The last time I went golfing, it was at the Kensington Pitch and Putt course with my mom.
That’s no surprise because it’s my favourite course and the one where I learned to play golf when I was a wee lad. My parents would buy my brother and I a bunch of tickets for us to use throughout the summer so we wouldn’t stay home and watch TV.
I don’t know how many times I’ve played golf at Kensington, but it’s easily more than 100.
So, yeah, I’m pretty biased about this course.
I was thrilled when CBC reporter Justin McElroy – who also bills himself as a “ranker of stuff” – named Kensington the No. 1 pitch and putt course in Metro Vancouver (clowning poor flat Central Park in the process).
But what does the future hold for my beloved Kensington course?
Well, that’s pretty unclear, but there is a city idea on the books that has riled up other Kensington fans.
I’ve been contacted by a few of them who are starting to rally against an idea that hasn’t even been presented to council yet.
In the City of Burnaby’s financial plan document for 2021-2025, there is a line item under golf facilities for Kensington that lists “executive course – design and construction” at a cost of 2,780,400. (There are other items on the Kensington list, including $400,000 for a renovation of the golf shop, which could use expanding with better bathrooms.)
But it’s the “executive course” that really has Kensington fans upset. Millions of dollars spent on dramatically altering the 18-hole course into some sort of nine-hole executive course with longer holes to drive the ball (Kensington’s longest hole is about 110 yards, maybe a little longer).
I will make clear right now that nothing has been approved by council. According to Coun. Colleen Jordan, council hasn’t even been presented with any plans yet and so things are very preliminary. For the record, I asked the city’s communications staff for more information about this project waaaaaaay back on Monday and, par for the course (pun intended), received nothing back by end of day on Friday, which really sucks because it’s public information and five days should be plenty.
So even though nothing has even been chipped towards council, folks like John Crawford are sounding the alarm because they don’t want it to even get that far.
Crawford told me that Kensington is a “real pearl” in the local parks and recreation system (agreed) and that an “elite few” behind the scenes are plotting the “destruction” of the course.
“This pitch and putt course as it exists now is the best in the Lower Mainland,” Crawford said. “With the indoor activity restriction caused by the pandemic, many more users have discovered, like I did a few years ago, that this existing course is a fun challenge to both the beginner, who needs only two golf clubs and a ball or two, and to the more experienced user as well. The course is beautiful as is and it is very well maintained by parks staff. As a Burnaby taxpayer, I am pleased that I can enjoy this activity the way it is now and do not want to see it destroyed.”
Crawford said the city already has larger courses at Riverway and Burnaby Mountain.
I find myself strangely ambivalent about the whole thing. Maybe if the city actually sends me more details about what is planned, I can make a more informed decision about if this is a good idea.
And who knows if this will ever even get to the council stage? I’m not sure spending millions of dollars to rebuild a golf course will go over well with taxpayers even if the case is made that an executive course will bring in more revenue.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
