A GOLFING enthusiast claims Bolton Council is denying "the more disadvantaged" members of the public the right to use their municipal golf course whenever they want to. The man, who does not want to be named, said he believed higher fees could force some people off the course. The unemployed and pensioners, who hold saver leisure cards, have been able to purchase an annual membership for Regent Park Golf Course allowing them to play seven days a week at a reduced price.

But the seven day discount rate is set to be scrapped and replaced by a five day pass, from April 1.

Now the 56-year-old dad is demanding the council reconsider its decision to scrap the special discount which was snapped up by the Lostock club's more "disadvantaged" golfers.

The man, who is unemployed and lives on the Johnson Fold estate, paid £150 for the current financial year's seven-day pass.

This year, from April 1, the council is cancelling the special seven-day discount pass, leaving only the five day reduced price contract, costing £110.

Those people who want to play at the weekend will have to fork out for a full price contract of £300.

The member said most golfers want to play at weekends because that is when the club holds its competitions.

But the complaint from some members is that individuals turning up to play on an ad hoc basis at the weekend are being offered a lower "pay as you play" rate.

In the current year the cost of playing a round at the weekend is £11 and from April 1 it will be £10.

The disgruntled golfer said: "People come from as far as Warrington and Liverpool to play the course and at the weekend they can get a reduced rate."

One lady member in her 60s voiced similar concerns. She said: "We have a very friendly band of members at the moment and we don't want to disrupt it.

"But a lot of the members want to play at the weekend. They are retired and can't afford to pay the new fees."

The Council's Leisure Services Deputy Director Mr John Shepley said the course was being forced to make changes because of growing competition from other courses.

He said the Council was attempting to attract more people to play at weekends.

He said: "The trouble is that if we don't stay competitive we'll lose our weekend customers.

"The fewer people who play the greater the burden on those who are still playing."

Mr Shepley said the new five day restriction on the reduced rate still gave golfers the chance to play "as many rounds of golf as they like, during the week, 52 weeks a year.

"It seems like a good deal."

He also said that people holding a leisure card did not have to buy an annual membership but could play for half price, during the week, at a cost of £4.25 a round.

He said the club members were much valued but it was important "to keep the customers coming".

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