Photo Credit: Scott Spooner
Over the last decade, many municipalities have left the golf course business; either they sold their courses outright or they turned over day-to-day operations to a management company. In a time of fiscal challenges for many municipalities, these actions seem understandable. For one thing, it is hard to sell residents on the value of an amenity that is not “essential” when cuts to services like police and fire are under consideration. Also, the general public can have a difficult time understanding why tax revenue is being used to support a game that can be seen as a pastime for the wealthy and a golf course that is perceived as an environmental threat through the use of pesticides and the overuse of water.
But on closer inspection, golf courses do provide many benefits to the community that are worthy of taxpayers’ investments. While the sport can be expensive, municipal courses offer rates that are often much lower than those of private courses, making for an affordable option for seasoned golfers as well as those just learning the game. Dinner and a movie for two people can easily cost upwards of $40, while those same two hours could be used to play nine holes of golf at the local “muni” for about the same amount of money. (I have not heard any complaints that the cinema is only for the rich.)
Welcome With A Smile
Economic issues aside, there are many ways that golf courses are advantageous to communities. First, a course can be a welcoming green space in an otherwise grey urban environment. The city of Ann Arbor’s (Mich.) Leslie Park Golf Course sits on 155 acres and is bordered by six other city-owned parks. When taken together, these areas form the largest contiguous park within the city limits at nearly 375 acres. Many studies show the health benefits people experience when exposed to a natural environment, including improved mood, decreased stress levels, and lowered blood pressure. While people may maximize this benefit by playing golf, the research shows that just being able to see the open space and a more natural environment creates a health gain.