Historic course was first venue created for blacks

By Othor Cain

Contributing writer

Last week when word began to circulate that the 57-year old Grove Park Golf Course, nestled between Wards 3 and 4 in Jackson, was on the chopping block for closure, as part of the 2016-17 municipal budget, it sent shock waves to those players that golf there on a regular bases.

“I think it’s shameful that they would decide to close this course without even notifying the public or the neighboring community,” Joseph Thompson, told WLBT. Thompson has been playing the nine-hole course since 1978 and understands it’s rich historical value.

“Pete Brown, the first African American to win a PGA tour event, learned to play on this course,” Thompson shared. “That in and of itself is reason enough to keep it open.” Grove Park was created in Jackson during a time when blacks were not permitted to play at other public courses that catered to the white community.

“This golf course was built to keep us from Sonny Guy Golf Course,” Carl Jones, a 25-year club member shared at this week’s council meeting. “This is an African-American historical site and to take this away from the community is to take it away from our culture.”

Golfer John Crawford has been playing at Grove Park since 2003 and thinks something has gone awry. Crawford was one of many golfers that packed the city council chambers Sept. 20. “I think something stinks,” Crawford said.

“Everything seems to be done under the table … I don’t know what’s going on, but we intend to fight to keep this course open.” The city of Jackson each year budgets roughly $355,000 for the two courses. Councilman Tyrone Hendrix said, “Between the two courses, the revenue generated this year was only 42K.”

Hendrix expressed that bad management practices by the city has put Grove Park in danger of being closed as well as other facilities in predominately black neighborhoods. “We cannot continue operating our city like this,” Hendrix said.

“I firmly believe the city must create partnerships to save Grove Park.” Hendrix, county leaders and other community members have been meeting and working to find creative solutions to “save” Grove Park.

“I don’t want to speak prematurely but there’s a lot of support out there,” Hendrix said. “You have not because you ask not.” Hendrix also expressed the community must step up. “As Jacksonians, we have pride and it’s time that we take pride in this course,” he said. “We can save it, but we all must be willing to make an investment.” Hendrix also made it clear that the city council didn’t suggest closing Grove Park.

“Our job is to vote on a budget and make recommended ‘number’ changes,” he said. “It is the mayor’s job to determine how to stay within the confinement or framework of those approved numbers.”

For years the golfers at Grove Park have participated in food drives, book drives, Christmas events and other community related activities. “We are connected to this city, this community, and we deserve to be here,” said Chris Sinclair. “There are very few opportunities where we say ‘no,’ when asked to contribute.” Sinclair believes now is the time for the city to contribute to Grove Park.

“I would like to see a better up-keep of this facility,” he said. “We could bring in more revenue, more players and gain better exposure if our facilities and grounds maintenance was improved.”

Mayor Tony Yarber has asked the council to revisit its budget. In a prepared statement on Sept. 20, the mayor said, “Rescinding the amendments would, most notably, restore funding for the Public Education Government Network and the Grove Park Golf Course. Those closures were not in my Administration’s original proposed budget.”