I’m sure that, if you read this paper regularly, you’ve heard about the golf course in the works on Centennial Campus. Yep, that’s what happens when someone donates $3 million to the University for a golf course.
After this story broke, an alumnus named Brian Hare wrote in the Campus Forum that we should leave the woodsy “paradise” around Lake Raleigh alone. He asked, “How many other places in the city, much less in walking distance for students, can you get fresh air and exercise in a large forest, discover interesting objects and walk among deer?”
Since I usually only see deer in road kill form, I decided to investigate. Hare’s description was spot-on. The forest near the Park Alumni Center felt like complete wilderness. I walked about a mile in and couldn’t see any sign of civilization besides the trails. While I didn’t see any deer, I did catch a glimpse of a couple foxes. If more students knew about this area, they’d be flocking there to see it before it gets replaced.
I know that $3 million is a pretty strong argument for a golf course, but leaving the area alone would cost almost nothing. Not only that, but I suspect that the forest would benefit a much greater number of students than a golf course. Who wouldn’t enjoy getting away from the daily grind to relax among nature during a stressful week of classes? People are always complaining about our “ugly” campus, and this area on Centennial gives us all a chance to escape the brick canyon of main campus and go for a romp in the woods.
I’m sure some students would prefer to relax on the links, but most of us are clueless about golf. When we hear “driver,” we think NASCAR, not PGA. Golfing tends to be predominated by upper-class males, who make up a small percentage of students here. This is a public school; the student body is not filled with country club types who grew up with golf. Your average student will not benefit from the golf course because he or she has no idea how to swing a club.
Nonetheless, I realize that many students, especially turfgrass management majors, would love having access to a golf course. There must be a better place to put one though. What about the property near the fairgrounds? The vet school doesn’t use all that land. What’s that you say? There’s already a golf course for alumni there with some room for expansion!? And Wolfline buses go right by this “University Club” every day!?
Well in that case, why not just spend the money improving that course and make it available to students? I’m not an expert golf course designer, but I suspect that $3 million is enough to add several holes, including an area for the turfgrass management department to experiment.
This way, golfers get to golf, turf-grass majors get a chance for hands-on learning and the woods on Centennial get left alone so others can enjoy them. There may be some holes in this plan I haven’t considered, but it’s the only fair way to do it.
That said, $3 million is a lot of green and will likely be more convincing than my 600-word column. In two years, we will probably have one more golf course at the expense of the only wilderness on campus. (Sorry, but Rocky Branch Greenway, with its beautiful view of Carmichael Gymnasium, doesn’t count as a nature area.)
My advice is to take advantage of this forest while you still have the chance.
E-mail Brian your thoughts at [email protected].