Golf Fore the Good

Small town politics. It’s a trip. I refer not only to elected office; yesterday afternoon I happened to see my local golf pro out and about. By then I’d already heard one version of the newest in membership uprisings, fresh from the fairway, and he just shrugged it off, par for the course, so to speak.

“What a day, what a day…” long time Dennis Pines members remember those words fondly, often repeated by our previous pro of 30+ years, just another part of our “status quo.” The confines of our world then seemed absolute; maybe not perfect, but we always knew what to expect. There existed a comfort zone for all the various member groups, a place for everyone and everyone in their place. Our couple of pretty decent tracks served us well, and without change, for years.

But flash forward to the installation of new management; even going into his third season, it seems there are legions of members who can and will give cause to our “new” pro to shake his head and say… “what a day, what a day.”

There are a good many people in the world who just abhor change. I truly, truly feel for this guy. Imagine about 2000 (TWO THOUSAND!) members, any number of whom are so rooted to the course that the tiniest change at all feels like a violent upheaval. With groups and personalities so deeply entrenched it is next to impossible to make a move without upsetting someone’s inertia. Tournament details, pro shop issues, course conditions, tee time schedules, you name it and there will always be someone who isn’t happy with something, somewhere, whenever. But if these members could detach for just a moment and consider;

In the big picture, will your life change in any insurmountable way if “this” or “that” changes at the golf course?

Aren’t you lucky enough to gain membership to 2 (TWO!) championship courses for a mere pittance in terms of golf membership fees?

Are these same oft-crowded courses not in their most amazing shape in recent memory?

And can you possibly suppose that perhaps a few of these ragged on, disputed and loudly dissented decisions may have contributed to the superb course conditions we currently enjoy?

Ours are municipal courses. As tax payers, paying and playing at a town owned course, undoubtedly some members can’t help but have despotic tendencies. Aren’t they are our courses, supported by our tax dollars? In actuality, they are golf courses and businesses, run by hired professionals. We have rules and regulations for our other town services and amenities, and periodically rules change, like it or not. When was the last time you saw a tax payer cussing out the gate keeper at the dump? Or lambasting the harbor master? Maybe, just maybe, change isn’t always a bad thing. It takes some getting used to, no doubt, but is often times worth the effort. We who are members of municipal golf courses would do well to step back and reconsider the amazing opportunity for play that these munis provide. So the next time you’re playing a round, take a breathe, relax and appreciate… what a day!