John Ashworth Spearheading Effort To Save Oceanside Gem

Center City Golf Course at Goat Hill is under fire in Oceanside, California and Ashworth founder John Ashworth is trying to see it enhanced and saved as a golf only facility.

"It is a really cool place, and would be a shame to see it go," part-time San Diego area resident and 2006 U.S. Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy tells me. 
"Short, fun and cheap. Everything golf needs."

Recognized incorrectly as San Diego’s oldest course (1952), Center City Golf Course at Goat Hill was designed by Ludwig Keehn and features unusual terrain and a great spot for beginners and good players. It's also home to a burgeoning disc golf community and sounds like just the kind of thing that golf needs more of.

According to Ashworth's post here, the city wants to make it a multi-use park with a 9 hole kids course, 6 soccer fields for a private soccer academy, minor league soccer stadium and two hotels. This, despite Ashworth having been just days from signing a lease agreement to spearhead a rejuvenation of the property with architect Tom Doak signed on to help. This comes after an Request for Proposal seeking alternative uses for the property.

Ashworth writes:

Linksoul, in partnership with several parties, formed Goat Hill Partners, LLC and submitted a proposal that would keep the golf course in tact, while giving it a much needed facelift, and cultivating the land into what would be Oceanside's version of Central Park. (Downloadable here)

Though it's late in the game, you can send an email to the Oceanside City Council urging them to retain the golf course. They are meeting Wednesday, March 19th at 4PM to discuss the project.