Nice, Fun Muni Faces Closure Because Of Bad Greens!?

Thanks to reader Tom for Mark McGregor's disturbing look at the possible demise of Snyder Park, a 1929 muni that Tom says "is 6,300 yds. from the tips" and is "a wonderful old style course and a delightful walk." 

City finances and no direction on how to fix bad greens may cause the city of Springfield, Ohio, to close the place. Perhaps this would be a nice salvation job for the USGA to tap its surplus and the expertise of the Green Section to save a quality place for everyday golf? Oh there I go again.

City Manager Jim Bodenmiller said in a January commission meeting that the city challenged the park district to make Snyder and Reid Park courses self-sufficient. National Trail met that goal in two of three years, but a subsidy was necessary in 2011.

City Finance Director Mark Beckdahl said in the meeting that without the subsidy, the district’s bills and vendors would have gone unpaid.

“We had a rough 2011, there’s no denying that,” Smith said. “It’s tough when you’re dealing with the weather. Not everything you do (to fix turf) works.”

Early estimates to repair the greens range from $15,000 to $20,000. National Trail will know more in a few weeks once a golf turf expert examines the course, determines why conditions deteriorated and how much it will likely cost to restore them.

The city hasn’t decided whether it will pay to redo the greens or if it will instead close the Snyder Park course.