HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-02-2014 B1 ScholzDec. 2, 2014 City Council Meeting: Laguna Lake Golf Course
My name is Joan Scholz. I would like this to be entered into the public record regarding the future of
Laguna Lake Golf Course. I want to compliment the San Luis Obispo City Council for providing such
wonderful venues for exercise and keeping healthy for all ages of our population. I am a 40 year+
resident of San Luis Obispo, and have grown to love our beautiful city. I am here because of 2
reasons. (1) To tell you what how wonderful Laguna Lake Golf Course is and how lucky we are to
have such a beautiful local golf course within our city. And (2) for the many volunteers and small staff
who help to keep Laguna Lake Golf Course in such fine shape. Without the small staff & many
volunteers the course would not be the most favored short course in the county. It is very walkable
and quite challenging for all ages and abilities.
For me, and many others, being able to walk the course is very important. I had a serious stroke a
few years ago. I had enjoyed golf before the stroke, and following it, needed to continue to get good
exercise. Returning to golf was part of my answer. If I played on a large 18 -hole course I would be
required to rent a cart & ride, defeating the purpose of the exercise. But Laguna Lake Golf Course
offers me that opportunity to walk and golf and get my exercise in a very pleasant setting. I play 20
holes with the Ladies Club on Tuesdays, as well as other times during the week. I enjoy the mixture
of ages - we have 2 ladies who are 96 - yes, I said 96! - who play the 20 holes with us regularly. It
provides great social interaction for widows and widowers, also.
The clientele range in age from 5 & 6 year olds in the "First Tee" program through all ages. There are
Middle School and Senior High students, as well as 2 classes from Cal Poly who regularly use the
course per quarter. We have 2 -3 groups of Seniors per day who play regularly besides many couples
& individuals who play on a weekly basis.
I know the course takes in 60% -70% of its costs per year, compared to nothing for tennis, and less
than 10% for the other venues the city offers. Whereas these other venues are limited in their
availability by locked gates & only open to certain groups, the golf course is available to the public
daily, except on Dec. 25 and 1/2 day on Thanksgiving. Yes, we're even open when it rains! And we do
get golfers!
I'm not sure you are aware that the golf course has 90+ wonderful volunteers who love the course
and help take good care of it by doing many of the necessary chores of upkeep - shagging balls on
the driving range, repairing the divits on the Tees and the course, and serving as Marshals to watch
over the etiquette on the course, and to see that the staff is safe when closing up at the end of the
day.
If you compare the appearance and care of our city owned Laguna Lake Golf Course with Dairy
Creek, which is county owned, you can see that "many hands make light work" and a very enjoyable
venue for all. Laguna Lake Golf Course is in such beautiful condition - we have many out -of- towners
who travel here to play on this course, because it is so well taken care of, and the people are so
friendly. What a great loss it would be to the city and its population if you decide to change it.
Please, please, keep it the way it is! Don't try to "fix" a great thing - what a wonderful way to maintain
our open space!
Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter. RFC -Tg
l' DEC 02 2014
COUNCIL MEETING- I�7-
ITEM NO.: 1J% 37.4x` CLERIC