From: Cary Hutchins
Columbus
As the worst golfer in Columbus, I feel eminently qualified to give an opinion on whether or not to close the Greenbelt Golf Course.
City parks should provide recreational opportunities for all. Greenbelt offers affordable rates. It’s golfers represent all income levels and the diversity of Columbus. The moderate difficulty level of the course and pricing allow whole families to play together.
Otter Creek is a great golf course. But it charges much more than Greenbelt. It has always operated as a privately owned golf course. To pay its high maintenance costs it recruits outside groups for outings and tournaments. This restricts the times local people can play. Pricing excludes many. Course difficulty excludes others. Distance from town is another deterrent.
Players at Greenbelt are a different breed of cat than than players at Otter Creek. All the rounds played at Greenbelt won’t automatically transfer to Otter Creek if Greenbelt is closed.
Buying the Fair Oaks Mall, the old Machinery Movers property and moving ahead with a downtown river park dwarf into insignificance any money lost on the Greenbelt and Par 3 golf courses. Using these losses to argue for closing Greenbelt calls into question whether or not the city could afford these other parks and rec projects.
The city has a moral obligation to keep Greenbelt open for low and moderate income golfing families if it is going to keep Otter Creek open.
