There’s some context missing from the East Potomac debate online. I can see why a public, championship level golf course is exciting directly next to downtown DC right there on a prime piece of real estate. (I don’t have a ton of faith in Tom Fazio taking on this task or in the ability for a municipal maintenance crew to take that on in perpetuity, but I digress.) The whole grow/shrink thing is tiring, but I don’t think golf should grow in this direction. There is no lack of championship golf in DC area (Congressional + Potomac + Woodmont + Baltimore + Caves Valley are all championship ready today). There is no lack of places to play for bros on golf trips, and there is no lack of up-and-coming clubs (think Old Barnwell). The game is rife with fashionistas, equipment junkies, and logomaxxers. In general I’d say one thing that’s lacking generally is simple, good, affordable municipal golf. Not in a granola bar kind of way to do the contrived ‘grow the game’ thing, but rather having recreation for people of the city. Anyone who went to East Potomac could see how busy the range was. There’d be 20-something dudes getting in some practice after work. There’d be kids. There’d often be dates. There’d be old people. One time I saw Dave Matthews Band drummer right next to me. I think it would be sad for that to be lost. I hope whatever ends up in its place maintains that function for the people of DC.