Sligo Creek Golf Association
Fighting to Keep Sligo Creek Golf Course Open for All
Latest news
June 7, 2010
Sample Letters for Call to Action
Need sample letters to get inspired? Follow the links below for some basic language. Please personalize with your own thoughts.
Revenue Authority & Parks/Planning
Council President - Nancy Floreen
June 7, 2010
Clock is Ticking for Sligo Closure:
No Resolution in Sight
We would like to update all the loyal supporters of our beloved nine-hole golf course on the status of the course and recent meetings between SCGA leaders and County Executive Ike Leggett and Council President Nancy Floreen. We also want to add new targets for your letters and e-mails... read more
May 27, 2010
Leggett's Response to Sligo and
Call to Action
Please write to the Council encouraging them to have a hearing on the Task Force Report... read more
May 18, 2010
HB1481 is Signed by the Governor
Delegate Ben Kramer took the opportunity to reinforce the connection between the fate of Sligo Creek Golf Course and the history of HB1481... read more
May 18, 2010
Sligo Goes Global
See where Sligo supporter,
Dollie Wolverton took her Save Sligo Sign.
May 17, 2010
Sligo is now on Social Go -- Save Sligo Together
April 21, 2010
Check out our new Course Map!
March 4, 2010
When is it worth spending $1.9 million to upgrade a money-losing course?
Answer: When it's in the richest part of Montgomery County.
At least that's the position of the Montgomery County Revenue Authority as reflected in the Capital Improvements Program that went before the County Council's Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee Thursday... read more
March 2, 2010
Proposed Bill: No more back-room deals to give up our Park Land!
Delegate Ben Kramer has proposed legislation to bar the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission from writing any future leases that cede control of county park land to a third party... read more
January 25, 2010
Update on Sligo Creek Golf Course County Task Force
The County task force on the fate of Sligo Creek Golf Course has concluded. The Chair of the task force has submitted a report to Councilmembers that recommends... read more
January 9, 2010
The End is Near - Update on Sligo Creek Task Force Meetings
The County Task Force has one more meeting before having to present a recommendation to the County Council on January 19th. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the hearing. We do not have the specific time, but I will notify you as soon as I know... read more
For a comprehensive history of the fight to save the Sligo Creek Golf Course, visit the News section.
Please remain CAUTIOUSLY optimistic about Sligo -- and thank you! (06-09-10)
Despite recent press articles, the fight is far from over. We have been "promised" through November. Not one thing we have been working for for nearly two years has been resolved satisfactorily for the community. It is more of the same -- continual delay and half-measures that allows the course to hobble along.
This decision is convenient timing to get through the election without having to commit. Basically taking Sligo out of the equation as an election issue.
Earlier this week, our press contacts indicated they were not even going to publish a story about Sligo. Our call to action of 06-07-10 that flooded new letters to the Council, the Revenue Authority, Parks & Planning, and M&T Bank had some impact because the Post and Gazette changed their minds and did report after all.
*** We thank everyone in the community who has diligently written letters time and time again, posted signs, signed petitions, volunteered at events, and supported the course. We would NOT be here today -- much closer to victory, but not there yet -- without the fantastic, engaged citizens that make up our community. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! ***
The phrase "indefinitely" in Miranda Spivack’s Washington Post story (http://tiny.cc/a45uk) was used by Keith Miller of the MCRA during an interview with her. This may have left the impression in people’s minds that everything is fixed, when it is not.
It is NOT indefinite. It is only through November!
Jason Tomassini also has a report in the Gazette (http://tiny.cc/u4jdd).
As we have said all along, the Save Sligo issue is NOT just about golf. While it does provide recreational options for people of all ages and abilities, it is more about preserving open land -- 65 acres -- that doubles as a wildlife habitat. There is a reason why the Friends of Sligo Creek support golf as the best environmental option for that land and its leader, Bruce Sidwell, sits on the board of the Sligo Creek Golf Association.
That land, if left fallow, is vulnerable to vagrancy and crime. It will cost Parks & Planning nearly the same amount of money (approximately $60,000) to just mow the grass as it does to keep the course open. And there is zero budget to do anything more with the land. An already strained Parks Police will be responsible for managing crime, etc. on that land. I can provide (offline) to anyone who wants more info on national studies of what happens when large tracts of urban land are left fallow.
It is also about preventing development of that land. Those of you who have attended meetings where you expressed concerns about increased traffic on Sligo Creek Pkwy and other feeders. Imagine the impact if hundreds of townhouses get crammed on that land. It will be severe!
Finally, it is about a crime that was perpetrated against the residents of Montgomery County when land was transferred illegally from Parks & Planning to the Revenue Authority. I can provide (offline) details about Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler's opinion about the legality of the lease agreement and the successful passage of HB1481 that will prevent this from happening to other parkland moving forward. Unfortunately, HB1481 does not retroactively apply to Sligo. So we still have a FIGHT on our hands to Keep Sligo Golf Open for all.
Clock is ticking for sligo closure:
no resolution in sight
(06-07-10)
The Sligo Creek Golf Association would like to update all the loyal supporters of our beloved nine-hole golf course on the status of the course and recent meetings between SCGA leaders and County Executive Ike Leggett and Council President Nancy Floreen. We also want to add new targets for your letters and e-mails, the M&T Bank and the Montgomery County Revenue Authority.
There are many positive developments to report about Sligo Creek Golf Course as we head into the summer season. Rounds were reportedly up at all county courses in April and May, including Sligo. Jane Dean’s formation of the FDA golf league has brought a steady stream of afternoon golfers to Sligo on Mondays and Tuesday’s. The Sligo Creek Golf Association brought First Tee back to Sligo with a $1,500 contribution. John Weaver formed the Sligo Creek Golf Club to raise funds and sponsor social events and tournaments for Sligo golfers. Volunteers used flowers donated by Roozen’s to plant a bed in front of the Club House. We also received strong support from the state this Spring Attorney General Doug Gansler issued a legal opinion that portions of the original lease between the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Montgomery County Revenue Authority for the operations of Sligo and three other M-NCPPC courses were illegal, specifically that M-NCPPC could not “farm” out the decision to close any of its courses to the Revenue Authority. The Maryland General Assembly passed a law signed by the governor stating that M-NCPPC could not enter into similar leases in the future.
Unfortunately, there has been little progress on a long-term solution for the golf course. The Sligo Creek Golf Task Force finished its report in January but the Floreen has never referred the report to a Council committee for a hearing or the full Council for action. The $150,000 subsidy approved by the Council last year was intended to cover only operations only through June 30. In light of the looming deadline, SCGA representatives met last week with Leggett and this week with Floreen. Both Leggett and Floreen told SCGA that they had hoped the Parks Department and the Revenue Authority would have completed a new operating agreement for Sligo months ago. In terms of the cost, Floreen said the Revenue Authority would just “suck it up” and managed the golf system in a way not to require taxpayer subsidies. (SCGA has long contended that Sligo can be operated without taxpayer subsidies.) She apologized for the delay and acknowledged the frustration that Sligo supporters must feel.
So what’s the holdup?
According to county officials, the Revenue Authority has been waiting _ since April _ on approval from its lender, M&T Bank, to proceed with the new operating agreement for Sligo.
The situation with M&T Bank is complicated.
M&T is a regional bank chain headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y. It has many branches in Montgomery County. M&T is the lender on a $25 million bond offering issued by the Revenue Authority in 2002. In 2008, the Revenue Authority took on the additional obligation to pay off the bonds on Little Bennett Golf Course when it took over the four M-NCPPC courses. The Revenue Authority and M-NCPPC gave several concessions in the lease to reassure M&T bank that the Revenue Authority would still meet its obligations to pay off the $25 million bond.
County officials have offered limited explanations of the issues. At first it was a general concern about the county’s overall financial picture in light of warnings from bond rating agencies that they might lower the county’s AAA rating. We also have been told that the bank believes the county considered the county committed a technical violation of the lease when it amended the lease in the spring of 2009 to continue operations at Sligo without consulting M&T. We also are told that the bank is concerned because the attorney general’s opinion and the new state law threw out a provision of the lease stating that M-NCPPC could not operate Sligo in competition with MCRA. This non-compete clause was requested by the bank in the original lease, we are told.
Even though county officials did not want us to talk to the bank directly, the SCGA Board felt it was important to make the attempt, but our request for a meeting with M&T officials was rebuffed.
Andrew Fish, who is in charge of government relationship banking for the five-state Mid-Atlantic region for M&T Bank and the bank’s relationship with the Revenue Authority, did speak by phone with Merrill Goozner last week.
Here is Merrill’s account of the conversation: “Fish opened by saying ‘I don’t know where your information was coming from. We are working through some issues with the Revenue Authority, but we don’t tell any customer what to do. We’re not standing in the way of anything,' he said.
“When I asked for details about the issues, he refused to comment. ‘I can’t comment on that. We’re working through issues. I’m confident we’ll work through them. I can’t say more because of confidentiality matters. It wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on issues between the bank and one of its customers. The issues are between the bank and the Revenue Authority. I am not at liberty to discuss that.'
He also said, ‘It’s getting attention from a lot of senior people. We’re aware that it is a time sensitive matter. If you’re looking for more details, I suggest you talk to the Revenue Authority.’”
Nonetheless, it appears that the Revenue Authority is hesitant to act on a new lease without some clearance from the bank.
County officials told us that the bank had promised to get back to the county by Friday, June 5, but Floreen told us Wednesday that they had asked for another week. This is the fifth extension of time requested by the bank.
Leggett assured SCGA that the Revenue Authority will continue to operate Sligo past June 30 even if there is no interim agreement signed. He said revenues should be sufficient during the summer to operate the course.
In our meeting with Floreen, SCGA asked for a Council hearing on the Sligo Creek Task Force Report. The task force finished its report in January but the report has never been referred by Floreen to a committee or to the full Council for action. Floreen indicated she would consider a hearing if a new interim agreement is not forthcoming soon.
As you may recall, the task force recommended that the county seek a private operator if the Revenue Authority could not operate the course on a long-term basis. The SCGA Board believes that either Sligo should be rewritten back into the overall lease between M-NCPPC and MCRA or that the Parks Department should seek a private operator.
We urge you not only to contact Council President Floreen to ask for a hearing on the task force report, but to directly contact the Montgomery County Revenue Authority, the Park and Planning Board and M&T Bank at the contacts listed below to urge them to quickly complete action on an operating agreement.
Andrew Fish
Manager, Government Relationship Banking
Mid-Atlantic Region M&T Bank
25 S. Charles St., 19th Fl.
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-244-4120 (phone)
E-mail: Andrew.Fish@mandtbank.com
Cc your e-mails to:
IR@mtb.com;
Robert.Wilmers@mandtbank.com;
Mark.czarnecki@mandtbank.com;
Michael.Pinto@mandtbank.com;
Atwood.Collins@mandtbank.com
Chairman Stephen Edwards
Montgomery County Revenue Authority
101 Monroe St., Suite 410
Rockville, MD 20850
301-762-9080 (phone)
Go to this web site for an email form:
http://www.mcra-md.com/contactus.html
Mary Bradford
Director of Parks
9500 Brunett Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20901
E-mail: MCP-Parks@MontgomeryParks.org
Nancy Floreen, President
Montgomery County Council
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850
240-777-7959 (phone)
E-mail: councilmember.floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov
(All emails and letters to the Council President are automatically shared with other council members.)
SLIGO GOES GLOBAL
The Save Sligo movement has gone international!
Where in the world is this sign?
SLIGO CREEK GOLF CLUB
We are very pleased to announce the launch of the Sligo Creek Golf Club. In Ireland and Scotland, many private "clubs” associate with and patronize a specific course, but do not own the course. It is in that spirit we have formed the Sligo Creek Golf Club and invite you to join us.
The club is intended for players at all levels – even beginners!
Why Join?
FUN - By being a member, you will support Sligo while expanding your network of golf friends. You can participate in our leagues, tournaments, season-long contests, and many social gatherings. We’ll help you establish or maintain an official USGA handicap. We will even award “Sligo Player of the Year” for men, women, senior, and junior categories. Lots of fun to be had!
IMPROVE THE COURSE - Just as important as having fun, the Sligo Creek Golf Club will sponsor or support volunteer activities to maintain or improve the course. We can help clean up the course – removing overgrowth or fallen branches, create planting boxes at tees, and spruce up the patio area.
Click here to find out more about joining.
sligo Volunteer day
SCGA in conjunction with the MCRA held a Spring Cleaning Volunteer Event to do some basic clean up and mulching around the course. We had more than 40 volunteers come out to work.
STAY INVOLVED AND COMMITTED
The Sligo Creek Golf Association applauds the County Council's 7-2 vote today to keep the 9-hole course open through June 30, 2010. But we still need the COMMUNITY to stay involved.
If you are not on the SCGA listserv, send your e-mail address to:
save.sligo.creek.golf.course@gmail.com
-- OR --
Join our Facebook Group!
-- OR --
Visit us on Social Go -- Save Sligo Together
DONATE TO THE CAUSE
The Sligo Creek Golf Course Association is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. Your donation will help us continue the fight to keep the course open.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Find out which Civic Associations, Community Groups, and Businesses have joined the fight.
BLOGS & FACEBOOK
Read blogs about Saving Sligo.
Join our group on Facebook to keep updated on important isses.
keep sligo golf open!
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