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I drove by the old golf course at Aquarena the other day and was totally upset by the downing of many mature trees as the University prepared the site for “practice fields.” I understand that I was not the only person who was upset by the devastation and carnage on those ancient beings.
I used to play golf there before the University closed it as they said there was major damage to the course and clubhouse. I would venture to say there has been worse flooding back in the 70’s, but the old golf course stayed open. I say old course, as my research at the Daily Record shows the first mention of golf there was in 1924.
People from around Texas would travel here to play golf and enjoy the refreshing waters of Spring Lake. So the golf course was 25 years younger than the University. The University used to offer the old golf course as a public course to locals and students and I was very glad they did that. It was one of the few public offerings from the university to the citizens of the area and was greatly appreciated. I am a golfer and loved playing at the old course as it was a beautiful setting with those mature trees and crystal clear water. It is a magical place.
As golfers, we respected the trees and bushes of the course as we had a rule that if your ball was lying near a tree trunk or root, you had a two club rule that allowed you to move the ball two club lengths to avoid damaging the tree or root.
I once spoke to the grounds keepers and ask them why they don’t put fertilizer down and make the greens greener and lusher? He replied, “The University would not allow us to put fertilizer on the greens or fairways because of the harm it would to the streams and Spring Lake. I get it. I wanted to preserve the area as well, so we understood their reasoning.
But to drive by the old golf course and see those majestic old pecan trees lying on their side with roots ripped up by those large yellow machines, was very sad. It was said that no native trees were destroyed, but those 200 year-old pecan trees are native. In fact the state tree of Texas is the pecan tree. Go figure.
There were also comments that the old golf course didn’t make any money, but I submit to you that “practice fields” don’t make any money either. Golf is a game of gentlemen and gentlewomen. Golf gets people outside and away from their phones, which we need more of these days. People of all ages can play golf until they are too old to walk or swing a club. Golf is not for everyone, but it offers a way to be in nature and enjoy its benefits.
The University could offer a 3 hole golf course to continue the old tradition of golf on this one of a kind place on this big blue ball. Use it for more than just a buffer for Spring Lake. Invite the public back to a place that has been open to the public for about 95 years.
Dan Searle
