Letter to the Editor

Golf and poppycock: Bella Vista's future

The longevity of Bella Vista hinges on keeping our golf courses open.

Bella Vista was built on golf. We are the best community in which to retire or raise a family, so says national publications, and golf is central to that image.

Recently, the Democrat-Gazette published an opinion editorial -- "The Agony of Golf." The author pooh-poohs ideas that might make the game easier and fun for literally everyone.

Fifteen-inch cups and shortening the tee boxes is growing in popularity. He disagrees. He says what golf needs is another Tiger Woods to make the sport popular again, and a robust economy that allows one to make more money and afford the sport.

Poppycock, I say. One golf course closes every 48 hours in the U.S. because of such deadhead, stale thinking.

Golf as it exists is on the downhill slide to oblivion. In present form, it can no longer be an elitist, fat cat's game to survive.

Bella Vista needs dramatic adjustments to our golf courses. If that means taking one of its eight golf courses and remaking it with 15-inch cups and shortened fairway drives to attract new golfers, then we need to make adjustments.

We had better do it posthaste. It's time to make some hard decisions that should have been done yesterday. Bella Vista's future is dependent upon the "Agony of Golf," and that is no poppycock.

John Blair

Bella Vista

Editorial on 08/20/2014