Sharp Park And Others: The Fight For Muni Golf
Jaime Diaz does a nice job answering a question many have: who cares about the Sharp Parks, Goat Hills and Lions Muni's of the world?I've heard the question asked and after reading Diaz's piece, the various governing bodies and other higher ups in golf might be a tad more ashamed that they've put so much money to lavish PSA's and First Tee funds instead of investing in these vital places that no longer can attract people to the game in their neglected state.
So when a muny, especially one with history in a big city, gets threatened, even the most escapist golfers can be roused. Instead of complaining about the greens and the drainage and range mats, they realize how much they’d miss the $30 green fee and all the camaraderie if it disappeared. They become attuned to how munys are about affordability and accessibility and diversity and being the best entry point for beginners and especially kids. Basically the spirit of St. Andrews. It’s a good exercise, especially if it translates to the kind of activism a beset muny needs to stay alive.
And this is a key point given what we've seen occurring on the local level:
Munys are vulnerable targets. City coffers are still recovering from the Great Recession, making the upkeep of golf courses seem less viable, especially when rounds are down. But because the golf lovers who are defending the munys know that if one falls, it could start a domino effect, they are fighting back with every asset at their disposal.
Reader Comments (16)
BTW: First Tee is simply a feel good program for rich white guys who pretend that puling a kid out of a ghetto for a day at a golf course (which he will never be able to afford, or be allowed, to visit again) is a wonderful thing.
Hospitals, schools, airports and everything else imaginable may be raan by a municipality, with private services ''competing''. When we go to San Antonio, Waco, Houston and other places, we go to play Munis, as 125 bucks is not in the cards for some of us to go 18. And some of the tracks are damn nice!
First Tees can be good or so so depending on the local management- but the post by bud is total BS. Bud has never been to a first tee event or evwer has wandered to ''the other side of the tracks, right Bud? Now tell us how wrong I am. Be a ''feel good;; white guy.
Or you could actually help.
dig
http://papagogolfcourse.net/18-hole-rates.html
http://www.gcugolf.com/course-information/green-fees/
Note that rates are lower for seniors such as myself and even lower in the summer.
Don't forget that Aguila is another quality course.