Last week’s news that Longwood University will close its Johnson Street golf course to the public has drawn strong reaction from the community.

“The rationale for closing to the public is shallow, destructive and politically motivated,” said Farmville’s Longwood Ladies Golf Chairperson Trudy Giemza. “It is this self-serving mentality of the current (Longwood) administration that will be the direct cause of the outright abandonment and ultimate loss of this historical golfing haven. The other two courses in the area cannot even closely compete with

the intrinsical and historical value of the Longwood Golf Course, currently a diamond in the rough.”

Longwood’s 9-hole golf course will end all operations as a public course on June 30 to begin the transition as an academic and practice space athletic teams at the university, according to the university’s release.

Farmville is home to the town’s municipal golf course and The Manor golf course, located on U.S. Route 15 south.

In an online poll conducted by The Herald, 66 percent of voters opposed Longwood’s closing the course to the public. Twenty percent agreed with the closure, and 12 percent had no opinion on the matter.

“While Longwood’s master plan offers a different use of their course, the town is pleased that our residents have the option of the municipal course,” said Mayor David Whitus.

“With the availability of other courses nearby, public use of the Longwood course has declined over the past decade in particular,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Tim Pierson in a press release issued by the university. Pierson’s division of the university oversees the course.

Local golfer Nancy Andrews said there were surely financial concerns associated with the closure, which she believes could be overcome.

Pierson said the decision was not based on finances.

“Rather than close the course, the administration should take this opportunity to enhance this facility that is so important to the community as well as the university,” she said in a statement.

According to Longwood, the golf course was built in the 1930s.

“The golf course staff has knocked themselves out to make the grounds reach an excellent condition in the past,” said Andrews. “A lot of this was done with their own sweat and time with actually little wages compared to what they could have made at a facility which (makes) golf a priority.”

The university said in its release that the current employees of the golf course would continue to work at Longwood.

“A recent arrangement with The Manor allows our students, faculty and staff to play there for the same price,” Pierson said. “That arrangement also provides a strong home for our intercollegiate golf program — for competition and upholding our fine golfing tradition.”

“With this shift, we are also able to make use of these incredible grounds for our cross-country teams and continue to host physical education classes for the university,” Troy Austin, Longwood’s athletic director, said in the release.” These historic grounds, home to the national championship Longwood teams of Hall of Fame coach Dr. Barbara Smith, are part of the fabric of Longwood.”

“Let’s call it what it is — a short-term business mentality — and an alarming, politically motivated move resulting in a local golf community travesty,” Giemza said.