A City of Stirling officer’s report recommended the course open at 6am during summer and adhere to designated opening and closing times to improve safety conditions for course workers.
Jeanette Bannister, who has played the course for many years, said she feared losing playing time during work days if golfers were only able to access the course after 6am.
‘This will cut out all the people who want to have nine or 18 holes before they go to work,’ Ms Bannister said.
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READ NOW‘The main issue is Hamersley is the only public course where we can go and play early during the summer. We like to play our 18 holes of golf, we usually try to hit off at around 5.30am.’
Ms Bannister said she had not known of any issues with the current system and believed both the fencing and opening time issues could be resolved with more consultation between course management and the golfers.
‘I suggest the management talk to the people involved in this knee-jerk reaction to whatever has happened and sort it out there. There needs to be communication between the greenkeepers and the pro shop.’
City of Stirling recreation and leisure services manager Michael Quirk said City officers were aware of the petition and views of the golfers, and this would be taken into consideration.
‘These views are certainly being taken into consideration, although will not necessarily negate the need for designated opening and closing times, and the installation of fencing,’ Mr Quirk said.
‘These measures have been proposed to improve the safety of both patrons and course maintenance staff.
‘As a result of discussions at the recent council meetings, the City is currently investigating the ability to better align course opening and closing times with sunrise and sunset.’
Mr Quirck said there had been two recorded ‘near miss’ incidents between golfers and green workers in low light conditions.
Ms Bannister said many golfers were unhappy with the positioning of the proposed fencing.
‘We’re very upset, especially because of where the fence is going to go; it’s going to go between the putting green and the pro shop,’ she said.