Letters to the Editor: Public deserves input on fate of South Mountain Golf Course

The Herald-Mail

Public should have say on fate of South Mountain Golf Course

To the editor:

Attached is a copy of a response from the DCNR [Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources] concerning South Mountain Golf Course (SMGC).

As you know, more than 2,000 of your constituents signed a petition not wanting any change to SMGC. The DCNR response ignores and fails to mention the public outcry. Given the size of the population in the local communities, more than 2,000 people is a large outcry.

There should be state rules and regulations concerning a change in the use of public property requiring public debate and input. There has been no such hearing. If DCNR uses any federal funding, a public hearing should be required.

SMGC is favored by the local residents for golf and recreation. Unlike Caledonia Golf Course, there is very limited signage directing people to SMGC, but it is the favored golf course in the area. It is home to golf leagues, outings and for walking a round of golf.

It is well maintained, inexpensive and easily available seven days a week — something that cannot be said about either Conoco Dell or Monterey. It is a golf course designed and maintained for walking, seniors, families, beginners and group outings.

You have to know where SMGC is located and how to get there — hence the strong local resident support. SMGC does not cost the state anything to operate or manage. Public debate would bring this into focus.

We are not ignoring or debating whether DCNR needs a new office facility, but there are many other options:

  • Vision Quest Area — the reasons cited in the letter are exactly the same for SMGC except that the Vision Quest is vacant and unused and doesn’t affect more than 2,000 residents. The same negatives stipulated in the DCNR letter about Vision Quest are exactly the same for SMGC. Public debate would bring this into focus.

  • The Restoration Center — there are a large number of vacant buildings and space that could easily be modified for DCNR use. Public debate would bring this into focus.

  • Other space in Caledonia State Park and State Forest Lands is readily available and doesn’t affect more than 2,000 residents. Public debate would bring this into focus.

Government, federal, state or local, should be of the people, for the people and by the people. This appears to be a perfect example of ignoring the people. Please help allow us to provide our feedback and input now! We really care about SMGC.

Thanks for your help.

Bernie Goldberg

Fayetteville, Pa.

Response from the DCNR:

Dear Mr. Goldberg,

Thank you for expressing your concerns about the future use of the South Mountain Golf Course for the Michaux State Forest Resource Management and Visitor Center. Gov. Shapiro asked that I personally respond to your letter.

DCNR manages state forests for a multitude of uses and values. We continually monitor, evaluate and adjust our management practices and policies to promote ecological health while meeting the evolving needs of the recreating public.

I understand that this change to the South Mountain Golf Course comes as a disappointment to you and other enthusiastic supporters of the venue. Many of the issues you raise were carefully considered by DCNR throughout the process of evaluating alternative sites for the future center and communicating with stakeholders on this issue.

The South Mountain Golf course site uniquely offers DCNR the opportunity to enhance visitor services and link the recreating public to important trails and outdoor recreation resources on Michaux State Forest. It's also an opportunity to restore the land to native plants and forests that enhance climate resilience and carbon storage while providing wildlife habitat. Cost effectiveness of sewage, water and utility hook up was also one of several variables considered by DCNR managers and engineers in the site evaluation and selection process.

The Vision Quest property you mentioned was carefully considered along with eight other potentially feasible sites. Some of the most significant constraints associated with the Vision Quest site included:

  • A lack of safe ingress and egress options.

  • Limited potential to connect the facility to safe, walkable and ADA accessible wildlife viewing and educational opportunities.

  • No potential for trail head and trail connectivity to the high value historic and recreational sites to the public.

  • Limited opportunities for future expansion or adaptation of the facility itself given the slope, nearby wetlands, rocky terrain, the Appalachian Trail corridor buffer and a gas line right of way.

Ultimately, the constraints of the Vision Quest site resulted in the selection of the South Mountain Golf Course site.

As you mention in your letter, an alternative golfing experience already exists on DCNR lands a few miles away. A 9-hole option at this course is within the same price range. While some of the 18 holes are more challenging and hilly than any provided at the South Mountain Golf Course, there are options suitable for beginner and senior golfers.

Over the years, most improvements made to the South Mountain Golf Course under the lease were to extend fairways to provide for more challenging play to increase the competitiveness of the venue with trends within the golfing industry. Meanwhile, other privately operating 9-hole golf courses within few miles of the state forest boundary including Monterey Pass and Conocodell also provide similar and historic golfing experiences at competitive prices with those charged by the South Mountain Golf Course.

Finally, I recognize that our parks and forests represent a wide range of values and uses to individuals who care deeply about their stewardship, even if that care leads them to differences in opinion in how they should be used.

We will continue to make sure that the decisions made on Pennsylvania's parks and forests are thoughtfully and appropriately made, and that short-and long-term public costs and benefits are carefully considered. Our public lands are a unique asset to the commonwealth, and I hope you remain engaged in discussions about their use and management.

Sincerely,

Cindy Adams Dunn

Secretary

Why does Iowa have so much say in national elections?

To the editor:

When it comes to national elections who died and made Iowa God?

About all I have in common with those Bible-thumping, corn growers is that we all have a head, a torso, two arms and two legs.

Margie Wight

Hagerstown

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Herald-Mail letters to the editor, Jan. 14, 2024

Advertisement