Golfers say they’re teed off with city council’s decision to close the Municipal Golf Course.
More than 60 people rallied outside of city hall Monday in protest of council’s earlier decision to close the city run golf course. Many carried signs that read “don’t close Municipal” and “I learned to play golf on Municipal”.
That last sign rang true for local golfer Tony Stokaluk who said the nine-hole course is the one he learned to play on and has continued to play on for more than 60 years later.
“I’m here to support the rally and not sell Municipal,” Stokaluk said. “You start there and you finish there.”
Some councillors argued the city could save millions of dollars if they closed the golf course.
Stokaluk said he didn’t believe that to be true.
Barry Pauluk shared Stokaluk’s opinions and criticized the way councillors Ken Boshcoff and Rebecca Johnson have handled the situation. He said both councillors advocated for senior rights but then turned around and voted to close Municipal.
Closing the golf course isn’t in the best interest of seniors, he said.
“It’s just about money,” Pauluk said. “I was angry when I heard about the closure.”
Although Pauluk is in good shape, he said he has a number of senior friends who have trouble moving around and if Municipal closes then they will quit the sport.
Despite the large crowd outside of city hall, Pauluk wasn’t optimistic in council changing their minds.
“I don’t think they listen,” he said.
Matt Hogan on the other hand said he’ll continue to fight to keep Municipal open. The 30-year-old said he’s been playing on that course since he was a child and wasn’t going to let future generations miss out on the opportunity to play on that course.
“I don’t want to see Municipal close at all,” Hogan said. “I think having three city run golf courses have run in the past. I think it can continue to work in the future. If you look at the way they’re spread out across the city it gives everyone fair advantage for having a golf course close to home. Municipal in particular is good for seniors and for young students learning how to golf.”
Jules Tupker, spokesman for Saving Municipal Golf Course group, said those councillors who argued they have to close the golf course for financial reasons doesn’t make sense. The golf course has been losing money regularly for the past couple of years but in 2009 made $150,000 but lost around $130,000 last year.
Tupker said on average the golf course loses about $14,000 a year, which isn’t a big enough burden to justify its closure.
Opposition against the closure of the golf course has grown and more than 1,800 signatures have been collected on a petition to save the course.
“The golf course is extremely popular but the attendance numbers have gone down because the administration has priced themselves out of the business. They’ve raised the membership rates to 130 per cent in the last five or six years. That’s ridiculous. There’s no facility that has a fee increase that much.”
Tupker added he has put a package together for council to look after and hopes that will change their minds.
Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds is expected to file a motion at the next city council meeting. If passed, it will allow council to bring up the matter again on Oct. 15.
But there’s no guarantee since each time will have to be moved and seconded.
Foulds said he disagreed with council’s earlier decision and hoped for one last shot at keeping Municipal open.
“I feel it’s my duty as an elected representative to have some sober second thought on this decision,” Foulds said. “It’s a major decision and it involves services to this community. We have an opportunity to change that decision and I’m going to take that opportunity. This is our last chance to save Municipal Golf Course.”
Foulds recommended residents call their city councillor and let them know how they feel about the closure.
