A multi-purpose golf course

What is a golf course? 

Here is a definition I came across. A golf course is a grassy patch (turf) that comprises a series of holes (usually 9 or 18), each consisting of a tee, a fairway, rough areas and other hazards, and a putting green with a flagstick (i.e. the pin) and hole (i.e. the cup), all designed specifically for the game of golf (I must admit I'm a fan of golf).

For the lay, a golf course is a place where golfers (amateurs and professionals alike) go to play a game of golf either for fun or otherwise. For an enjoyable experience the holes must be meticulously maintained or thereabouts, depending on the type and standard of golf course.

Ever heard of a multi-purpose golf course? If you haven't, well, they do exist -- albeit not in most places. 

A view of the club house from across a fairway.

There happens to be one in my neighborhood - called the West Nile Golf Club. It's an 18-hole public golf club with a serene park-like setting, and a beautiful club house. A quick internet search returns a lot of positive praise, which range from "well-maintained" to "what a joyous course" - I'm sure it was indeed! From what I gather, it was built in 1955. A beautiful acacia-lined avenue runs through the course, offering welcome relief from the sun for pedestrians and strollers on a hot, sunny day. When one visits the club house, they will be treated to an array of winners plaques neatly and artfully placed on one wall, suggesting that this used to be the place to be for the who-is-who of golf's elite in and around these parts of the country (oh, you can thank me for the brief overview later!).

The acacia-lined avenue through the golf course... it's simply so cool!

Fast-forward to the present, 2012 to be exact! The course still has the beautiful club house. However, that's all. The club house is bare - no golf memorabilia of any kind. On the outside sits a full-length swimming pool that is dry. The course itself now looks anything but a course! The turf is overgrown and seldom sees a mower. And when it does see one, the many different surfaces (tees, fairways, roughs, greens) are all cut at the same height, making it difficult to differentiate between them. However, there are volunteers who do it for free, daily! Cattle! (I'm not sure you would have guessed that one correctly!).

A look at one of the golf course holes. Can you tell the different surfaces apart?

Grazers roam the course as they get their fill.

Parts of the golf course are used by school children to play football (soccer) as well as training for cross-country meets (long distance running/athletics). There is another group, the youthful idlers, who tend to use it as their hangout of choice, a leisure park for heaven-knows-what. This I find particularly disturbing!

The favorite pastime. Young men playing football on the course.

Despite all these obstacles, one often sees small groups of young golfers playing a round of golf, especially on weekends. Obviously they are making do with what they have. At least golf is still alive - but barely.

School boys walk across a putting green (or what is left of it) on their way home from school.

It is a shame that such a beautiful golf course has gone to waste. It is no longer the "well-maintained" and "joyous" course of old built for golf, but rather a "multi-purpose" course that is multi-functional. I'm afraid it will turn into an ordinary park one day!