SDMGA Responds to USGA Executive Director David Fay's April 24 Letter
SDMGA responded to USGA Executive Director David Fay addressing many important issues of concern to the San Diego municipal golfer. We asked that the USGA publicly stand up for municipal golf and municipal golfers and against destroying the very character of the Torrey Pines venue that makes it so attractive to the USGA by clearly stating that the USGA will look at the way all groups, including resident golfers, are treated in deciding whether it would consider returning to Torrey. We feel that such a statement would be consistent with the advertised policies of the USGA in support of the municipal golfer and for the good of the game. It would allow the USGA to promote fairness to all and preserve the municipal golf tradition which is so central to the USGA’s mission.
The SDMGA letter is presented below. ________________________________________________________________________
San Diego Municipal Golfer’s Alliance
P.O. Box 22575
San Diego, CA. 92192-2575
858 452 7121
April 30, 2006
David Fay, Executive Director
United States Golf Association
77 Liberty Corner Road
Far Hills, N.J. 07931-0708
Dear Mr. Fay:
Thank you for your prompt and informative response. We too were initially excited and enthusiastic about the U.S. Open coming to our community in 2008. Unfortunately because of the scheme now proposed by City Officials to put the interests of private groups first and the interests of San Diegans and the golf courses last, the golfing community has become disenchanted with the process. We urge you to reconsider your position that the USGA should not “influence or interfere with” policy toward Torrey Pines. The fact is that by bringing the Open to Torrey Pines, the USGA will have a profound effect on municipal golf here for years to come. The question is whether that effect will be positive or will it destroy affordable municipal golf at Torrey.
We don’t know the sources of your “constant positive feedback” but the objective evidence is to the contrary. Independent journalists have been describing the municipal golf scene in San Diego as “acrimonious” since January 16, with record crowds and heated community opposition at two Golf Advisory Council meetings, a City Attorney Forum and a City Council Natural Resources Committee hearing. For an archive of news articles and other relevant information, see our website - News Link.
We have attended every public forum on golf issues in San Diego since January and every member of the public who has spoken has opposed the City’s plans and our position was adopted by the City’s Golf Advisory Council on an 8-3 vote. The only supporters of the City’s plans in the public debate and on the Golf Advisory Council have been special interests: hotels and promoters of professional tournament golf.
We ask that the USGA stand up for a balanced solution that preserves affordable municipal golf. You need not endorse our balanced plan or that of any group; just speak the truth and stand up for what is right. The special interest supporters of the current plan are invoking the return of the U.S. Open as the justification for their privatization plan which will force regulars, seniors, women and local tournament play off Torrey Pines. They say that construction of new buildings such as an office complex for a closed, private club and a new clubhouse with a hotel operated restaurant are necessary to secure the return of the Open. This specious argument has been publicly refuted by the USGA and your organization’s forthright public statements should be helpful to the city in deciding the issue. The USGA can further clarify the issues by stating that its decision to return to San Diego will be influenced by the City’s ability to craft a plan that is fair to all, including local golfers.
You are being misinformed if you believe that the issues at Torrey are about raising needed revenue for the City. The municipal golf courses of San Diego are operated under an “enterprise fund” concept and as such are self sustaining. In fact the Torrey Pines Golf Complex makes sufficient revenue every year to help support the other city municipal courses. SDMGA supports a budgeting scheme that funds all golf operations, including capital expenditures to improve playing conditions at all golf courses. No proposal by anyone has suggested that the City drain the golf courses of revenues generated there to help with the City’s current financial woes. The USGA could help the golf funding situation here immeasurably by insisting that the $3.5 million in corporate tent sales which are now allocated to the “Friends of Torrey Pines” be put back into the golf courses as was done at Bethpage. Allowing this money to be diverted from the golf courses will mean that San Diegans will not reap the benefits to course conditions that resulted at all five Bethpage courses from the influx of U.S. Open money.
Special interests are setting up a false choice between affordable municipal golf and Torrey Pines being a venue for professional tournament play. Your letter seems to suggest another false choice between access by the residents, including seniors and women who play Torrey regularly and access by “occasional players,” “those who have never played the game,” “the parent introducing the game to his or her young child” and “the fan.” Nothing we advocate would prevent tournament play, or shut out anyone from playing or visiting Torrey Pines. To the contrary, we are desperately trying to preserve access for resident golfers against profiteers who want to turn Torrey into a destination resort which none of the “public” your letter champions could afford.
You say the USGA must not interfere with the inner workings of City government. We are not asking for that. We are asking that in this instance the USGA publicly stand up for municipal golf and municipal golfers and against destroying the very character of the Torrey Pines venue that makes it so attractive to the USGA by clearly stating that the USGA will look at the way all groups, including resident golfers, are treated in deciding whether it would consider returning to Torrey. Such a statement would be consistent with the advertised policies of the USGA in support of the municipal golfer for the good of the game. It would allow the USGA to promote fairness to all and preserve the municipal golf tradition which is so central to the USGA’s mission.
Best regards,
John Beaver
Joe Burwell
Paul Spiegelman
Co-founders San Diego Municipal Golfer’s Alliance