New Brighton golf practice plan is under par (From Wirral Globe)

New Brighton golf practice plan is under par

2:26pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Geoff Barnes

Wirral Council has denied making a golfing gaffe by proposing to set aside a seaside stretch for top amateurs to practice for a major tournament – even though a golf ban there has been strictly enforced.

Wallasey Golf Club and the Royal Liverpool links at Hoylake will play host to the 87th Boys Amateur Championship in August.

The tournament is being co-ordinated by golf overlords The Royal and Ancient and talks with Wirral Council have resulted in the local authority suggesting that the grassy bowls at New Brighton – known as The Dips – could be used as a practice range for the young golfers.

The dips have hosted many significant Wirral events, including the colourful Kite Festival and the former Wirral Show.

A final decision has yet to be made but Wallasey councillor Leah Fraser has stymied the proposal and put forward an alternative.

She said: “It does seem ironic that the council, having spent years in discouraging any golf on The Dips, that they now propose to allow it for this event.

“What kind of message does it send out and what arguments can they use when our own local youngsters decided to practise there in the summer?”

Councillor Fraser acknowledged the championship would be a “fantastic competition” but she said a more suitable venue would be The Warren Municipal golf course, which has two holes running parallel to The Dips on the other side of the New Brighton/Liverpool railway line.

A Wirral Council spokesman said: “The Dips in New Brighton is just one of a number of locations under consideration to host practise sessions for this year’s Junior Open Golf Championship.

“We are in the very early stages of talking to a range of interested parties, including ward councillors. No decisions have been made at this stage.”

Councillor Chris Meaden, council cabinet member for tourism and leisure, said: “We will be working with the organisers to ensure the event is as successful as it can be and we will also be looking to use the tournament as much as possible to help us promote the benefits of golf participation to young people from Wirral.”