Rumor, and Longwood University’s future master plan now on exhibit in the basement of the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, have it that the Longwood Golf Course, located between Milnwood Road and Longwood Avenue, will cease to exist in the not too distant future. I think this is a mistake. Here’s why.

The golf course is one of the most natural places for town-gown interaction (which appears to be a goal of the master plan). I have met many Longwood (and Hampden-Sydney College) students at the golf course. 

I always enjoy these interactions and I think that the students do too.

The golf course is the right size and design for its purpose. Yes, Longwood is a Division I school now, and, if needed, we have (for the time being) the Manor for big-time competitions. But the golf course is also, if not more importantly, a leisure amenity for the entire student body. It is not so difficult (like the Manor) that beginners are miserable. 

It is not so easy that longtime players (like myself) can’t enjoy a challenge each time out.

It’s in the right place for student use.

The Manor and the municipal courses are fairly far from campus. Students can get to the Longwood course easily by the Farmville Area Bus or even on foot.

There are few activities more pleasurable than a walk in a natural setting with likeable companions. That’s golf in a nutshell (plus the occasional swipe at a small ball with an implement ill-suited to the purpose). 

The grass on the fairways is slowly filling in the gaps and should be fully covering in a few years.  The greens are in very good condition, as are the bunkers, thanks to the hard-working staff who have a very small budget for what they do. 

If we took some of the money being spent on use of the Manor by the golf teams and put it to work at Longwood’s historic course, it could be a real jewel and a major asset for the student body.

And what will the land the golf course sits on be used for if not for golf?

Before we abandon a precious facility, let’s make sure we like the replacement better than what we’ve got already.

Dr. Stephen Goldberger attended Cornell and Boston universities, and is an ear, nose and throat specialist who has practiced in Farmville for the past 11 years. His email address is auenhands@gmail.com.