The Little Rock, Ark. course is now shut after the 83rd playing of its 4th of July tournament. Efforts to designate it as a National Historic Landmark had “no merit,” a city attorney said. The city’s Hindman GC has also been closed, as part of an effort to reduce a $7 million budget deficit. A task force and public opinion will now determine how each property may be repurposed.
Plans to close War Memorial Golf Course and Hindman Golf Course in Little Rock, Ark. as part of a part of a budget-cut effort backed by Mayor Frank Scott Jr. have continued to move forward, station THV CBS 11 of Little Rock reported. Sunday, July 7 marked the last rounds played at the venerable War Memorial course, as its 83rd Fourth of July Championship tournament was won by Beau Glover of North Little Rock, Ark.
Mayor Scott plans to repurpose both courses and has assigned a 20-member committee to brainstorm ideas and has also launched an online survey so residents can take part in the repurposing, THV reported.
C+RB reported in June on the last-ditch effort to keep the War Memorial course open through an injunction filed by John McCarty, member of the War Memorial Golf Association that sought to halt the closure while the property’s eligibility as a National Historic Landmark was determined (https://clubandresortbusiness.com/advocate-seeks-reprieve-for-arkansas-course/).
But City Attorney Tom Carpenter said there’s “no merit to the litigation,” station KATV ABC 7 of Little Rock reported, explaining that McCarty would not be able to proceed with such an effort without city approval.
Scott wants his task force to look at ways to repurpose both courses into multi-use recreational facilities while reducing the city’s $7 million budget deficit, KATV reported. And maintaining unity in the city is one of his primary goals with the repurposing, Scott has said, which is why the public will be able to participate in the planning process over the next several months.
That has given those who would like to see golf remain in the mix a sliver of hope, KATV reported.
“I’m a little disappointed,” Beau Glover of North Little Rock, Ark., who finally won this year’s War Memorial 4th of July tournament after finishing second four times, told WATV. “I’d like to see it stay a golf course.”
In congratulating Glover on his victory, which was cheered on by a crowd that had gathered in front of the War Memorial clubhouse, Bobby Baker, the course’s Facility Supervisor, said “There’s still hope” that another tournament might be played there, WATV reported.
“This has been a course that’s been very popular with people in the city, and it’s been an attraction for people outside the city, and I think it will be missed,” Baker said.
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