logic to reduce central Auckland capacity by halving Chamberlain? 2. Limited open space across Albert-Eden. But Peter, no evidence has been presented that there is limited open space across Albert Eden. As your own Albert-Eden Annual Plan 2014 states, 10% of the land in Albert-Eden is open space. This is consistent with leading cities such as Melbourne. Most other cities around the world have less than 10%. To add to that, on Albert-Eden’s boundaries lie Cornwall, Meola and Western Springs parks and the Waitamata harbour! Within 10 minutes walk of its boundaries lie many more open spaces including the Auckland Domain. Hello! Lots of open spaces! 3 Growing pressure on local sports field capacity. Also not true. You have not given us any evidence to support your statement! In fact, Albert Eden has the equivalent of 41 full sized sports fields which would accommodate 800 hours per week of sport, if all fields were sand-carpeted. This would increase to 1600 hours if all fields were reinforced with Xtragrass as is already planned for four fields in the area. These figures exceed Council’s estimate that the current demand is 595 hours per week. Surely this is where you should be spending your budget! Ironically, Chamberlain is already a one very large and well used sports field with an efficient basalt drainage. Maybe Chamberlain players are not vocal enough, or too poor, too old, too young, too “out of his electorate” for Peter to take notice of their sporting needs. To top off the meeting Peter Haynes insultingly tried to convince the attendees that nine hole courses were more popular. He quoted a US Golf survey of Americans and, while that may be true for them, we’re Aucklanders not Americans! Apply your statistics to the correct population, Peter. To keep you up to date, NZ Golf published a NZ survey which found that most NZ golfers want to play 18 holes! Serious questions were also raised about the budget and projected costs. One lively attendee is going to investigate the real facts. We look forward to hearing from her.