GEORGE NEWS - Regulars at Glenwood Short Golf Course will welcome council's decision to grant the extension of the land lease agreement of the course.
Although it is not an extension of three years as the owners, Ian and Gaylene Gibbon, applied for, the course remains open for business. The municipality agreed to a lease on a month-to-month basis with a six-month notice period.
The Gibbons' 15-year lease expires at the end of July 2015 and Ian has been trying for the past three years to get it extended for a further three years, but George Municipality's initial response was that it was "not to be considered" as the future use of the property has not yet been determined.
News that the course might close if the lease was not extended was met with an outcry from various quarters. The Glenwood course is known as one of the best short courses in South Africa and is popular among tourists, local retirees and communities who cannot afford the big courses.
It is also important for the Southern Cape Golf Union's junior and development training programme and is regarded as a "nursery" for the game of golf. It is also used by The Pro Shop and George Golf Academy.
The Gibbons' indicated that a lease on the above basis would make it difficult to plan ahead and invest in infrastructure and maintenance, but they have decided to stay on, even on this uncertain basis.
"We would like to thank the George Council for putting the interest of the George public first by agreeing to extend the lease. We would also like to thank the public for their overwhelming support during this application process," they said.
Previous articles:
- More voices for Glenwood Golf Course
- Glenwood golf course's future still unclear
- Update: Glenwood Golf Course faces closure
- Glenwood Golf Course faces closure
ARTICLE: ALIDA DE BEER, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST.
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