Open letter to Longwood University President W. Taylor Reveley, IV, and members of the Administration and Board of Visitors
Representing the community of golfers at the Longwood University Golf Course, in response to persistent rumors that the golf course might be closed for “re-purposing,” I write to give reasons why such a decision would be unfortunate and short-sighted, and to express our serious disagreement with such a decision. We consider the long history of the course, its central role in serving Longwood’s curricular and informal recreational and athletic programs and its important role in community relations. In continuous operation since the late 1920s, the Longwood golf course was the home of renowned golf coach, Barbara Smith, whose teams won multiple national championships, several of whose members went on to play on the LPGA tour. The present superb staff has created a warm and hospitable atmosphere welcoming to golfers of all ages and skill levels, an impressive accomplishment. At a time when Longwood University has officially approved initiatives in the Master Plan to enhance town-gown relations, it need look no further than the Longwood golf course as an outstanding model of how to serve diverse constituencies of the campus and the larger community. With its long-time commitment to the values of education, recreation and service, its convenient in-town location and its affordable fees, the Longwood golf course is a gem to all those who enjoy it. It is a quality course, unusual in being as accessible to the beginner learning the game as it is challenging to more seasoned players who love its character, beauty and playability. Many of the valuable services and opportunities that the course provides include:
- The Longwood University men’s and women’s golf teams continue to use the course for practice and play, sharing those functions with the Manor.
- The course is used regularly for Longwood University golf classes. The new women’s golf coach, Shannon Briggs, can often be seen teaching large groups of Longwood students, obviously enjoying the experience, on the practice greens and range.
- The course is used regularly by area high school golfers. Golf teams of Prince Edward County High School and the Fuqua School use the course for practice. High school tournaments involve the two local teams and many other public and private high school golf teams, including coaches and parents, from surrounding counties. School buses fill the parking lot. These events also suggest good recruiting opportunities for Longwood University.
- The 60 student members of the intramural golf club of Hampden-Sydney College play on the course regularly.
- The course is used regularly for league play. “Senior Shambles” are 18-hole competitions held twice a week almost year-round, weather permitting, that involve some 25 devoted players that range in age from late 20s to mid-80s, and that represent a five-county area. There is also an active year-round league for nine holes of captain’s choice format once a week, beginning conveniently after work.
- Throughout the year the Longwood course hosts a number of tournaments. The Longwood Invitational is for faculty, staff, administrators and guests of Longwood University. The Joe Cho Seafood Tournament is a favorite annual fund-raiser, participants enjoying the excellent food provided by Joe and his family. There is, of course, the annual Club Championship, open to members only with various categories, junior, regular, senior, and super senior. The Virginia State Golf Association Junior Tournament is hosted every other year. The annual LadiesSouthside Golf Association Tournament, a tournament fund-raiser for area fire fighters and first responders, in addition to other special events, all underscore the course’s important service to the area.
- The main function of the course is daily play, weekdays and weekends almost year-round. It serves members and non-member walk-ons, including students, faculty and staff of Longwood University, Hampden-Sydney College and area high schools, as well as the large and diverse community of local and area players, whether occasional or almost daily. Golfers at Longwood come from all walks of life and enjoy an easy camaraderie without the pretensions of a country club ambience. The atmosphere at Longwood is egalitarian, down-home and wonderfully American in character, again largely thanks to the efforts of the excellent and attentive staff.
- The Longwood course also provides an attractive and healthy environment for the large number of volunteer workers who come to do community service on a regular basis.
Most of the players at Longwood feel an extraordinary loyalty and fierce devotion to, and affection for, the staff and the course that provides so much pleasure. But we recognize another humane quality felt but difficult to define, the genuine sense of a family. The amount of good will towards Longwood University that the golf course generates cannot be measured objectively, but it is palpable, and it would be deeply harmed were the course to close.
We urge President Reveley, the Longwood University administration, and members of the Longwood University Board of Visitors to understand the significant virtues and values of the Longwood golf course as we do, and to see that it serves an invaluable mission of the university. Please allow it to continue as an important educational, recreational and community resource, a gem in community relations. Can any alternative purpose possibly be as valuable? Thank you.
Sincerely, James C. Kidd
Barger Professor Emeritus of Music, Hampden-Sydney College
Member since 1981, Longwood University Golf Course
Editor's Note - The Rotunda has reached out to Longwood Golf Management and Financial Planning, which declined to comment, and has yet to receive a comment from Facilities Management after receiving this letter.
