Talking with Lyn Hall, I commented I don’t tend to talk about city business in these columns but sometimes I feel like weighing in on an issue.
I confess. I am a golfer. I have been for 40 years and will keep playing until I can’t.
There is a great deal of pleasure to be obtained from golf, provided the drives are straight and the putts drop. And frustration when drives aren’t straight and putts lip out. Golf is a good walk, period.
Over the past couple of years, I have played all of the courses in Prince George but mostly Aberdeen Glen. It is a beautiful and challenging course with great facilities. The staff does an incredible job of keeping the course in immaculate shape. I don’t mind paying higher greens fee for what should be viewed as a championship course.
And although I don’t play at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club anywhere near as often, it is an equally spectacular course well worth the money spent on green fees. There is a great deal of care put into the course by the staff.
But for the city to approve a massive increase in the fees for Pine Valley makes no sense. Yes, it is a fun little course to play. However, it is not on par with the rest of the golf courses in town.
Consider that for the same $33 dollars, you can play at Alder Hills which is a better, more challenging course. For $47, you can play Aspen Grove - a full 18-hole golf course.
I am not saying Pine Valley is a bad course. It is great for a beginner – I have a friend who is teaching his son to play while learning himself. The course was perfect for that sort of activity, and it was affordable. Is it worth the extra cost though? Will they keep playing there when it costs much more? Especially as kids play free at other courses in town.
Further, for Coun. Terri McConnachie to describe the increase as “small”, Coun. Brian Skakun to add “It’s a small, small increase” and Coun. Garth Frizzell to pun bespeaks a level of tone deafness you don’t expect from City Councillors.
But then again, maybe you do.
Todd Whitcombe is a chemistry professor at UNBC.
