City urged to sell municipal golf course

But Springhead Park, a municipal course that has enthralled generations of golfers since 1930, could be sacrificed by Hull Council in favour of its sister course, Sutton Park.

The council has already announced plans to seek a "joint venture arrangement" with a private operator to cut the costs of running both courses as part of plans to slash more than 40m from its budget. However, a new proposal put forward by city councillors John Robinson and Phil Webster would see the council retain Sutton and sell Springhead – potentially raising about 30m if the land were to be sold for building.

To come into effect the proposal would need to be adopted by the council's Cabinet, which meets today, and then be passed along with the rest of the budget at a meeting of the full council on February 24.

Coun Webster, a former secretary and member at Sutton, said Sutton represented better value in terms of its council subsidy because of the numbers of golfers using it.

He said: "Sutton has got more people who actually use it and the subsidy is not as high per person. We have sat back from this and looked at the figures because they speak for themselves."

The council currently spends 120,000 a year subsidising both courses. In the last financial year, there were 20,908 visits to Springhead, representing a subsidy of 5.55 per golfer, whereas the 27,644 visits to Sutton effectively cost 3.78 per head.

According to the council's latest figures, between April and October last year, there were 17,086 visits to Springhead and 22,239 at Sutton.

Springhead president Andy Steele said: "As a privately run golf club they don't subsidise us at all and we have got considerably more members than Sutton.

"I would be extremely disappointed if the council took that decision, particularly for the juniors coming into golf who we have had a particular interest in over the last number of years."

Sutton secretary Steve Collins said he sympathised with Springhead but took nothing for granted.

"The problem is both Springhead and ourselves have declined over the last few years because of a lack of investment," he said.

"The shoe could be on the other foot and I suppose the future's not cut and dried.

"We've got a lot of friends over there because of our rivalry and all the past captains' meetings."

Revenue from the sale of Springhead would be reinvested in other leisure facilities, including Sutton Park. Coun Robinson said: "I think it's important this new proposal should be considered."