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New drive to tee off Sunday golf 8/3/11
A renewed drive to lift the controversial restrictions against playing golf on Sundays in Stornoway is expected to be launched this month.
Members at Stornoway Golf Club want to play seven-
Since the course was built 60 years ago golf has never been played, reflecting the local island values of observing the Sabbath.
In recent days members endorsed a new bid to use the course on Sundays and mandated the club’s newly appointed committee to approach landlord The Stornoway Trust over the issue.
The row takes on a fresh impetus this week with golfers seizing upon comments from senior church man Rev Iver Martin, made to the Times newspaper, indicating that making people work on Sundays, rather than carrying out a sporting activity, was a pivotal factor in the wider Sabbath observance debate which is raging across Lewis.
Mr Martin, the minister of Stornoway Free Church, the largest in the islands, told the newspaper: “It is not for me to say that’s it wrong to play on a Sunday. I think that’s petty.”
Referring to free access to local beaches he added: “It’s not for me to say its wrong to swim on a Sunday. That’s petty as well.”
He said: “The issue here is employment -
“That’s the issue. You are actually requiring people to go out in the morning and be involved in full time employment. We think that’s unnecessary.”
Stornoway Golf Club members say that the comments back their stance to use the course on Sundays as no staff would be employed. However, Mr Martin says he was not referring to any specific case.
He points out that many islanders who are not church members nor particularly religious strongly back the island tradition of Sunday observance where shops, public services and facilities are closed.
Nowadays, there is dramatic change in the Sabbath landscape compared to just a few
years ago with the introduction of seven-
Pro-
It is this wider context Mr Martin refers to.
Mr Martin explained: “My point is that this community, quite rightly, respects the Lord’s Day. It is a positive and good thing for people to have a day of rest.”
He highlighted: “I am against the Sunday ferry and Sunday shops and the sports centre opening on a Sunday.
“It is a wider issue that the question whether or not the Bible allows people to hit a ball with a stick on a Sunday.”
He stressed: “I don’t want to become a lever for one side or the other (on the Stornoway golf row).
Mr Martin warns the incremental erosion of the Lewis Sabbath was the “thin end of the wedge” risking Sunday becoming a “day of the past.”
He stressed: “I do not want Sunday to become like any other day.”
Stornoway Golf Club say out that no staff would work on a Sunday on the course -
Club secretary Ken Galloway said: “I can confirm nobody will be employed on the course on Sundays if we are ever granted an amendment to our lease agree with the Stornoway Trust.
“In order to enable our members and visitors to enjoy their peaceful recreation, there will be no need to employ any persons on Sundays linked directly with the playing of the Royal and Ancient game.”
He added: “We made this absolute clear to the Trust in our written submissions to them over the past three years.
“We have two full time greenkeepers who work a standard working week. They, just like any employees in any walk of life, require their rest days.”
Mr Galloway confirmed that club members “asked the new committee to re-
Six weeks ago the club won a legal fight to open its bar during the day on Sundays.
Acting Sheriff Principal Charles Stoddart said Western Isles Licensing Board erred in law in refusing it a Sunday meal licence.
The estimated £5000 bill is to be paid by Western Isles Council on behalf of the licensing board which does not have its own funds.