Battleground gives way to golf club for youngsters

A violent battleground where Protestants and Catholics once clashed has fallen silent as children tee up in a £750,000 cross-community scheme to convert it into a smart new golf driving range in Northern Ireland.

The Colin Valley golf complex, off Black’s Road, west Belfast, has 30 floodlit bays, 20 of them indoors.

The entrance is on land which used to be out of bounds when rival stone throwers drove a wedge between neighbouring communities.

Some of the worst fighting erupted on the old second green where gangs, armed with knives and hurley sticks, fought it out as police struggled to keep them apart.

But the sound of balls being driven countrywards has signalled an end to the hostilities, and marked the start of a healing process to ease tensions and close divisions in the Twinbrook, Poleglass and Suffolk areas, according to community leaders.

The Colin Glen Trust, set up more than 25 years ago to help west Belfast’s environmental, educational and social well being, has leased the land from the Northern Ireland Department of Environment to run the course and driving range.

With work also due to begin on a £1million clubhouse in September, the complex is about to become affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland, opening the door for hundreds of youngsters who believed the game was beyond their reach, according Tim Duffy, the trust’s chief executive.

He said: ‘‘We were determined from the outset to make sure both communities were involved, and it has given the area a terrific lift in terms of regeneration.

‘‘Many of the kids come from a low social and economic background. Golf has a reputation which they believed was elitist and not available to the working class. They never aspired to joining a club before, but we have changed that whole concept.

‘‘This has given them an entirely new outlook. The religious and class barriers have been broken down. Golf, as you know, has nothing to do with religion. It is much more important than that.’’

Queues, according to complex manager Joe McCaffre, 35, are already starting to develop, such is the demand at times. The 10 outdoor bays had to be opened sooner than planned.

He said: ‘‘After all the conflict over the years, we wanted to make sure children from both sides of the community had access, even those who stole balls and dug up the greens.

‘‘When they were not vandalising the place, they were beating hell out of each other. There could have been up to 400 involved at times.

‘‘We once brought a group of 20 to Druids Glen, Co Wicklow, introduced them to John Daly, Seve Ballesteros and Constantina Rocca and they had the time of their lives.

‘‘Some of them exchanged telephone numbers when they got back to Belfast and later played with each other on the course. It proves golf can have an impact. It isn’t an answer to our problems, but it allows friendships to develop over the years.’’

He added: ‘‘It is early days. We’re young, but growing. There isn’t any hassle. Nobody is harming anybody anymore. The atmosphere has changed completely. It is so much more relaxed and children who could only dream about playing golf, now have it on their doorstep.

‘‘They might have looked to places like Malone and Belvoir and prices which they simply couldn’t afford. Not any more.’’ A new international standard outdoor bowling green is also being built, the first in west Belfast for 80 years.

Trust chairman Barry Gilligan, chief executive of a cross border development company, believes the new golf complex is hugely symbolic.

He said: ‘‘It strengthens the bridge building process between the communities in an area crying out for this sort of facility.’’

Mr Billy Black, president of the Golfing Union of Ireland said: ‘‘It is wonderful to see the development taking place which fits into our policy of broadening the appeal of golf to more and more young people.

‘‘That can be very difficult in urban areas where golf courses are over subscribed.’’