Comments on Silver Spring, Singular: All Your Golf Course Are Belong to Us

Apparently, they plan to keep Sligo open for anoth...

2009-07-29T13:48:46.051-05:00

Apparently, they plan to keep Sligo open for another 12 months until they can go through a (legit) process to figure out what to do with it. See email post below from the Woodside Park listserv:

>Friends and Neighbors:
>
> I just received a phone call from Council Member Ervin's office informing me that the County Executive has agreed to continue running Sligo Creek Golf Course as such for the next 12 months as they put together a community advisory board to explore ways of generating revenue to do so permanently. Details will follow and the Council will need to send it through all the official steps when they reconvene this fall, but this is a tremendous step. Many, many thanks to all those involved in this process (fight?) for the past two+ years!
>
> Best,
>
> -Mike Welsh
> President, North Hills of Sligo Creek Civic Association WelshMJ@yahoo.
> com
>

Shutting down Sligo puts more money into the other...

2009-07-23T12:29:43.003-05:00

Shutting down Sligo puts more money into the other courses, since the golfers will go, presumably, to another MoCo course. That's why it's being closed. The RA want the revenue to be spread around to the other courses.

As for soccer fields... most of the course is flood plain and the areas that might be used for soccer would probably inflame the local residents.

Also, why does soccer get a free ride but golf must support itself in MoCo? If people in MoCo like soccer so much they should have to pay to use the fields *each and every* time. Make them generate revenue too!!

RIP to golf in the lower east county... First White Oak then Sligo. I'm betting these will not be the last victims, either.

Well, we now know the reason for the broken Americ...

2009-07-21T20:24:04.744-05:00

Well, we now know the reason for the broken American Apparel window. It was an anti-gay "statement":

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/sexist/2009/07/21/gay-t-shirts-in-windows-a-problem-for-american-apparel/

So, want to take any bets as to who did it? Hateful "urban element," or Republican military type staying at the Hilton?

How much of a tax break do the private country clu...

2009-07-21T10:44:39.297-05:00

How much of a tax break do the private country clubs get for maintaining green space with their golf courses? ...including Columbia Country Club which is protesting the Purple Line running on public property along its border?

American apparel windows seem to shatter pretty re...

2009-07-21T09:35:04.205-05:00

American apparel windows seem to shatter pretty regularly.

The Sligo golf situation is pretty ridiculous. Does the RA really care if the county operates the course now, or is everyone just throwing their hands up and saying "rules are rules"?

If the rules are your rules, can't you change the rules? It seems ridiculous that when the will of the constituents is so clear, the powers that be choose to ignore it.

Shane, Sligo is the only public course inside the...

2009-07-21T05:44:01.717-05:00

Shane,

Sligo is the only public course inside the beltway in MoCo.

Why is everyone up in arms about saving a golf cou...

2009-07-21T00:15:25.955-05:00

Why is everyone up in arms about saving a golf course? A quick look at google maps and I count 7 other courses in Montgomery County. Golf course account for most of the green space inside the beltway.

Needless to say I think this is a great idea. There is a huge need for good playing fields in Silver Spring. Just because the hundreds of kids that would love a good soccer complex didn't show up at the meeting doesn't mean they don't exist.

Unrelated to anything - WTF happened at the Americ...

2009-07-20T20:20:07.789-05:00

Unrelated to anything - WTF happened at the American Apparel last night? When I walked by at about 7:50am this morning, one of the big plate glass windows was shattered, and there was a mound of glass on the sidewalk. It didn't appear as if the display itself had been touched or harmed in any way. Attempted break-in? Anyone have any idea?

This is just more evidence that the Planning Board...

2009-07-19T06:18:41.032-05:00

This is just more evidence that the Planning Board has gone seriously off track (no reference to the Purple Line intended). They are also proposing massively higher densities in new plans, including turning the White Flint area into something with greater density than Tysons Corner but with less parking. And they are proposing to allow all this despite the fact that the infrastructure to support the development isn't in place. Traffic congestion, school overcrowding, etc., will only get worse. But the developers will profit, and that seems to be the only thing that matters even if the quality of life and tax rates for current residents will get worse.

The county council needs to bring some sanity back to the planning process.

Why is the Revenue Authority (RA) closing Sligo? B...

2009-07-18T06:13:58.370-05:00

Why is the Revenue Authority (RA) closing Sligo? Because they can. I've met RA director Keith "Napoleon" Miller 4 times, and like all small generals they yearn to feel their power. Witness the irony of closing Sligo on financial grounds. In 2009 the RA estimates the following:

Sligo will lose $168,178
Poolesville will lose $231,949
Rattlewood will lose $334,744
Little Bennett will lose $344,467
Hampshire Greens will lose $581,403

Except for Sligo all these golf courses will be given subsidies from the RA.

In fact, the next time diminutive billionaire Dan Snyder flies his jet in and out of the RA owned Montgomery Airpark for FREE he will get a RA golf subsidy. Golfers will donate $438,679 of their greens fees to the Airpark to subsidize wealthy private aircraft owners.

Landing Fee: $0
Take Off Fee: $0
Double Standard Factor: Priceless

The RA can subsidize wealthy aircraft owners and their other suburban golf courses but Sligo gets kicked to the curb Oct. 1? Visit our website to find out how you can stop this injustice.

Mark Suffanti
Founding Member SaveSligoGolf.com

No, the Revenue Authority was allowed to drop any ...

2009-07-17T22:52:46.935-05:00

No, the Revenue Authority was allowed to drop any course deemed unprofitable, but the county still couldn't operate it. How messed up is that?

Confused: If the revenue authority dumped the golf...

2009-07-17T22:20:57.313-05:00

Confused: If the revenue authority dumped the golf course, isn't it breaching its lease? And if so, doesn't that negate whatever weirdness was in the lease to begin with?

Thanks for your report. I didn't attend and was a...

2009-07-17T18:22:40.029-05:00

Thanks for your report. I didn't attend and was anxious to see some commentary. Sounds like there's a lot more work to do. In the past Council has listened to residents in protests of some of the nonsense plans for Silver Spring. In this case it is about equal opportunity for people who would have difficulty participating at the larger and more expensive public courses, which generally cater to the well-heeled, equal opportunity for golfing novices, teens, older golfers, and the less affluent. Will any new use serve these same populations or more affluent again?