Historic golf course may lose nine holes

a possible slashing of nine holes off the 18-hole course at alexander golf club in sunnyridge to make way for a science and technology park (stp) has golfers and neighbours hot under the collar.
plans by the east london industrial development zone (idz), which bought the land in 2003 from a private owner to build an stp, were discussed at a meeting last month between residents and idz officials.
yesterday, idz spokesperson ayanda ramncwana confirmed to the dispatch that the idz was looking into the building of an stp. she added that while the stp would enhance the idz, “the development of the stp and further planned developments by the elidz will impact on the current state of the alexander golf club”.
ramncwana said that changes to the golf course would be done in consultation with the community.
the alexander golf club was opened in the late 1940s and currently rents the land from the idz. historically, the golf club was the only club in the city during the apartheid era that allowed black players onto its fairways. currently, development programmes bring young golfers from the townships into the sport.
the proposed stp and the change in the golf course has drawn the ire of the residents of sunnyridge, greenfields and rosemount who, in a petition signed by 59 residents, “unanimously” objected to the idz’s plans.
“it’s not that we don’t want development, but why build this stp here when there is other land available,” resident christo louw asked.
other concerns included worries that traffic through the neighbourhood streets would escalate, and that crime would increase as there would be more people on the streets passing through.
democratic alliance mpl john cupido said the issue was not in development, but rather in protecting heritage resources such as the golf course, which has historical value.