Newtown Needs A Public Golf Course

To the Editor:

It’s that time again to ask the question: Why doesn’t Newtown have a public golf course?

It seems to me that everyone who lives here thinks they have the best quality of life possible. Newtown is known to have a great school system! In the last few years, new athletic fields have been added, and more are planned. Kids and adults can play baseball, soccer, softball, football, lacrosse. Why not golf?

One hundred and thirty acres of land was set aside for open space! What happens on open space? Nothing! Why not build an 18-hole golf course similar to Richter Park in Danbury. It’s around a reservoir. Golf courses are open space! That all it is, trees, grass, water. Wouldn’t you rather see the land being used for something? Richter has walking trails around the course. Deer can still roam around, so can turkeys and squirrels.

Charge residents $20 a round and nonresidents $50. Why not a golf course? Because in a few years it would actually pay for itself and make money! Why would the town actually want something that would make money? No, I guess its better sitting there not being used. What have the people running the town the last 30 to 40 years been thinking about? There was enough land available back then. There isn’t now. What are our descendants going to think happened 40 or 50 years from now.

No public golf course in Newtown? Why don’t we need one? Just about every other town has one, unless they have their heads in the sand also. Never means never. Its getting very close to never! Well its time to speak up out there. Someone who is part of this whole Fairfield Hills project should come forward and make it happen.

While I’m taking my time to write this letter, I might as well make another comment. How about Newtown gives me five to ten acres of open space at Fairfield Hills; in exchange I’ll given them five to ten acres of open space I have. I will build a skate board park and a BMX park (if there is enough room). I will run it, own it, maintain it. I will charge the kids from Newtown what they would pay for a movie ticket. (Not Edmond Town Hall!); $8 for the day or a season pass rate. Nonresidents would pay a little more.

That’s my idea of open space — golf course, skate boarding, bike track. Too bad the kids in town can’t vote on it, you would have a larger turn out from them than from the adults!

Charles Tilson

85 Alberts Hill Road                                                  August 20, 2003