Golf Consultation

Overview

Leicester City Council is interested in your views. We would like to know if you think the council should continue to financially support the two council-owned golf courses in the city, Humberstone Heights and Western Park. Please read the following information and complete the questions on the link below.

Background

Leicester City Council owns and manages eight sport centres, an athletics stadium and two golf courses.

Sports services, including leisure centres, sports development and sport on parks, cost the council approximately £2.9 million each year in public subsidy.

However, large cuts in government funding mean the council is no longer able to continue running all these current services in the same way.

The council will be asking your opinion about specific elements of sports services. 

In this consultation – which runs between 11 March and 18 April – we would like to know if you think the council should continue to financially support the two council owned golf courses – Humberstone Heights and Western Park.

Golf

Per user, golf is by far the most expensive sports facility provided by the council and one of the least used.

Sports centres cost the council on average £1.68 per visit to subsidise, compared to an average of £3.60 per visit to the golf courses. Last year, the subsidy for Western park golf course was £6.95 per visit. This year the two courses have cost the council over £150,000.

On average 215,000 people participated in activities at each of the council sports centres per year - on average only 28,800 used each of the golf sites.

18% of the council’s sports centre members do not live in Leicester. 30% of the council’s golf course members do not live in Leicester.

The council’s sports centres have direct debit membership numbers of approximately 5000 people while the golf courses have a membership of 596 people – of whom about 45 are juniors and 30 are women.

Today, there are 16 other golf clubs across the city and county, most of which offer a member and non-member "pay and play" facility at competitive or lower costs than the council courses.

Why your views matter

We would like to know if you think the council should continue subsidising the two council-owned golf courses in the city.

Please note: If you do not think the council should continue to fund golf that this may result in the council no longer providing either one or both golf courses.