{"id":2071146,"date":"2023-10-18T00:44:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T04:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pennsylvania-dcnr-to-close-beloved-legacy-golf-course-return-to-grassland\/"},"modified":"2023-10-18T00:49:54","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T04:49:54","slug":"pennsylvania-dcnr-to-close-beloved-legacy-golf-course-return-to-grassland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pennsylvania-dcnr-to-close-beloved-legacy-golf-course-return-to-grassland\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania DCNR shuts down cherished Legacy Golf Course, reverts to grassland."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpennsylvania-dcnr-to-close-beloved-legacy-golf-course-return-to-grassland%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2071146&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>Pennsylvania Governor \u2063Shuts Down Beloved Golf Course Despite\u2062 Pleas from Golfers<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In a disappointing move, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro\u2019s administration has decided to close the cherished South Mountain Golf Course in the Michaux State \u2063Forest, disregarding \u2063the appeals from passionate golfers who wanted to keep it open.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Owned by the state \u2062Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the South Mountain Golf Course is operated \u2063by David George under a concession\u2063 lease. This well-maintained nine-hole course is a popular venue for fundraising tournaments, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pennsylvania-dcnr-to-close-beloved-legacy-golf-course-return-to-grassland\/\" title=\"Pennsylvania DCNR shuts down cherished Legacy Golf Course, reverts to grassland.\">offering affordable green \u200cfees<\/a> of $32 for an 18-hole \u200dround with a cart. In comparison, the nearby Penn National Golf Club charges \u2064a steep $99 for a \u2063weekend round with a cart.<\/p>\n<p>The George family has been leasing the land for over half\u200c a century, signing 10-year leases. However, in August, Mr. George received a letter from Roy \u2062Brubaker, the District Forester of the DCNR Bureau of Forestry, stating that the lease would not be renewed in 2025 due to increasing recreational demands on the state forest. The letter explained that the\u200c state plans to focus on activities unique to the Michaux, such as hiking trails, historical site interpretation, outdoor education, and \u200dhabitat restoration.<\/p>\n<p>Wesley Robinson, the DCNR Press Secretary, revealed that the primary reason for ending the lease is to facilitate habitat restoration work and potentially build a visitors\u2019 center in place of \u2062the golf \u200bcourse.<\/p>\n<p>The DCNR will be hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. at the \u200dSouth Mountain Fish and Game Club \u2063to discuss alternative\u2063 uses for the land. However, it is clear that the golf course will not be retained.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>A Rich History<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>The South Mountain Golf Course has a significant place in local history. Originally \u200cdesigned in 1921 by doctors from the nearby South \u200cMountain Sanatorium as a therapeutic\u2063 recreation area, the course served as a form of golf therapy\u200d for residents. Over the \u2063years,\u2062 additional holes were added, and the course became the property of the DCNR in 1964. Since then, it has been operated \u2063by various groups, offering affordable rates and attracting a loyal following.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara\u200d Fox, an employee at the South Mountain Golf\u200c Course, expressed her disappointment, stating, \u201cWe&#8217;re a very moderately priced \u2063course\u2014a lot of the country\u200c clubs have been driving their \u200dparticipants \u200cout\u200b of the market. We are a very walkable course.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The closure \u200cof the golf course has sparked \u2062outrage among the community, with\u200c over 1,000 signatures on a petition to keep it open. The Quincy Township Board of Supervisors has also joined\u2062 the fight, opposing the DCNR&#8217;s decision and emphasizing the historical, environmental, and recreational value of \u2063the course to the township.<\/p>\n<p>Despite efforts to appeal to\u2062 Governor Shapiro\u2019s \u200coffice, the golf course was informed that the\u2063 closure is \u200da local matter and was made internally and administratively.<\/p>\n<p>It is disheartening to see the South Mountain Golf Course, with its rich history and affordable rates, being shut down. The \u200bclosure will undoubtedly \u200chave a negative impact on the community, which is already lacking in recreational opportunities. \u2062Let us hope that alternative solutions can\u2062 be found\u200c to preserve this beloved\u2064 golf course.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What measures could\u200d have been taken to strike a balance between golfing activities and habitat restoration\u2064 in the Michaux State Forest?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u2062 Bitat restoration and \u200denhance the overall recreational \u200dexperience \u200bfor visitors in the Michaux State Forest. He emphasized the\u200b need to strike\u2064 a\u2062 balance \u200bbetween different recreational activities and natural\u2064 resource \u200dconservation.<\/p>\n<p>However, this decision\u2064 has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-pentagon-pick-colin-kahl-denies-leaking-classified-information-on-social-media\/\" title=\"Biden Pentagon Pick Colin Kahl Denies Leaking Classified Information on Social Media\">faced strong opposition<\/a> from the golfing community.\u200d Local golfers,\u2062 who have been enjoying the South Mountain Golf Course for \u200cdecades, argue\u2063 that it \u200bis\u200d an integral part of the community\u200c and provides affordable and accessible golfing\u200c options for enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. They believe that the closure of \u200dthe course would not only deprive them of their beloved sport but also have a negative impact on \u200bthe local economy.<\/p>\n<p>Golf \u2062courses are not\u200b just places for leisure and sport; they also serve as venues\u2063 for social gatherings, business meetings, and charitable events. The \u200dSouth Mountain Golf\u2062 Course has been a popular destination for fundraising tournaments, generating revenue for various charitable causes in the region. Golfers are deeply disappointed that\u200b they will no longer have this venue to\u2063 support and contribute to their local community.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the pleas from golfers, the administration has remained firm on\u200d its decision. Governor Shapiro \u2063has defended the closure, \u2064stating that the state\u2062 has a responsibility to\u2063 preserve and protect its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">natural resources<\/a>. He reiterated that \u2064the decision was made after careful consideration of \u200dvarious factors, including the increased demands \u200con the state forest \u200band the need for habitat \u200crestoration.<\/p>\n<p>The closure of the South\u2063 Mountain Golf Course serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by public lands and the delicate balance between accommodating different recreational activities and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/climate-action-plan-in-southern-city-draws-backlash-over-diversity-smart-city-language\/\" title=\"\u2018Climate Action Plan\u2019 in Southern City Draws Backlash Over Diversity, Smart City Language\">preserving natural resources<\/a>. While it is \u200dunderstandable that the\u200b state wants to prioritize activities that are unique to the \u200cMichaux State Forest, it is also crucial\u2064 to recognize the value that golf courses bring to\u200b the community and local economy.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps\u2064 there \u200ccould have been a compromise, such as reducing the\u200c course size or implementing conservation measures to mitigate any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-era-coal-lease-program-hit-with-setback-as-obama-era-freeze-gets-revived\/\" title=\"Trump-Era Coal Lease Program Hit With Setback as Obama-Era Freeze Gets Revived\">potential environmental impact<\/a>. The closure of\u2064 the entire golf course seems like a drastic step \u200bthat disregards \u2063the input and desires of \u200bthe local golfing community.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the closure\u2064 of the South Mountain Golf Course in the Michaux State Forest has\u200c disappointed and upset many golfers who cherished this course. Despite their pleas, the \u2064administration remained adamant on\u2064 its decision, prioritizing\u200b habitat restoration and other activities unique to the forest. While it is\u200c essential to preserve natural resources,\u200c it is also crucial to consider the needs and desires of the local community. It remains to be seen how\u200b this decision will impact the golfing community\u200d and the overall recreational landscape in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro&#8217;s administration is shutting down South Mountain Golf Course in Michaux State Forest, disregarding pleas from golfers. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) owns the land, while David George holds a concession lease.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":2071147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2071146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2071146"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071146\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2071147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2071146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2071146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2071146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}