Destruction of Elsternwick golf course

Dear Councillors,
One of the absolutely beautiful and unique aspects of Melbourne, which separates it from lesser cities, is the swathe of golf courses which not only provide a so-called ‘green belt’ but recreational facilities for all parts of society.
God’s game can be enjoyed for a reasonable sum on public golf courses. Not all of our people can afford to join one of the manicured private golf courses or indeed want to. Many retired people, young people and indeed just daily hackers want to be able to play on a casual basis on a medium length nine hole course. Remember the game of golf is made up of units of nine holes.
Elsternwick golf course is unique. It is not only over a hundred years old and hence of historical significance but remains in suburbia within a green precinct incorporating not only the golf course but a sports oval or two, tennis courts and, separated by a road, a much used park.
The proposal we saw for Elsternwick golf course will destroy most of its charm by turning it into a modern concept park with a driving range and six par three holes. Japan needs driving ranges because they don’t have affordable land for the real thing. Other countries need driving ranges because they want instant gratification, plastic grass areas without puddles and plastic 1000-year-life ball buckets negating having to actually walk anywhere.
Now don’t get me wrong, because I quite enjoy the different challenges a driving range provides. As a matter of fact I was turning into a driving range junkie for a while there, but at the end of the day we practice hitting golf balls to actually play God’s game – the driving range is not an end in itself. No golf courses = no need for practice ranges.
Australians have grown up with an innate right to play and enjoy sports such as golf, tennis, cricket and a host of other games. Remove the ability to play these sports and they will disappear.
There are driving ranges at Sandringham and Middle Park. There is no need for another practice range in Elsternwick – especially when it would be destroying one of the last historic nine hole public golf courses to build it.
The changes to Elsternwick golf course are not a golfer’s solution; they are a dollar focused developer’s solution. Elsternwick golf course still has a natural beauty and remains free of concrete paths, plastic flower boxes and other un-natural rubbish. Preserving natural beauty is a whole lot cheaper than maintaining a heavily manicured plastic park.
This natural beauty is the space within golf was meant to be played. Look at Royal Melbourne – it is one of the world’s best golf courses because of its natural appeal; as is St Andrews in Scotland. We need to resist the temptation to corporatise nature or we risk destroying our way of life. Just look at what happened to tennis. We lost our national identity of grass court tennis because we acquiesced to other parts of the world, for Grand Slams, who couldn’t play on grass. How weak are we. At least the English and French stuck to their national identity.
Now, on the down side. There is no doubt that preserving our heritage costs money and time and commitment. Only those people dedicated to keeping Melbourne’s ethos and character in tact along with commercial pragmatism should be in seats of influence.
Look at what stupid people did to one of the last historic seaside gardens at Erskine House in Lorne. They gave these beautiful historic gardens to developers to build horrible massed units for someone’s personal gain.
We take over bankrupt business for a living and turn them around; so I am cognisant of financial considerations balanced against commercial necessities. But I am also very aware of balancing those two ‘corporate’ requirements against the need to achieve a solution within the needs of our environment, history and social needs.
The dreadful building at Lorne’s Erskine House was driven by a greedy developer bent on short term gains for his shareholders when, given even a modicum of thought, could have been a showplace for Victoria and profitable. I personally dread what’s going to happen to Mt Buffalo Chalet given the track record of the current government,
The same goes for Elsternwick Golf Course. It does indeed need some work to bring it to a level where people will salivate to be given the opportunity to play there. This is not huge money but needs to be achieved by greenkeepers, gardeners and artists – not corporate focused people seeking short term financial gain. For example, there needs to be more bunkers but drained and cared for.
Can you imagine the credibility restoring a Victorian [circa not state] garden/golf course for the people of Melbourne will give the council for the City of Port Phillip. I would have thought that after the flack the council has and is receiving over the controversial triangle site it would be very positive for it to be seen preserving something rather than destroying it.
On the pragmatic side, there is an enormous opportunity to develop the current pro-shop, car park area into something special with financial returns capable of possibly sustaining upkeep costs of the course itself.
Imagine something like the pro-shop at Sandringham golf course; a quasi heritage two level building built partly below ground level over a large underground car park housing golf course management requirements including green-keeping etal plus a public, quality and accessible [financial and physical] bistro overlooking the golf course. The footprint would not require one blade of grass to be removed and if built with the same sympathy as the Kiosk at the end of St Kilda pier, would prove Port Phillip council as one of vision, forethought, empathy and indeed downright common sense. A financial success, a heritage success and a people success.
Further, imagine the golf course preserved as a ‘country tract’ albeit with heritage inspired wrought iron tee-side seating, the odd bit of appropriate sculpture springing up around the park, a much publicised current technology infra-red movement sensor system to dissuade destructive people at night, a proper watering system for tees, greens and cut grass areas, proper and heritage course markers, natural Australian plants, bushes and flowers all over the place, a small lake built within existing course parameters to sustain the course and fencing of an appropriate colour and design to reflect the heritage nature of the project.
Unfortunately, all of this requires thought and a desire to do the right thing by the people of Melbourne. I am sure the Port Phillip council would be up to the job.