Municipal Golf in Washington, DC

East Potomac Park Golf Course in Washington, DC

People in golf wonder why the sport isn't doing so well.  Well, when I read stories like this, it's easy to find the answer.  That article is about a plan to upgrade Washington, DC's municipal golf courses into much more upscale and desirable places.  Now, I've grown up on a muni, I know how they work.  The maintenance is substandard, the golf is often uninspiring, and they can be very crowded.  That said, municipal golf courses don't usually need a full upscale makeover.  Well, my home course does, but that's because it's been horrifically neglected, and it was low-maintenence, even by municipal standards.  I say that knowing that Waynesboro Municipal is going to be completely rebuilt, but in a way that will remain affordable to regular golfers.  A makeover, but not an unreasonable one.

The things they're talking about in this article are unreasonable.  There's talk of PGA Championship course and mini-Augusta National, and that just isn't right.  These are supposed to be golf courses for all the people, not just for the rich people.  These golf courses seem to be in much better shape than what I'm used to, all they need is some intelligent, thoughtful restoration and maintenance.  Maybe a bit of redesign to spruce some uninspiring holes.  They do not need an upscale makeover.  Golf doesn't need a gimmick, it needs inexpensive, convenient, fun golf.  Why is that so difficult to understand?

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