[Patrick Kiser]

Welcome to Nutville!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?&entry_id=30935

I'm not sure how many studies it's going to take, but what's sad is the idea that soccer fields make sense on a golf course.

No imagination or creeativity there.  Just the path of least resistance ... until they see the bill that is


P.S.  Gib, take a deep breath and bite that lip...

[Richard Choi]

"The high point of the meeting arguably came when parks advocate Isabel Wade went head-to-head with golf advocate Dave Diller; she argued that golf is primarily played by white men over the age of 45, a statement Diller angrily derided as "racist." Diller's response prompted the packed room to erupt in applause -- though to be fair, many of the people clapping appeared to be white men over the age of 45."

You gotta admit, that is pretty funny...

[danielfaleman]

White 50 year-old male here... 

Sheer demographics of the US population conote that there will be fewer golfers of all ages for the next twenty years or so. Also, does anyone think that 20-30 year-olds and women (in general) can afford to, or will, pay $50-$100 for a green fee at a good public course?

[Kevin_Reilly]

To bring a GCA-angle to this thread, one of the ideas discussed at the meeting was converting Lincoln Park into a 9-hole executive course with a driving range.  The unused portion of the course would be converted into some non-golf use (I can't recall what that is).  I am not sure if the idea is to simply take nine existing holes to form the executive course, or to architect a set of holes from the area that is there.

The city lost a driving range a few years back when the range near the new ballpark closed (land needed for biotech research expansion), so arguably there is a need for a range, but I shudder to think that Lincoln Park will be sacrificed to build some new range in the same style as the range at Harding.

[RJ_Daley]

What a pathetic and hipocritical statement by ms Wade.  I guess that the new minority to be discriminated against and derided are the white males over 45, as if being one is some sort of second class citizen.  Falsely identifying golf as a recreational activity of only the over 45 white male set is pure demagoguery.  Historically, society via its local government has turned to golf as a recognized recreation worth building and maintaining for all people that wished to participate.  And historically, all people have participated from all genders, age sets and races.  The only real obligation is that the goverment oversee and keep that approved recreational activity and its facilities, affordable and avaiable!  After years of providing these venues, a new minority of arrogant overtakers and over reachers think they can go against historical conventional public policy to 'seize/convert' these public recreation grounds to their own selfish interests, or no demonstably more valid use/interest at all. 

[Tom_Doak]

She should have said that golf WILL BE a game primarily played by white men over the age of 45 ... IF cities and towns irresponsibly close down their municipal courses and fail to give young people a place to learn the game.

[Bruce Leland]

She should have said that golf WILL BE a game primarily played by white men over the age of 45 ... IF cities and towns irresponsibly close down their municipal courses and fail to give young people a place to learn the game.

Now THAT is spot on!  Wish you had been there to make that point in person.  What happened to the First Tee chapter there?  We are still seen as elitists and as long as that perspective is held by the politically active, golf and its participants will be targeted by activist citizens who don't play the game.  Water, land use, chemicals, etc., etc.!

[Mike_Cirba]

She should have said that golf WILL BE a game primarily played by white men over the age of 45 ... IF cities and towns irresponsibly close down their municipal courses and fail to give young people a place to learn the game.

Tom,

This is truly the challenge of the next era in golf course architecture.

How do we create/preserve/restore interesting/challenging/cost-effective/maintainable/playable and FUN golf courses near or within our major population centers that will expand the game to those demographic groups that heretofore have been largely unable to afford the economic realites of this greatest game?

[Thomas MacWood]

That is one hell of a slap in the face. All these years I had mistakenly thought golf was dominated by Asian women under the age of 26. I'm out of here.

[Mark_Fine]

I was at Sharp Park two weeks ago.  Though I didn't get to sit in on a recent city counsil meeting about the golf course on the 29th, two of my colleagues from L.A. flew up for the discussion of the Younger report.  Overall they thought there were more supporters there for the golf course/s than those against it but much guidance and rationality is needed.  I'm optimistic but it will take time to do the right thing at places like Sharp.     

[Charlie Goerges]

I had a nice rant typed out for regarding this, but it's better that I don't post it. Notwithstanding Ms. Wade's asinine statement, I think it is up to those dedicated to the game to prove that it embodies all those fine traits enumerated in those first tee commercials. I may be a sap, but I still believe that the game teaches all those things. I also think the game is unique in how it combines exercise and fellowship while allowing people of all ages and abilities to play and compete in an enjoyable way. If we keep that in mind, I don't think the game will stagnate and decline.

[Richard Boult]

She should have said that golf WILL BE a game primarily played by white men over the age of 45 ... IF cities and towns irresponsibly close down their municipal courses and fail to give young people a place to learn the game.

I'm white, and started playing a year late - at 46. Not about to start playing soccer at this age.

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