Okay, I am mystified. I don't understand why people are questioning whether or not golf courses fit into the mission of the Minneapolis Park Board. Underlying that seems to be a belief that some, if not all the courses, should be sold to free up money for the core mission of the Park Board.
Well, hello - isn't recreation at the very heart of that mission? And isn't golf recreation? Talk to the literally thousands of people, I suspect the majority of them Minneapolitans, who use those golf courses each year. And don't forget, the courses also provide cross country skiing venues in the winter.
Yes, I am a golfer and do play the Minneapolis courses. I find them to be well used by golfers of all ages (just try Hiawatha on a weekend). Has someone gotten the notion that golf is elitist? I think not - check out the crowds on any given day. Now I don't use the tennis courts or the basketball courts, and I certainly would not suggest we sell off those to free up money for other uses. So why are people picking on the golf courses?
As someone else has pointed out - the courses make money. I would urge the Park Board to do everything possible to increase that amount. I certainly don't believe that all the money made by the golf courses should remain with the golf courses as long as they are adequately maintained and periodically improved.
Jan Del Calzo
Lynnhurst
