The club, in Rusper Road, Crawley, was bought by Homes England in 2020 as part of its plans to build 3,000 homes West of Ifield. A hybrid application for the development was submitted to Horsham District Council in August. The club, which attracts around 6,000 unique visitors per year, marks its centenary in 2027, one year before its lease to use the land expires. But any thoughts of celebrating the milestone are being clouded by the idea that the club will close. Alan Covey, of Southgate, is a member of the club
00:00Okay, my name's Alan Covey. I'm a member of I-Field Golf Club and we're actually on the fifth green at the moment. Look at this beautiful facility, which we want to keep basically. It's a great facility. We have great members, great old guys, great young guys. It'll be a shame to see this go.
00:18This facility has been here for 99 years. It's our 100th anniversary in 2027. It's something that gives everybody a chance to partake in a game of golf. And that is what is unique about this place. It's welcoming to everybody. Everybody from five years old to 90 years old.
00:38We need facilities like this as a country to get people into golf so they can become or potentially become the best they can be. I can't overestimate the facility, what it does for seniors. These guys turn out three or four times a week, gives them a reason to get up in the mornings.
00:58And most golf clubs, the membership is over 55. We have 300 over 55. And to lose this situation where they cannot get up in the mornings, go somewhere, be with their friends, socialise, feel part of, would be a fantastic loss to both Crawley and the country.
01:21My role in England is to select for the England boys. If I don't have facilities like this, then we don't get kids in the golf. They'll go somewhere else. They use other sports.
01:34So we need a welcoming environment like this. They feel comfortable. They feel welcome. They feel part of. And they can just go and play and enjoy the game.
01:43And I can't stress enough that it needs to be welcoming. It needs to be non-elitist. It needs to be a sport for everyone. And that's what I feel golf club does. It's a sport for anybody.
01:55Any standard, any ethnic race, anything at all. This is what I feel does. So please do not let this place be built on. It's far too beautiful for that.
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