“IT would appear the writing is on the wall for the future of the Bluff National Park Golf Club,” said ward 66 councillor, Duncan Du Bois, following months of hard work to save the ailing facility.
At the end of June, local stakeholders held an emergency meeting to determine a way to save the club, which was in financial crisis. Members gave management three months to turn the situation around, after which they would vote to shut it down. Intensive action and fundraising events seemed to show the club would make it out of the bunker, but five months later, it seems this is not the case, according to Du Bois.
He was informed by a senior member of the club that finances are no better than they were when the crisis meeting took place. “The manager has quit and there are concerns as to the sustainability of its operation. The special fund I initiated to collect R400,000 by requiring just 1,000 Bluff residents each to donate R400, has stuttered to a halt having realised only R42,000. I find this most disappointing and would like to believe it is not a reflection of the Bluff as a community.
However, the case that I motivated regarding the vital importance of the green lung area which the golf course occupies, does not seem to have garnered the necessary traction. The likelihood of squatters moving in and all the attendant social ills that such a scenario brings may become a distinct reality, along with a repeat of the vandalism and destruction which the Umbilo/Congella club experienced.
I am sorry to say property values in the vicinity of the golf course can be expected to go south if this comes to pass. It is all so unfortunate and unnecessary. One would have thought that enough water has passed under the bridge for people to realise that unless they take the initiative, expecting government or council to act decisively is a pipe dream,” said Du Bois.
