Golf courses marked as recreation ground, playground in survey

The Willingdon Sports Club, a lavish green space in South Mumbai, which has a golf course, tennis and badminton facilities, has been marked as a recreation ground in the survey

Even though all three of the city’s golf courses provide the same utility, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has marked them differently in the designated survey for the draft development plan (DP) 2034. The corporation has marked two of these lavish green spaces as a playground and recreation ground even though they cannot be accessed by the general public.

The Willingdon Sports Club, a lavish green space in South Mumbai, which has a golf course, tennis and badminton facilities, has been marked as a recreation ground in the survey.

Similarly, the United Service Club, located in Colaba, has been marked as a playground/garden/park in the survey — this, even as the same document acknowledges that the green space has a golf club, club house and golf course.

The only saving grace is that the Bombay Presidency Club in Chembur has been marked as a golf club.

According to experts, the different markings will have repercussions.

Godfrey Pimenta, an activist said, “It is difficult to understand how properties that provide a single utility can be marked differently in the plan. It seems like the administration has failed to understand the gravity of the blueprint.”

The official also hinted at a possible extension of the deadline for citizens to submit their suggestions and objections. As of now, the deadline ends on Monday.