Forum Topic

Controversial Mini-golf Course Finally Opens in G Park

Sorry for the former bowls club but it Looks good from what i can see on the front page Young Kids with parents will love that in the summer

Julian Pavey ● 1533d45 Comments

I might even have a go myself!

Susan Kelly ● 1532d

Oh, and while you're in the Park, don't miss the wildflower garden, currently teeming with cornflowers.

Susan Kelly ● 1532d

£11 for an adult!

John Davies ● 1532d

Sounds about right. Clearly one does not go out that much if one thinks £11 for about 75 mins of entertainment is expensive.SEA LIFE London Aquarium £30Tower of london £30london eye £32bOAT FROM WESTMINSTER TO KEW £16.50KEW GARDENS £16.50Ten pin bowling 2 games £14.50

Julian Pavey ● 1532d

For what it is, that does seem very pricey but can you go into the new cafe if you are not playing golf?

Francis Rowe ● 1532d

How is it pricey.Its cheaper thn a cooked pizzaIt is 2022 and about the average hourly wage

Julian Pavey ● 1532d

Wouldn't most people be taking kids on the course? That's certainly what I observed at the one in Acton Park when I was there recently. If you are lucky enough to be a standard 2.2 kids family then that'll be £36 and more if you are not. In the current environment that is a lot of money for an hour's entertainment.If I recall correctly, the old pitch and putt at Gunnersbury Park was about a fiver and that was an eighteen hole course.

Francis Rowe ● 1532d

No its not,its the average cost of doing something that is not free. Its about the same price or cheaper than hiring a tennis court for an hour if it is not free.  Pitch and putt at Gunnersbury Park   Child Ticket £5.00 to £7.00 per ticket  Adult Ticket £5.50 to £7.50 per ticket  Things dont stay the same price for ever or even "in the current environment" Some cant afford it,some can but then possibly cant afford to go on a cruise.

Julian Pavey ● 1532d

" Its about the same price or cheaper than hiring a tennis court for an hour if it is not free."The big difffernce being of course that hiring a tennis court for an hour, guarentees exclusive use of that court.Unlike in this case.Where given the licencing arrangements, there seems every possibilty of sharing the facility with parties who are clearly the worse for wear. And as for Kew Gardens pricing, there's clearly no comparison; as its possible to spend an entire day at Kew Gardens.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1532d

It does not matter,its not dear,its £11 for god sake. Is everyone stuck in the past as to pricing OK 2 pints of lager on the high road.

Julian Pavey ● 1532d

"It does not matter,its not dear,its £11 for god sake."Not dear to you clearly, but that's not really the point, is it ?And even then I can't imagine it can be that much fun playing putting on your own, even if it only costs £11 a round.Whereas when hiring a tennis court by the hour, your previous example, presumbly that covers any number of players ?ISTR there were complaints before, about the cost of the cricket pitches, which given the number of players involved, and the time taken, seemed quite reasonable by comparison.Although what *is* noticeable, is that all the teams who play cricket on Sundays - usually only on the one pitch - choose *not* to avail themselves of the dressing room facilities in the spanking new Sports Hub. Once can only wondert why.michael adams 

Michael Adams ● 1532d

You into fishing by any chance. Your silly point about playing a round when some could be worse for drink. Better not go to a pub or indeed on a sunday for food then. Or you get the tennis court to yourself. Well blow me down.  "And even then I can't imagine it can be that much fun playing putting on your own, even if it only costs £11 a round" No you play with someone else who pays £11 or you pay more because your taking say family with you. If you cant afford it you dont go. If you can afford it but cant afford to go on a cruise with friends in a few weeks time then you dont go Dont get a cleaner in to clean your house or flat,you may have a shock in what things cost these days. The point is and again i will explain yet again. Its £11 or if it makes people better or worse its £11 per person. Shock horror,i could get a burger king meal for that I swear,i could bang my head against a brick wall sometimes

Julian Pavey ● 1532d

" If you cant afford it you dont go. If you can afford it but cant afford to go on a cruise with friends in a few weeks time then you dont go"You seem to have mised the point that Gunnersbury is a publicpark paid for out of public funds which might reasonably be expected to provide facilities for as broad a cross section of the public *at prices they can afford*. Its not a private members club.The very fact that you can equate playing a round of putting in a public park with other "luxury activities" such as going on cruises speaks volumes.Although at £32, repeat thirty two pounds for a family of four - its certainly moving in that direction/ Possiblythey'll be issuing badges or stickers, which people can display in their cars " I play regularaly at the Gunnersbury Putting Green".Your only point seems to be that just because you can afford it, so should everybody else. Or at least those people who can't, whose children are nevertheless likely to pester them  about going on the putting green, like the other children, are best advised to simply stay away.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1532d

For many it goes against the grain to have to pay to enjoy the facilities of what many regard as a public park, though the status of Gunnersbury has clearly changed to become much more of a money making entity.

Peter Evans ● 1532d

Im not even bothering with your roundabout responces after this. It is £11 per person,not expensive as an activity in 2022,its that simple. Nothing about if it should be free or not because its a public park. I mentioned prices of other places as that nothing much is a fiver these days. Local councils are allways looking at ways to bring in money and this is clearly one of them. Run as a buisness from the outside with most likely 4 months of the year without turnover. Upkeep and wages and recouping its investment while passing on a persentage to the park in general comes at a cost. That being,hey ho,£11 Hold up michael,its coming again. Not expensive and because the buisness is in a public park does not mean it has to be free or no more than a fiver. Some people cant afford a fiver,that does not mean it should be free. And its nothing to do with what i can afford or cant afford. "Your only point seems to be that just because you can afford it, so should everybody else" No,and for the last time ever,ive had enough of your school boys twist and turns. I think £11 is not expensive for what it is. Like other leisure activities laid on or supplied they come at a cost these days

Julian Pavey ● 1532d

Dont anyone mention the huge susccess of rocks lane,michael mike come out in a rash

Julian Pavey ● 1532d

" Dont anyone mention the huge susccess of rocks lane,michael mike come out in a rash "Rccks Lane offers exactly the same facilities as does the Gunnersbury Sports Hub. Which during the week is very popular with the numerous schools who make use of its facilities. As any regular visitor to Gunnersbury Park would very well know.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1531d

" It is £11 per person,not expensive as an activity in 2022,its that simple. Nothing about if it should be free or not because its a public park."Nobody is suggesting it should be free. The pitch and putt and boating lake weren't free.Howver charging a family of four, thirty two quid, thats £32to play fifteen holes on a small putting green is takingthe proverbial.As to their having to recover their costs - that's their problem. They should have thought of all that before they tendered for the site.mochael adams

Michael Adams ● 1531d

Michael Family of 4 is £36 , not £32.I went to their Acton course a couple of years back, then it was £9 adult and £7 kids.

Nick Jenkins ● 1531d

Gunnersbury need funds for the upkeep, we wanted it to remain ratherthan sections sold off for development so we must now expect to payto preserve the buildings and surroundings.

Janice Evans ● 1530d

I don't agree with the parking charges not because of the cost but when you visit places like Gunnersbury it is to relax and not worry about getting back to your car.It was to stop commuters parking there all day I believe

Janice Evans ● 1530d

Paying to enjoy the facilities does not include using something so specific with it's attendant overhead and investment. Is the cafe free? Why not? Could you have a wedding there for free? Why not?As for the cost, it is cheaper than a movie. I'd imagine it will also bring to the park a contingent that might not have bothered otherwise.

David Lesniak ● 1529d

I don't know anything about the new course, but the one that ws there previously was the best of its kind for miles.It was a 9 hole pitch and putt, but with some of the holes much more interesting and difficult and much longer than most.

Keith Iddon ● 1529d

They didn't tender for it, they got the contract on the nod from CIC as mates of a mate. And at the cost of the bowling green, because the CIC insisted it was the only place in the huge park where the crazy golf could go.

bela cunha ● 1527d

From Putt in the Park :As some of you may be aware we have recently opened a new Putt in the Park course in Gunnersbury Park. We have spent a huge amount of time planning, landscaping and developing this course and we are so pleased with the results, we also have a fully licensed Bar and Cafe for drinks before or after your round.It's the perfect family friendly day out and we'd love some more member of the local community to come and try it! We have just added the discount code 'LOCAL20' to our site which will give any locals 20% off pre-booked golf on weekdays.We hope to see you all soon! ⛳️🏌️‍♂️

Nick Jenkins ● 1519d

Lack of punters?Consumer resistance relating to price?

John Davies ● 1518d

I'm assuming that what is on offer is not much different to that in Maidenhead (a friend wants to meet there). Having looked at the prices, they aren't so very different to Gunnersbury - a bit cheaper yes, but perhaps not with the local 20% off offer. Re the parking, if going by car, that may be a different matter.

Anne England ● 1518d

How much is it to use the course?

Keith Iddon ● 1518d

Having been highly critical of the pricing from the start — For one, you'd imagine a 20% discount *during the week* for all users, would have been a sensible option. As £36 for a family of four on a quiet weekday is simply asking too much. Never mind at the weekends.
I usually traverse the park in the mornings before there's much activity but to be fair at around 11.30 a,m week ago last Sunday, there looked to be around four parties going around the course while all the tables overlooking the course were fully occupied with plenty of drinks in evidence. However how much of that was a one off,  out of curiosity, is anothet matter. Its the same with the museum really. Basically for most visitors to Gunnersbury ,the museum willl be a one off. Go once and that's it. Whereas regular users of the park use the paths every single day. Which are gradually going to pieces in some places — literally.
So that while its nice to win grants to renovate the mansions etc this also invoilves committing large sums to regular maintainance —of a feature which will be of little or any benefit to regular users. There is of couse politics involved here. Some people are anxious to preserve the buildings and "the heritage" at all costs (to be fair apparently Smirke did advise the local builder who was actually respomsnible for the large mansion ) and whoever runs the park is serverly restricted by the original Covenent as to what they can do..In theory anyway. So that while nobody denies that the Park needs to raise fund, there are questions neverthelessas as to what those funds is actually needed for — maintaining vanity projects or repairing paths, cutting grass and general husbandry - and the business acumen of the people planning the projects. As to pricing and business projections, for a start. For instance it would be interesting to know how often the open football pitches were used during last season. Hint: to prevent overuse no penalty spots were marked on the pitches. When a match was booked the penalty spot would be marked overnight. To the best of my knowledge, only one penalty spot was ever marked on any pitch. Once. Although as always I'm open to correction.
So well worth havng the whole north west corner of the Park fenced off.. for two whole years ?    I don't think so, somehow
michael adams












 

Michael Adams ● 1518d

Correction:*Two* penalty spots will have neem marked. On one pitch, one at each end. michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1518d

MIchael, we used to visit the museum regularly, they always had differentthings out on display, on one visit it was the Rothschilds photo albums,really interesting, it used to be worth going often not sure if they do stillput out different items of interest.

Janice Evans ● 1518d

Do believe most other exhibits were not original to the mansion but hadsome connection, one time it was clothes shoes all sorts of small household items from around the date the Rothschilds would have beenthere.

Janice Evans ● 1518d

Out of curiosity,have you been a family of four in the last few years micheal. Unless its free £36 is about the norm these days. We paid £11.50 for an hours ice skating at christmas gone at the natural history museum and children were £8 if under 12. Hyde park boating lake for an hour was £11.25 and  £5.50 respectively Both 1 hr max activities I cant help feeling your living in the past when it comes to the cost of things

Julian Pavey ● 1518d

Julian Pavey asked quote " Out of curiosity,have you been a family of four in the last few years micheal. Unless its free £36 is about the norm these days. We paid £11.50 for an hours ice skating at christmas gone at the natural history museum and children were £8 if under 12. Hyde park boating lake for an hour was £11.25 and £5.50 respectively " unquote
Out of curiosity Julian, have you yourself onstructed any skating rinks or boating lakes in the last few years ? And did you find the cost of constructing your skating rink or boating lake in any way comparable to the cost of layiong out a nine hole golf "course" — to repeat "course" — don't you justy love it a "golf course !" — on a former bowling green ? Obviously no one wants to identify with the tin-foil-hat brigade but neverhe;less its clearly in the interests of the powers that be that the publlic ideally should *have no memory at all* of the past even of what happened last week if possible. A philosophy to which you apparently happily subscribe yourself., Just pay up and look happy.
michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1518d

I fall between the two of you, Julian and Michael.I think £30 is a reasonable price with the reduction and the other ones you have stated,Julian are a little on the expensive side.You have to remember the cost of absolutely  everything else bar fresh air has increased, so the expensive leisure activities will take a back seat to petrol,food and all the other essentials.Less is more, the less thay charge the more punters they may get.

Keith Iddon ● 1518d

Michael, doubt anyone has forgot about the bowling but it could havegone for redevelopment which would have been far worse.

Janice Evans ● 1518d

Not in accoprdance with the Restrictive Covenant governing the sale of the Park to the Councils by the Rothschilds at a knock-down price. it couldn't.

I'll save you the twenty paragraphs explaining in great detail how and why it could be argued that much of the current activity is already in danger of breaching that covenant.

Given that there's no will to actually enforce it and in any case, as the UK PLC and all component parts is  already on its uppers, (exceping patrons of the putting at least) there would be very little point.

As it happems limited developement of say the small mansion as perhaps a hotel might make very good sense except that it would be totally contrary to the Covenant  and would be fiercly resisted on principle   

michael adams 

Michael Adams ● 1518d

Wonder how much it will be used. Maybe the bowling wasn’t enough to generate a profit for someone, but I suspect commercial interests have outweighed community ones, and the latter is now lost forever. Or did the bowling club manage to survive in some way? Not clear to me what happened here, and why.

Russell Pearson ● 1518d

I wouldn't be surprised if in the next 10 years some of the park is used for flats and houses.

Keith Iddon ● 1518d

"I wouldn't be surprised if in the next 10 years some of the park is used for flats and houses."
From the Brentford Site  TW8 April 18, 2013 quote:
local resident Maria Cunha has raised the issue of the Rothschild Covenant which protects Gunnersbury Park. Writing to Alpha Plus Group Ltd and The Falcons School for Girls she asks: Are you aware that Gunnersbury Park is protected by the Rothschild Covenant of 1925, renewed in 1926, that stipulates that the Park is to be used solely as a public park or sports ground? As quoted in the above law report, the Councils undertook by deed that: “they will not use the land and hereditaments for any purpose other than as a public park or sports ground and that the mansion houses and buildings on the said
land…shall not at any time…be used except for such public purposes as may be ancillary to the use thereof as aforesaid…” unquote http://www.brentfordtw8.com/shared/congunnsprk037.htm As suggested previously its questionable whether some of the activities currently promoted in the Park are not already in breach of the Covenant. michael adams

 

Michael Adams ● 1518d

Spot on Keith

Maggie Dodge ● 1517d

MIchael, they usually find ways of getting around these things, I've known of many areas that were.left for public use that now have buildingsthere, but things change over time and was was a good idea originallybecomes lost in the past and these places are now expensive to keep afloat.

Janice Evans ● 1516d

" these places are now expensive to keep afloat. " Gunnersbury Park has always been expensive to keep afloat. The original Covenent between the Rothschilds and the Councils (Ealing and Acton at the time) was agreed in 1924. Already by 1925 the Councils realised they'd be short of money. And so the Covenent was renegotiated allowing the Councils to build and sell houses along the east side of Lionel Road North at the top, and the south side of Popes Lane, on what were formerly the borders of the Park. While this got the Councils out of their financial hole. it also meant that all owners both original and subsequent, of all those houses in Lionel Road North and Popes Lane were now also parties to the Convenent.  As has been confirmed in Court. And it was those owners, whose objections were upheld in Court, who successfully prevented the Coincils from leasing the Small Mansion to a school. To those of a cynical persuaion the actions of the Councils in promoting loud pop concerts and similar in the Park, along with all the accompanying inconvenience (whatever anyone says to the contrary)  can be seen as a direct reaction to their losing that Court case, and having their wishes thwarted michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1516d

Correction:The respective years are 1925 for the original Covenant and 1926 for the renegotiation

Michael Adams ● 1516d

MIchael, thank you for that info. I never realised the houses were all part of the picture, that sounds good to a point but  if that is the reason for loud music........ not very nice.

Janice Evans ● 1516d