Sligo Creek Golf Course

For decades the small but nice nine hole golf course in Sligo Creek Park has been home to hackers and whackers of all calibers. Montgomery County has a very fine system of public golf courses but has limited facilities in close in locations. The Sligo course is really the only option for those in Silver Spring who want to get in a quick round. I grew up playing on county courses and spent a lot of time learning to play at Sligo. Nowdays, I don't play golf anymore so I don't know why I care so much that the county has chosen to close the little course in Sligo. Yet it bothers me and I don't want to see it happen.

After all, it is not much of a course. It is not very challenging and only nine holes when the norm is eighteen or more. The county says that the real issue is money. The course just does not pay for itself and they are faced with serious money problems these days. Of course they neglect to mention that all of the public courses in the county along with virtually all of the many other recreational facilities lose money. To me the issue is bigger than this one little second rate course. Most of the other courses in the county are in the outlying suburbs where there is more wealth. The little course at Sligo unique in that it has been an attraction for minority golfer and newbies. It is not considered a challenging course and thus not usually frequented by the serious hard core golfers. It is a great course for a new player who can go there and stink up the links without drawing the ire of his fellow golfers. It has been said that over the years the Sligo course has been more welcoming to women as well but I can't really comment on this.

The real issue to me is that I think it is another "dis" in the long series of "disses" to the folks who reside in the East County by our government. I am getting pretty pissed about this and it is beginning to stick in my craw. It seems like when there is money to be saved, it is the East County that takes on the burden and the golf course is just another example of this. I am tired of my portion of the county getting the "red headed stepchild" treatment and perhaps the planned closing of the Sligo Creek Golf Course is the place for us to draw the line. It is a good time to voice your opinion about this to your county leaders.