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Seanie D's avatar

When I lived near the park, I used to make serious bank (for a little kid) combing the area around the course for lost balls and selling them back to golfers for like a quarter a piece.

Chris Robarge's avatar

I had friends that lived near a golf course when I was a kid who were like pearl divers for golf balls to resell. The pond they dove was probably only 8 feet deep but...

The W*sts's avatar

Aw . . . don't harsh on the Green Hill Golf Course. I'm not a golfer, BUT if maintained in environmentally friendly ways, municipal golf courses make an otherwise exclusive sport accessible to the Everyman, just like municipal tennis courts do. And they are a form of green/open space (see the bit about maintaining in an environmentally-friendly way). And in the winter, they host nordic/cross-country skiers, which I am.

Chris Robarge's avatar

Those are all fair points, although I don't know if Worcester opens for winter sports like a lot of municipal courses do.

I will fully cop to my bias that golf is maybe the stupidest fucking sport on earth and especially in the confines of an urban area, and part of my saltiness comes from being a part of what is at this point a largely unsuccessful multi-decade campaign to get more rectangular fields for soccer, among other things.

The W*sts's avatar

Oh, it's an incredibly stupid sport. And yes, I am totally with you on the need for more rectangular fields. There are a couple up there at Green Hill already. The bulk of the golf course wouldn't be suitable: too hilly. Yes, Park Spirit ran a Nordic Ski Park at Green Hill this past winter and plans to continue to do so.

(Buffalo's Olmsted-designed park has a golf course in it, too. Green/open urban space.)

Bill Shaner's avatar

Aright fiiiine I will allow for a LITTLE nuance but just this once!! I wonder what the rate is compared to other courses in the area I'll look into it

Chris Robarge's avatar

I took a quick look, compared to a couple of places (Cyprian Keyes, Wachusett, Highfield) Green Hill is about half the cost. Around $40 compared to $80-100.

Steve Hart's avatar

Agreed, Green Hill Park is a gem. Great episode, fellas.

Saw your comment about Toomey's request on Bluesky, Bill. Couldn't help but think of the scene in Office Space. "What would you say you do here?"