I wish to support Dr. Stephen Goldberger’s recent guest column about Longwood University’s golf course (“Why Longwood should keep its golf course,” Jan. 13).

We have a group of ladies who form a team representing Longwood, which participates in the Southside Ladies’ Golf League every summer. Our team competes with at least 10 other ladies’ teams in the league, and has done so for over 50 years. 

We have always held league competition at the Longwood course as part of our summer rotation of events. The Longwood staff has always been more than kind in accommodating our needs and assisting us in every way possible to ensure that the event is enjoyable by all who participate in our tournament. 

Many ladies from other locations around Southside come back to the Longwood course from time to time to play because the experience is so pleasant.

We appreciate the fact that Longwood University has one of only three golf courses among all of the higher education institutions in the state. We are also appreciative of the fact that the layout of the course provides so many diverse challenges that if one can play it successfully, one can play almost any other course.

Never before have we had to worry about what might become of Longwood’s treasure, since we have always had administrations before the present one who understood the value of the course to the community as well as to the institution.

Our participation in golf has not only promoted good health, but it has also provided an opportunity to develop many new friends.

Since its construction, it has been an integral part of Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnson’s estate and it has been, in former years, a beautiful showplace as well as a recreational facility with its plantings of azaleas and crepe myrtles.

The university’s master plan seems to indicate that the golf course will be closed. There is no explanation given for this action, except to indicate in a recent Herald article that it is to be “repurposed.”

For what purpose it is to be repurposed is not definite, nor is there any explanation given for the reason behind closing it following the most active golfing season.

The educational value of learning this challenging sport-of-a-lifetime, its value to the community and its recreational benefits should be foremost in the minds of those decision makers who currently question the course rather than treasuring and promoting it.

Dr. Nancy Andrews is a retired Longwood University professor who lives in Farmville. Her email address is nandrews@kinex.net.