When the course was renovated, there were plans to make a serious business of the place, with strict rules of membership, initiation fees and other trappings of many private clubs. But he disdained a bottom-line mentality. When asked who could be a member, he shrugged and said, basically, anyone.
“What am I gonna say? ‘I don’t like you?’ I can’t do that.”
The owners are willing to wait for the right offer on the place, but Mr. Woodger is preparing himself to leave a property that has essentially dominated his life for many years.
“I came back here to help out,” said Mr. Woodger, “It’s been a labor of love, to use a cliché. And it’s been a special, special place.”
Well if that isn't one of the most wonderful "spirit of the game" statements I've ever read...
It also seems to suggest the same as the quote of Harvey Pennick, "if you love golf, you are my friend" or something close to that.
I googled the author, Mr. Kennedy, thinking he might be in the famous Kennedy family of that same locale, but didn't see that reference to him. But, it turns out he is the author of "A Course of Their Own" about the hurdles and struggles of African-American golfers trying to break into the PGA. It seems John H. Kennedy and his wife Jane Seagrave are well seated in the Martha's Vineyard society and publish the Gazette there.
Now, we need to find a very wealthy hobbiest turf head, who wishes to retire in a near idyllic environment of Martha's Vineyard, who can afford it, and who can do Mr Woodger's job and maintain the course so we GCA.com fanatics can go play as golf was meant to be played...free but for a honor box of contributions, naturally across the sea dunes and shorescapes.
