Golf Australia is seeking a meeting with the Clarence City Council to press for the retention of the Rosny Park golf course as a public golf facility.

Golf Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland said the Rosny Park public course was an important piece of community sporting infrastructure in southern Tasmania and the peak body was disappointed the Clarence City Council appeared to have decided not to renew its lease after the end of April next year.

The public golf course is leased and run by the YMCA which is keen to continue its operation but the Council has now decided to open it up for general use as part of its City Heart urban renewal project.

Mr Sutherland said he had written to Clarence Mayor, Ald Doug Chipman, seeking a meeting to discuss Rosny Park’s future as a public golf course.

“We are concerned that Council’s decision was made in the absence of adequate consultation with Golf Tasmania and users of the public golf course,” he said.

“As a public course and one of only two in southern Tasmania, Rosny Park is a vital community facility that provides a low-cost venue for people to engage in sporting activity and exercise.

“It gives players, particularly younger golfers, the opportunity to participate in the sport without having to pay club memberships and green fees associated with professional golf courses.

“Rosny’s close proximity to Hobart and in the centre of the major Eastern Shore population makes it even more important that it be maintained as a public golf facility.

“Prior to COVID-19, more than 19,000 rounds were played each year at Rosny and already upwards of 12,000 rounds have been played this year, with the peak summer months to come.”

Mr Sutherland said as well as the many golfers who play each week, the course is also a key site for the Golf Australia MyGolf (Junior) Golf Program for children aged 5-12 who want to learn to play golf. These programs have been conducted both in school terms and during school holidays for the past three years for children from all over Hobart. Golf Australia is also launching adult learning opportunities through the Get into Golf program.

“Golf Australia and Golf Tasmania would welcome a broader discussion as to how the Rosny Park course space could be used even more effectively as a golf learning centre, public driving range, short game or mini golf facilities to attract even more golfing participants.

“Golf has long been a mainstream Australian sport that is now enjoying even further growth as the broader community reconnects with sport and recreational pursuits as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and these are points we would like to pursue with the Mayor and Council,” Mr Sutherland said.