How Much Longer?

Taken on the way to football - the Portobello nine-hole golf course. It's run by Edinburgh Leisure, the council's arms length sports outfit that seems increasingly disconnected from the local communities that use its facilities. Or is that always the likely outcome when councils spin off other organisations to run their services? The criteria for success are more financially driven and judged and other factors take a back seat. Anyway, the latest row is over plans to scale back the course to just six holes to make room for other, supposedly family friendly activities such as Frisbee Golf. While I like a game of Frisbee Golf and might well give it a try, it does seem that the wishes of the current users have been rather ignored. In these days of consultations and study groups when that process isn't followed it does make you suspicious of the motives involved. Apparently there are a number of golf clubs that use the course, some well over a hundred years old, and they haven't been kept informed of the potential changes. As I understand it the course is particularly good for older golfers, which is reflected in the current user base. While it is the case that people need to use it or lose it, it does seem that the changes are being rather thoughtlessly being pushed through. Instead of spending money on some new gimmicks, why not promote what is already there? If it's good for elderly golfers it must also be good for beginners. Should it not be a feeder course to introduce people of all ages to the game?
Football was a familiar story as the other guys won by a couple. We started badly and took a while to even get on the scoresheet - I did eventually get us going with an easy tap-in from a rebound. Once again my best contribution of the night was without touching the ball - an even better dummy than last time creating space for S to run in behind me and score. We briefly got back to parity but then conceded three quick goals before a late consolation.