By Laura Carr
Editor-in-Chief
The Granville Golf Course is finally open to the public, and it has been renamed the Denison Golf Club at Granville.
Administrators hope that renaming the course will facilitate stronger ties between the university and Granville residents. “We changed the name of the golf course to Denison Golf Club at Granville in part to recognize and pull attention to the fact that we own the golf course but also the investment that we made in the course,” university spokesperson Ginny Sharkey ‘83 said. “It will also raise our presence in the community.”
Sharkey added, “We hope that it will recruit or draw the interest of student-athletes that play golf.”
However, Denison will not be operating the golf course. Instead, Davey Golf, a division of Davey Tree Expert Co., will manage the course. Denison will maintain the original course architecture and staff, including golf pro and head men’s golf coach Rodney Butt and superintendent Scott Weimers.
Several additions have been made to the course, including an updated and remodeled clubhouse. The university has also purchased 60 new golf carts for the facility, and Columbus Hospitality will provide catering for the golf club.
In order to involve the students and community, events will be held on the course. “I do know that they are planning to do some special programs for Denison students and alums in the near future,” Sharkey said. She stated that the timing at this point is unclear.
Some students are unhappy with the change in ownership, especially because it raises the cost of operation for the Denison golf team. “I think that having the course Denison-owned will result in a lesser-kept golf course,” said Jonathan Taylor ‘17, a member of the men’s golf team. “The team can’t even use carts without paying for them now, whereas it did not matter before.”
Despite the university’s new involvement with the course, there will only be one tournament held at the course this season. The
Ted Barclay Spring Invitational will be hosted by the men’s team on April 11-12. The women’s team will have to wait for their chance at hosting on the course until next season.
Robert Whitman ‘18, also a member of the men’s golf team, is excited about the course’s potential. “It opens up possibilities for increased involvement and will create another enjoyable environment for Denison students,” he said. “The men’s and women’s teams are both excited about making Granville Golf Course part of Denison and I look forward to the coming years.”
Dylan Lee ‘15 agreed, adding that, “It won’t change a whole lot for our matches as it’s the same golf course, but it’s implications in the greater Granville golfing community will hopefully be positive as the game continues in a slow decline. Denison has invested in an exciting yet challenging endeavor, and I look forward to seeing a greater number of Denisonians and central Ohio residents play at the new Denison Golf Club.”
Course rates are available online at denisongolfclub.com. The standard fare for 18 holes (not including a cart) is $28, although prices vary on weekends depending on the time. Individuals also have the option of playing nine holes, and there are special discounted rates for senior citizens. Rates will rise once the summer season begins on May 15.