Washington D.C. Munies To Be Restored, Revitalized

Many years ago I did a post on a different blog about a potential plan to change the Washington, D.C., municipal golf courses into more upscale places. There was talk of championships and mini-Augusta Nationals, and in general I was very against such plans. Golf doesn't need more fancy courses, it needs more affordable places with quality architecture that the general public can access. That seems especially appropriate in the world of today as golf, as with so many things, wrestles with its elitist elements. This article from Golf.com illustrates the point nicely. While programs like the First Tee are certainly well intentioned, the fact is that they haven't really done a whole lot to increase minority participation in golf. Golf, by and large, remains very inaccessible to those who are not upper middle class or live in big cities.

That's why the news that the National Links Trust has been chosen to run the D.C. munies is such good news. Not only will the courses be revitalized by big names such as Tom Doak and Gil Hanse, but they will be renovated and/or restored in a sympathetic and minimalist fashion so that the courses will remain faithful to their roots as blue-collar haunts. The typical D.C. golfer will have no trouble affording the golf, and they will be rewarded with three courses brimming with interesting quality design. The courses will truly be a part of the community, and it's this sort of action that will truly make golf a more inclusive sport. I've never played the D.C. municipal courses, but I sure plan to once the restorations are complete.