Your editorial of 27 September, while rightly paying tribute to the late golfing great Arnold Palmer, refers to golf being under threat from changing lifestyles and fewer people wanting to devote time to a full round of golf.
In fact, a recent survey of both casual golfers and golf club members undertaken by New Zealand Golf clearly shows that people want more time to play golf, and that the game being shorter (eg 9 holes) is not an influence on the desire of the majority to play golf more often. Also, the ability to play less than 18 holes on an 18-hole course is preferable to playing 18 holes on a shorter course.
As noted in your editorial of 18 August 2015, Council believes that there will be an increased or sustained demand for golf until at least 2030. With an aging and increasing population the need for a recreational golf course such as Chamberlain Park still remains, particularly for older and casual golfers. This need is fulfilled by Chamberlain Park in its present format, not in the reduced layout being proposed by a slim majority of the current Albert-Eden Local Board.
Chamberlain Park has been graced by the presence of Gary Player, a name inseparable from that of Arnold Palmer, and once a piece of land like this is re-developed Auckland citizens will never get it back again.