Situated on prime real-estate 10 minutes west of the central city, Chamberlain Park was at the centre of a bitter, five-year battle over a controversial proposal to re-develop the golf course, halving it from 18 to nine holes. John Parker, who has played golf at Chamberlain Park for 30 years, said balls going over the fence was nothing new, and claimed his local course was being unfairly targeted for its land. “It’s been no different to what’s been for the last 30 years in Chamberlain,” he said about the recent spate of sub-par shots. “There are hundreds of sports grounds and fields that border roadways around Auckland, and they’ve picked on Chamberlain, because they’ve been after Chamberlain for quite a while.
The temporary closure of the 5th, 12th and 14th holes reduces the public course to an unconventional 15 holes, raising questions about how the handicapping system will cope. Kim O’Neill, Auckland Council community facilities acting general manager, said most of the errant swings damaged car body work, but in one case a ball smashed into a windscreen. “Until we can work out a long-term practical solution the best thing to do to ensure public safety is to close the three holes,” she said. Three incidents were reported in as many months, from December 2020 to February 2021.
Stuff
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