“Golf is a good walk spoiled” – Mark Twain. I listened with stunned amazement as Councilor Jennifer Kretovic, an avid golfer, told me at Monday’s council meeting that I’m part of a “social contract” that supports “growing the game of golf in New Hampshire.” She also reminded me that “together, we invest in what makes Concord a great place to live.” Is Concord a “great place to live” for children who have to pay the full rate to participate in youth sports leagues, while the NH Golf Association — an institution so flush with cash that it invested over $718,000.00 in 2023 in publicly-traded securities — pays next to nothing to hold seven tournaments a year at Beaver Meadow? Is Concord a “great place to live” for the family that runs Scenic Rail Riders? This business has given so much to our community, helped us get outside through Covid, and is now being threatened by the Merrimack River greenway project. Speaking of family businesses, there’s apparently one going on between Beaver Meadow and the NH Golf Association. Pat Lanman, director of operations at Beaver Meadow Golf Club is related to Ben Lanman, director of junior golf and tournament operations at NH Golf Association. Josh Lacasse, head golf pro at Beaver Meadow is related to Phil Lacasse, head golf coach at Tilton School, which gets a sweet deal for its team to play golf at Beaver Meadow while Concord Parks and Rec gets no such deal. Golf is a good walk spoiled.
Dan Williams
Concord, NH