golf courses to become allotments…?

I was just going to give a link to this story but being really honest it is just too good to be true… in the unusual sense of the word. Honestly, I think golf like allotment gardening is one of those that will have huge demand but also go through that craze where demand will peak and like stocks and shares fall again. 

I’m just glad to hear its not turning into buildings and its staying green…. Then again whilst I do grow my own stuff I don’t own an allotment nr do I like to play golf

photograph by john williams

 the best bits below are courtesy of skynews.com‘s James Mathews…  

Edinburgh may have to say goodbye to many of its golf courses to make room for more vegetable plots. Golf courses take up 25% of Edinburgh’s green space

Officials reviewing the city’s use of “open space” say the lengthy waiting list for allotments could be reduced if lesser-used courses are converted for growing fruit and veg rather than teeing off.

Currently, Edinburgh has 1,500 people on its allotment waiting list. The local Green Party, among others, thinks that converting golf courses could provide the answer. Green councillor Alison Johnstone told Sky News: “I think it’s worth looking at. Twenty-five per cent of green space in Edinburgh is golf course.

“There’s a potential that we have an over-provision and this would allow the courses themselves to look at how many golfers they’re attracting.

“Potentially, there could be a business opportunity for the courses themselves.”

Away from the top courses, however, participation figures are up-and-down. Edinburgh Leisure, which runs the city’s six public courses, says there has been a gradual decline in the number of rounds played over the past decade, in line with the UK trend. This year, though, business on Edinburgh’s golf courses is up 9% on the same period last year. Before he teed off at Edinburgh’s Silverknowes Club, golfer Stewart Stevens told Sky News: “I think it’s ridiculous. Golf courses are there for the enjoyment of people like me – workers.

“We use them for relaxation and now they want to use them for gardens? I don’t think so. They could find land for allotments somewhere else.” Edinburgh councillors will consider the allotment proposals which are in their preliminary stages. Should they progress, the city’s golf courses will provide the setting for a contest that will extend far beyond 18 holes

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