PENSIONERS hit by a big rise in charges for playing at the municipal Regents Park Golf Club are pressing for the decision to be reversed.

Bolton Council's Leisure Department has doubled the price of an annual ticket which enables people to play golf seven days a week on the course.

About 30 pensioners who play regularly have been hit by the increase.

Club member Frank Domican says the annual charge has risen from £150 to £300 by removing the Saver Plus Leisure Card facility for a seven day ticket, making it difficult for many pensioners to carry on playing their beloved sport.

Last year the full price for a seven day ticket was £290, discounted to £150 for those eligible for a Saver Plus Card.

Club members with individual annual tickets have submitted a 67-name petition to the council, calling for the charges to be reversed.

Mr Domican said: "There are members and non members of the club who agree that this is disgraceful.

"It is grossly unfair that the pensioners who play golf regularly are being penalised so heavily. The competitions at Regents Park are almost all held at weekends which effectively debars older members from participating.

"This seems particularly unfair in that if their chosen sport was bowling or tennis, they could play at any time for free. It seems golfers, for what ever reason, are subsidising other sportspeople."

A council spokesman said: "Managing prices and demand is a fine balancing act and we think that, with the generous concessions on offer, the right balance has been struck at Regent Park. "This year, the seven day tickets concessions have been withdrawn but the five day concession continues at a price of just £110 compared with the full rate of £200.

"This gives people unrestricted use of the golf course from Monday to Friday and gives excellent value for money to help those least able to pay full price."

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