Widespread concern among community members about potential environmental and traffic problems is prompting Montgomery County’s Revenue Authority to hold off on a major transformation of Sligo Creek Golf Course until at least the fall.
According to Revenue Authority Executive Director Keith Miller, the plan had been to add a lighted driving range and miniature golf course as well as to upgrade the existing nine-hole course. But after hearing from residents that the overhaul could have major implications on road congestion and hurt the environment, Miller said the authority will farm out studies on all three areas of concern — the lighting aspect, traffic and the environment — with the hope of completing them in October.
The Revenue Authority gained control of Sligo Creek in fall 2006 along with three other public courses that collectively lost the county $1 million annually during the past several years.
Previously, the courses had been run by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
With regard to Sligo, Miller said the main reason for the course’s failure was twofold: The facility is outdated at more than 50 years old, and courses that house just a nine-hole layout have passed their heyday.
“There’s so much more that we think the facility can become,” he told The Examiner.
Revenue Authority staff opted last year to take a comprehensive look at the Sligo course before the other three money losers because it’s the most sizable and is considered to have the greatest potential for success. Miller said the hope is that by diversifying the course with features for entire families, Sligo can draw large crowds.
Besides miniature golf, Sligo also could become the main county site for First Tee, an agency that uses the game of golf to teach life skills to youngsters.
