Stop Leeds City Councils plans to close the Golf Courses at Temple Newsam.

Affordable golf for ALL.

The golf courses (1 x 18 hole and 1 x 9 hole) provide the general public of Leeds a means to play the game of golf on a pay and play basis without having to be a member of a golf club.

The golf courses are also the home of Temple Newsam Golf Club, which would inevitably close if the golf courses close. The golf club has in excess of 250 members, many of our elderly members rely on golf as their main source of exercise, the golf club also provides a place to meet and socialise, closing the courses and club would be detrimental to the health, wellbeing and mental health of our older members as golf is a key part of their lives. Once this facility is removed many will stop playing golf, many do not have the finances to join a private club nor do they have the means to travel to other golf clubs further afield consequently they will lose their only form of exercise and social interaction.

 

Leeds City Council want to close the golf courses to make way for a “Road-safety park, family cycle trails and potential event space at Temple Newsam” at a cost 1.35 million pounds.

The proposal can be found at the following addresshttps://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/documents/g9772/Public%20reports%20pack%2016th-Oct-2019%2013.00%20Executive%20Board.pdf?T=10

We feel that Temple Newsam Park has enough land to have both a Golf Course and Road-safety park, family cycle trails and potential event space at Temple Newsam.

There is no need to sacrifice golf at Temple Newsam for the provision of the Road-safety park, family cycle trails …..,why not have both that will benefit all the community.

Leeds City Council have not had the courtesy to inform the golf club of this proposal until it was in the public domain a week before the Leeds Executive Committee meet to decide on this proposal.

There are good ideas within the proposal that could benefit the local community, it could be a win/win for both parties.  

For example, the golf courses could be reduced to one 18 hole course with LCC retaining the income from the green fees and club house rental, removing 9 holes will result in a cost reduction on maintenance and also give back to the estate the land previous occupied by 9 holes (to go with the other 9 holes that were closed back in 2017)

The proposed events area does not impact the golf course.

The Road Safety Park and Pump Track can be relocated and some of the proposed cycle trails moved.

Instead of having the proposed Bike / Café Hub why not have a Golf / Bike / Café Hub thus sharing club house (it would then get trade from golfers as well). It has potential to serve an even greater cross-section of the local community.

History and Background to Temple Newsam Golf courses

The 2 courses were originally created in 1923 to 1925 to provide work for Leeds unemployed and golf for exercise for the working classes of Leeds

In the history of women in golf, the first assistant professional in 1923 was Poppy Wingate who was an early inspiration to women in sport. She was the first woman to compete in a men’s professional competition. She is honoured with a dedicated section in the British Golf Museum at St. Andrews and part of the collection is featured at https://www.britishgolfmuseum.co.uk/the-collections/winning-in-style/ which actually names Temple Newsam as her home club.

Temple Newsam is the only municipal golf facility in the world with 2 courses designed by the celebrated golf course architect Dr Alister Mackenzie (who also designed Alwoodleyand Augusta among many others). This connection brings in visitors from around the world.

Municipal golf provides a cost-effective way to start playing golf. Very many golfers who have gone on to play golf at other courses started playing golf at Temple Newsam and some have even gone on to become professionals, including the current Lead Coach to the England Women Golf Team.