HS2 is already ‘killing’ golf club

Emma Williams
By Emma Williams November 19, 2013 12:28

A London golf club has said it has lost half its members and 85 percent of its junior section in the last year because the controversial high speed rail line, HS2, is due to be built next to it.

Ruislip Golf Club has lost 150 adult members and 34 of its 40-strong junior section since 2012.

“Members are telling us they would rather go now than be faced with a mess in three years,” said the club’s secretary Neil Jennings.

HS2’s double-bore tunnel is proposed to emerge so close to the golf course that holes will be lost to the development, and a utility channel is planned to cut across several fairways.

The London Borough of Hillingdon, which owns Ruislip Golf Club, as well as Uxbridge Golf Course, has stated that both golf venues will close when HS2 is built.

“We have been looking at ways of improving both the Uxbridge and Ruislip golf courses,” said leader Ray Puddifoot.

“But in view of the devastation the proposed HS2 route will cause, we can’t proceed at this time.

“In effect, HS2 will close both courses and residents need to recognise this.”

However, Mr Jennings wants to talk to developers to see if the club can be saved.

“Our objective is to get an 18-hole course back that is the same distance or longer and of a comparable standard,” he said.

“It could benefit everyone if someone does a complete redesign of the course, taking into account what has been lost because of HS2. We are trying to turn a negative, which is HS2, into a long-term positive for the whole community.”

 

Emma Williams
By Emma Williams November 19, 2013 12:28
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4 Comments

  1. @gpn01 November 21, 22:37

    #HS2 is already ‘killing’ golf club » Golf Club Management – http://t.co/2cGzyucHab

    Reply to this comment
  2. @MarstAgainstHS2 November 20, 16:07

    HS2 is already ‘killing’ golf club » Golf Club Management http://t.co/DsRkrBtib1

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  3. Bill Courtney November 19, 19:09

    Club members may wish to lobby in favour of the following argument to help save their club.
    HS2 is based on 50 year old Japanese designs. Instead we should be thinking 21st century to solve our network capacity problems.
    If train braking systems are updated using Magtrac braking then far more trains could travel safely on our existing lines. This relatively cheap and potentially world beating solution was invented here in the UK. For details visit the Cheshire Innovation web site. [Sorry, you will to Google search this name because a direct link the site cannot be included in this comment.]

    Reply to this comment
  4. chris smith November 19, 16:28

    I live in the area and believe me the members have left not because of hs2. Ruislip has gone down hill as a course and the council got paid by national grid to lay a high pressure gas main through the course which reduced to 12 holes. That was 3 years ago and it’s still 12 holes. Using hs2 as an excuse is laughable.

    the council got paid for uxbridge by national grid to put the course back and haven’t bothered.

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