Last updated February 5, 2010
Proposed New Development
at Sligo Golf Course
Sligo Creek Golf Course Continues Operation (For Now)
As many of you are aware, the golf course that is part of the park just downstream from the Beltway has been having difficulty in becoming financially sustainable without taxpayer help. A citizens' task force (plus several Montgomery County employees) released on January 25 a report that includes pertinent history and analysis of the problem plus recommendations to the County Council for a way forward. The majority of the Task Force believe the course should be kept open with a modest County subsidy through the calendar year while a search goes on for a new manager who would run it with as small a public subsidy as possible in the future. The reality of that is complicated so we recommend you go to the full report for a better understanding of the problem. Bruce Sidwell represented the Friends of Sligo Creek on the Task Force.
Sligo Golf Course: Will it stay or will it go?
During the Spring of 2009, the Revenue Authority took steps to close down the golf course. However, after a major show of support for the course by down-county residents, County Executive, Ike Leggett, has agreed to continue running Sligo Creek Golf Course for at least the next 12 months as a community advisory board explores ways of generating sufficient revenue to keep it open permanently. The Council is expected to approve the requested appropriation by October 1st, 2009.A non-profit volunteer organization (www.sligocreekgolfassociation.org) has been formed to preserve the course. One of their goals is to make the course as environmentally friendly as possible. Bruce Sidwell, current president of Friends of Sligo is on the Board of the group.
For information from Montgomery Parks on their effort to produce a master plan for the site, check www.SligoCreekGolf.org. The Board of Friends of Sligo has commented on the future of the site; naturally, we are pushing for it to be as nature-friendly as possible. Read the full text of those comments.
Background on the Golf Course Project
The Montgomery County Revenue Authority—which leases and operates the County Airpark, golf courses, and other self-supporting facilities for public use—is proposing major changes to Sligo Golf Course in order to increase revenue substantially. The original plan—to add a lighted 70-stall driving range and one or two miniature golf courses—received overwhelming community opposition. Read the background.The Revenue Authority removed its request for $5.5-million for the driving range and only asked the Council to approve $100,000 for additional study of the project, if needed.
The Planning Board and the Revenue Authority
On April 3, 2008, the Montgomery County Revenue Authority gave its required annual report to the Montgomery County Planning Board. At this meeting, the Board of Directors of Friends of Sligo Creek provided testimony. The Planning Board discussed the Sligo Golf Course situation, including provisions of the lease. Read the transcription.Sligo Creek Stakeholders Advisory Group
The Revenue Authority decided to convene a "stakeholders group" of civic association representation, golfers, and others to create alternatives to the original plan. For a list of members of the Stakeholders, which included the Friends of Sligo Creek, see below. The group met every other Tuesday evening from April 22nd through August 12th, 2008.The final report of the Stakeholders, including its recommendations, was made by Stakeholders' chair, Bruce Sidwell (yes, also president of the board of Friends of Sligo Creek) to the Revenue Authority Board at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008. Several individuals and groups submitted written addenda: Bruce Sidwell submitted detail on Environmental Implications of Adding a Driving Range to the Sligo Creek Golf Course, and the representatives of civic associations offered their own report.
In addition, please review the Google map which presents the six community/civic association that have officially documented their opposition of installing a driving range and mini-golf courses at SCGC.
| MEMBERS | ||
| Residents/associations | ||
| North Hills of Sligo Creek Civic Association | Michael Welsh | member |
| alternate: Lou Welanetz | ||
| Forest Estates Community Association | Adam Pagnucci | member |
| Woodside Forest Civic Association | Karen Howland | member |
| Northwood - Four Corners Civic Association | Carole Ann Barth | member |
| Local Resident At-Large | Heather Phipps | member |
| Golf & Youth | ||
| Sligo Creek Golfer | Joe Liberta | member |
| Sligo Creek Golfer | Byrne Peake | member |
| The First Tee of Montgomery | Laura Sildon | member |
| Environmental advocacy | ||
| Friends of Sligo Creek | Bruce Sidwell | member |
| alternate: Laura Mol | ||
| Montgomery County Advisory Boards | ||
| Silver Spring Recreation Advisory Board | now vacant | member |
| Countywide Recreation Advisory Board | Donna Bartko | member |
| Montgomery County staff | ||
| M-NCPPC Parks; Chief, Enterprise Division | Christine Brett | member |
| alternate: Doug Redmond | ||
| Mo Co Public Schools, Director of Athletics | Duke Beattie | member |
| STAFF | ||
| Montgomery County Revenue Authority | ||
| Executive Director | Keith Miller | staff |
| Staff | Tara Letitia Jacob | recorder |
| OBSERVERS, regular/frequent | ||
| MCRA Director of Golf Operations | Wayne Rohauer | observer |
| MCRA Chief Financial Officer | Michael Boone | observer |
| Office of Councilmember V Ervin | Amparo Macias | observer |
| Chief of Staff for Councilmember M Elrich | Dale Tibbits | observer |
| Residents from North Hills neighborhood | Donna & Don Collins | observers |