Where are the queues?

CLAIMS that islanders are queueing up to play golf, especially at L'Ancresse, are not supported by the figures. The number of green fees taken out by visitors has crashed alarmingly in the last decade and since L'Ancresse introduced a book-and-play system for local non-members nearly a year ago, few have taken the opportunity.

The figures were revealed by Pat McKeary, the captain of the Royal Guernsey Golf Club, three months into his 12-month tenure.

He said that in 1995, 1,429 visitors took out green fees at the links. Last year, there were only 665.

And contrary to expectation, golfers from La Grande Mare and St Pierre Park have not swamped the Royal Guernsey pro shop to book rounds in the time slots made available last spring.

'I thought there would be a big rush,' admitted McKeary. 'Since the beginning of May, fewer than 300 of the 1,500 available have been taken up.'

Meanwhile, he could be making his own bit of golfing history if, as expected, someone can confirm that he is the first Irishman to hold the captaincy in more than 100 years of the club.

McKeary arrived in the island as a quantity surveyor and retires as a director of the Garenne Group this week, aged 60.

His sporting pedigree is impressive. He reduced his golf handicap to a five - 'I got down to a four but would never play to it' - after previously shining at rugby and cricket.

On the rugby field, he captained Guernsey in the Siam at the end of the 70s and during that time played in a rare drawn match.

He also played Division One evening cricket for St Saviour's.

As a traditionalist, he is not pushing for changes, but recognises that the issue of safety cannot be pushed under the carpet and discussions on a new course layout must continue.

He said that safety was the main issue for the two course-sharing clubs and that it must be tied in with discussions on the lease, which is up for renewal in about 12 years' time.

'It is fair to say that the new layout of some holes is going to cost the clubs a lot of money and the clubs need to be able to write that money off over a long period. The new lease needs to recognise that.'

McKeary said the main areas of concern remained the three holes that cross roads - the eighth, ninth and 13th.

'It would be a shame to shorten the course. If we are going to redesign, we should try to lengthen the course at the same time.'

But, he said, no plans had been drawn up.

'If you asked the 1,400 members you would get 1,600 viewpoints because some of them have two different views.

'All that has been done is to look at what we've got and what we can do without.'