LETTER: Has the future of Tayandaga golf course already been decided?

BurlingtonToday received the following letter to the editor from reader Jim Young regarding the Tyandaga Golf Course public consultation.

I attended last Wednesday's City Recreation Dept. public consultation on the future of Tyandaga Golf Course. Along with about 50 mostly local residents I listened to the city proposals for reconfiguration and use of that parcel of land as a golf course, as green space or some combination of both.

The city proposals seemed to favour shortening the course to nine holes and adding some unspecified greener, more wilderness like parkland.

The audience were quick to point out this perceived bias. The presenters denied bias but had no real answers when asked the reason for city-wide public consultations if they did not plan to change anything.

Throughout the meeting attendees complained, I think rightly, that the questions, the input sought, and the city’s online survey all leaned towards the nine-hole option that staff seemed to be pushing.

When forced to a show of hands, keeping the course as an 18-hole course, and in fact restoring its original size and hole lengths, won the unanimous approval of the crowd.

Asked how the other public sessions had responded, staff admitted, as some councillors have been forced to concede, the overwhelming public wish is to keep the course as is and spend any money earmarked for change, on improvements to the course, particularly drainage and access paths to encourage even greater use than present and extend the playing season.

Current usage is at record highs, returning an annual surplus in excess of $100,000 which creates a reserve fund for ongoing maintenance. This left the audience asking, “Why change something that is working and obviously very popular?”

Staff will present proposals to the Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee on Dec. 7 this year, and then to Council on Dec 12. Some skepticism was expressed that the report will reflect the overwhelming desire, across the city to leave Tyandaga Golf Course as is.

Jim Young,
Aldershot