Future of Hains Point

[rcannon100]

I mean, besides sinking into the Potomac.

Did anyone catch this art in the WaPo?

An upscale future pondered for D.C.’s proletarian public golf courses

“That’s a nod to House Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), who last month renewed a bid to transform one of the city’s three federally owned golf courses — most likely East Potomac, she says — into a “world-class, tournament-quality public course, with playing fees commensurate with such courses.”

East Potomac, along with Langston Golf Course on Benning Road NE and the Rock Creek course off 16th Street NW, for decades have been havens of proletarian golf, affordable and accessible to those without the means or will to pay country-club dues or near-triple-digit greens fees.”

Gee, I wonder wut would happen to the Hains Point cycletrack if al-a-sudden the golf course is Trumpified.

Topic

[consularrider]

@rcannon100 87281 wrote:

Gee, I wonder wut would happen to the Hains Point cycletrack if al-a-sudden the golf course is Trumpified.

A $100 per lap, but no stop signs?

[mstone]

The stop signs would still be there, but there’d be tacky gold trim on them.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Yes, because what this city really lacks is “world class” golf facilities. Glad the people’s delegate has her eyes on the prize.

(I was going to say ‘ball’, but the Forum’s better than that.)

[jrenaut]

If anyone actually wants this, shouldn’t there be developers lining up to do it? It’s not like a golf course is a public good. It’s a gigantic waste of space for rich people.

[dbb]

nothing says “world class” than some blowhard with a really bad haircut

can we wait a couple of years until we see the success that the old post office will become?

[Phatboing]

Quote:

for decades have been havens of proletarian golf, affordable and accessible to those without the means or will to pay country-club dues or near-triple-digit greens fees

This is maybe almost a serious question, but what the hell is proletarian golf? Do the proles care about golfing? Do they shell out for their own set o clubs? Because yes, three-digit greens fees are silly, but aren’t golf clubs expensive anyway?

[PotomacCyclist]

I saw the article before. I’m not sure how much of a chance there is for the proposal to pass. There’s a lot of skepticism from many parties. For one, there are already a few championship quality golf courses in the D.C. region already, just not in the District itself. If a senator, lobbyist or CEO has time to take a midday break and play golf, the trip out to MD or VA isn’t going to be a great deterrent. (I seriously doubt most of those people are going to be playing golf on a regular weekday anyway.)

As for “proletarian golf,” it encompasses more than just the lowest economic classes. I used to go to the driving range at Hains Point occasionally. You can rent a driver there. The total fees for the range and the club weren’t that much, even for a student.

As for the clubs, budget sets of clubs and bags are surprisingly affordable, even under $200 for a basic set. That’s even less than a big-box store bike. You don’t have to be wealthy to play golf on a public course.

[Phatboing]

@PotomacCyclist 87297 wrote:

As for “proletarian golf,” it encompasses more than just the lowest economic classes. I used to go to the driving range at Hains Point occasionally. You can rent a driver there. The total fees for the range and the club weren’t that much, even for a student.

As for the clubs, budget sets of clubs and bags are surprisingly affordable, even under $200 for a basic set. That’s even less than a big-box store bike. You don’t have to be wealthy to play golf on a public course.

Huh. Thanks for the perspective. The term makes it sound like one of those out-of-touch rock folk things, like peasant caviar.

[creadinger]

@PotomacCyclist 87297 wrote:

As for the clubs, budget sets of clubs and bags are surprisingly affordable, even under $200 for a basic set. That’s even less than a big-box store bike. You don’t have to be wealthy to play golf on a public course.

$200?? Try more like $20. I got my set of Sam Snead’s at Play-It-Again Sports which came with actual wooden woods. The super heavy faux leather bag was $7. We’d play the par-3 course at the skiing hill near State College most of the time, but occasionally we hit up the White course on PSU’s campus. We were low class golfers, and loved it.

[Steve]

Gotta admit, cyclists making fun of golf as an expensive hobby is, well……

I hope to god they don’t do this, and don’t think they will. I mean the premise that NPS land could generate more money than it does….no kidding! But that’s what MAKES it park land. I get the fact that there’s a course there already and it could be managed better might be a fair argument, but everything doesn’t have to be high end.

[Starduster]

@dbb 87293 wrote:

nothing says “world class” than some blowhard with a really bad haircut

can we wait a couple of years until we see the success that the old post office will become?

Oh, you mean the Ultimate Power Combover?

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Steve 87321 wrote:

I mean the premise that NPS land could generate more money than it does….no kidding! But that’s what MAKES it park land.

Imagine the revenue from rim side condos at the Grand Canyon. The national debt could be sliced by like …. 0.0002% or something. Never mind.

[cyclingfool]

@Starduster 87322 wrote:

Oh, you mean the Ultimate Power Combover™?

ftfy

[dasgeh]

@Steve 87321 wrote:

Gotta admit, cyclists making fun of golf as an expensive hobby is, well……

True, though for me, cycling isn’t an expensive hobby, it’s how I get from point A to point B*

*When points A and B are more than 1/4 mile and less than 15 miles apart, and not in Fairfax County

[Rootchopper]

Given the rise in the level of the Potomac River over the next ten years, they’d be wise to open up a water park instead.

[Author]

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