Golf in London

So Oakwood Pitch and Putt in Enfield has gone the way of the pitch and putts at Bethune Park, Edgwarebury, and Valentines Park. It is due to be ‘re-landscaped’ back into a park.

Enfield Council have closed Oakwood in favour of their other two pitch and putt courses in Jubilee Park and Grovelands Park. Whether this has anything to do with a previous legal dispute in 1999 which led to closure of all three pitch and putt courses for at least 3 years, I don’t know. I wonder if Jubilee ever reopened?

More to the point, if it was shut for 3 years and has been shut for some time recently, how can Enfield Council know whether Oakwood is popular or not? What are they basing that assumption on…a long period of closure?

I do know that Jubilee Park Pitch and Putt was closed in 2007 and I think it remains closed, at least for now. According to Enfield Council, Jubilee Park Pitch and Putt will re-open, but when?

I think the reason for closing Oakwood Pitch and Putt is to save costs. Enfield Council states that the cost of keeping Oakwood Park Pitch and Putt open is £12K pa.

What if all London boroughs followed suit and scrutinised the financial performance of their pitch and putt courses? I expect that pretty soon, the flags in public parks would all be pulled up for good. And yet how can they be expected to flourish without regular maintenance, improvements, promotion, and investment.

However, in my opinion their closure would be a real blow for golf in London. If Borough Council’s bowed out and closed their courses, what would we be left with? Par 3 courses in private hands, attached to driving ranges and golf clubs. £8 minimum, up to £15. They’re not really pitch and putt, they’re just short golf courses.

It’s not only expense that will be a hurdle to people who have never played golf before. Accessibility will be greatly reduced. Golf courses are often hidden away in London. You can easily pass them by without noticing. And, if you haven’t got a car, you will be lucky to find one which is easy to travel to using public transport. Pitch and Putt courses in public parks provide a highly visible, cheap, and easily accessible introduction to golf. Without them, I think it’s likely the number of people taking up the game in the London area would drop. 

The majority of pitch and putts are in public parks owned by the Council. The Council is responsible for managing these parks for the benefit of the local people, particularly for their health and leisure. Pitch and putt fits the bill for providing leisure services in public parks because:

• the course doesn’t alter the landscape or views in a park
• there is no need to cordon off playing areas
• it’s inexpensive to run and maintain
• it can be played by people of all ages
• it’s one of the most accessible sports to those with a physical disability
• golf is the fourth most popular sport in the world
• despite the myths about golf there are no barriers of age, race, or class to playing golf

Unfortunately for golf, it is unfashionable and ridiculed by many who have never played it. Worse still, in terms of sports strategies of London bodies, charities, organisation and Borough Councils, golf is not an Olympic Sport. Some, those few who have not heard the name Tiger Woods, even claim golf is not a sport at all.

There is funding available though. And there are good reasons grant it. The governing bodies for golf have funds to promote it, especially to children. The London Development Agency, the Mayor, Sport England, Sport Development Officers, the National Lottery, and local fundraising/interest groups would also find such funding within their ambit. I see for instance that Sport England has funded practice greens at Crowlands Heath Golf Club and that the National Lottery has funded Rickmansworth Public Golf Course and Pitch and Putt.

It’s not exactly resource hungry. Pitch and Putt isn’t manicured golf. There is really no need for bunkers and other hazards. Even a fairway is optional, any way is fine so long as there’s tees, greens, flags and a hire shop.

I don’t know why councils have taken a sudden dislike to them. Pitch and putt courses seem to me an ideal way to provide a leisure activity in public parks. Golf is the fourth most popular sport in the world and everyone can play. In terms of accessibility for all ages and physical capabilities, it is above football, rugby and cricket. Grandparents can play with their grandchildren and a physical disability will not always prevent someone from playing.

A pitch and putt course can also be laid out on ground open to everyone. Even many full size golf courses are on commonland where golfers give way to walkers. Pitch and putt courses do not require any great alteration of the natural landscape. 9 greens and tees will not dramatically alter the view or the habitats for birds, animals and insects, especially compared to other sports pitches.

London Borough Councils have not been permitted to buy or been given the land which is now public parks in order for them to save money to spend it elsewhere. As I understood it, public parks are here for the leisure and health of local residents. Taking Oakwood as an example, now that the Pitch and Putt has closed what leisure facilities will be put in its place?

I presume Enfield will say, we provide pitch and putt courses at Jubilee Park and Grovelands. That’s already more than many other London Borough Councils. Three courses is excessive and the money can be better spent elsewhere.

But how much exactly are we talking about and where will this money be spent which is of greater benefit than continuing to run the pitch and putt at Oakwood? According to Enfield concil it amounts to £12K a year, but no other details are given.

There are ways, I guess, to improve the figures:

• A webpage with a photo, fees, opening hours and address (basic and cheap)
•  Ensuring it is listed on golf websites, local tourism sites, and sports sites.
• Providing hire of clubs and balls alongside some small seating area and sale of tea and coffee, cold drinks and snacks will be used by walkers and golfers
• Making the course length in accordance with British Pitch and Putt Association standards so it is suitable for competitions
• Encouraging the creation of a club with membership benefits and competitions
• Approach a local golf professional to provide periodic group lessons
• Improve the signage within and outside the park to ensure passers by know there is an open pitch and putt course
• Applying to grant giving charities and bodies for investment

It may seem daft to put seating out and sell teas and coffees at a pitch and putt, but I remember visiting one golf course in London and stopping for a brew at a new concession at the 10th tee. It was a regular haunt for walkers and gossips and they told me they were so glad it reopened recently because now people have a chance to sit and chat. I can imagine the same reaction in many public parks.

There are ways and means to make a success of pitch and putt, I’m sure of it.

Look how well Palewell Park is run and Centenary Park and Dagenham. I have my fingers crossed that Barnet are going to tell us that Oakhill Park Pitch and Putt is just closed for the winter, not for good.

So if the closure of pitch and putts gets your hackles up and you like your park life how it is,  let your council know, especially if you live in Enfield.

This has been a pitchly puttular broadcast on behalf of the Golfing Party. Power to the People, two sugars ta, make mine a milky one, etc. etc.