Golfers say Auckland's public golf courses important

The future of 13 golf courses on Auckland Council land is under the spotlight as their leases are due to expire and the city faces a desperate shortage of land for housing and recreation. The Auckland Council wants to make changes to the overall plan that governs those courses to make way for other recreational activities like walking, running and cycle paths. There's been a prolonged battle to fight off plans to divvy up the Chamberlain Park golf course in Mt Albert, turning it from 18 holes into a nine hole course alongside a sports field and a public park. So could the golf courses be better utilised for recreation? Or what about housing? In a moment we'll hear from Bill McKay, who's a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland's School of Architecture and Planning. But first, we sent our reporter Leonard Powell to tee off with the some members of the Chamberlain Park golf course.