Claremont Closing Classic Course
photo courtesy of Caitlin Chan
Due to the closing of the Claremont Golf Course, the CHS girls varsity team will have to practice at another local golf course, Marshall Canyon.
September 27, 2013
Although the Claremont Golf Course has overcome a fire in 1942 and a temporary closing due to World War II, it will be shutting its doors permanently in January of 2014 due to a steady decline in revenue. Over the past four years, it has seen a loss of almost 30 percent of its earnings. Because of this, the course has been unable to make lease payments to the owners of the property. Although the Claremont Golf Course’s board of directors was hoping that revenues would increase this summer, they did not, despite the fact that the course has not been making lease payments. Therefore, the board has decided to close the golf course. The closure of the golf course will be devastating not only to the city of Claremont, but also to the CHS golf teams who practice there.
The Claremont Golf Course is the only practice course that CHS golfers have been using because of its convenient location and affordable cost. Other more costly golf courses could cause financial problems for the golf team.
“We actually have to pay to use the golf course. Claremont is a great course because it is so cheap,” CHS girls golf team captain senior Kennedy Bingham said.
Because the course is closing, the golf teams might have to go to Marshall Canyon in La Verne. This situation would not be the ideal location because it is much too far to travel for athletes without transportation.
“Having practice at Marshall Canyon would be a challenge for some golfers, especially younger ones who aren’t able to drive yet,” Bingham said.
Losing the golf course will be destructive to the CHS golf teams’ performances and it will also impact the whole community of Claremont. The Claremont Golf Course, formerly known as the Indian Hill Golf Club, has been open for about 110 years. As for the golf teams, there is not much they can do about the closure of the golf course.
“Obviously we would love to keep it [the golf course] open, but we’re not in control of that right now,” Bingham said.
Although the closure of the golf course will be a struggle for CHS golf teams, with good coaching and great teamwork, the golf teams will find a way to continue to succeed in the years to come.
