Despite Ban, Golf Remains in Full Swing at Glen Farm

In late July, the Town Council voted to  ban golfing in the special events field at Glen Farm. Since then, with no signs posted, golfers continue to flock to the fields for practice. 

Town Administrator Robert Driscoll says he will now ask the Town Council to lift the ban at the next meeting, which is schedule for Aug. 23.

"I will recommend to the council to continue to allow golfing there," Driscoll said. "There's no other place in town. If that's the best place for golfing, I will recommend it."

The request to ban golf at the sports complex was made by Portsmouth Police Chief, Col. Lance E. Hebert.

The vote was cast following a lengthy discussion about the safety of the sport, or at least using the field as a driving range so close to horse trails and hikers.

Glen Farm is divided into six different areas, including the Gardner Seveney Sports Complex, special events field, Brown House, utility field, polo field and the equestrian center.

Each section is used for a particular purpose, including youth sporting events. The polo field is also leased by the Newport International Polo Club.

A small section of the special events field, while not marked by signage, is reserved for golfing, according to the Town Council.

The section is located not far from hiking trails, as well as trails for horse riding.

"We've never had an incident where someone was hit (by a golf ball)," Driscoll said. "What we've had is complaints. We do ask the golfers to do this (practice) when no one else is around."

The Town Council asked the administrator to find another section of public land to use as a driving range. At the previous meeting, Driscoll said there was limited town land available for such a use.

The ban at Glen Farm went into effect immediately.

For a fee, residents may still use any one of the town's three public and semi-public golf courses: Green Valley Country Club, Montaup Country Club and the Newport National Golf Club.