MyTurn by JIM DUCIBELLA
Making the Case for Norfolk Golf
Arecent grassroots proposal presents an opportunity for the city of Norfolk to change how it promotes public golf — and golf history .
It began when Ed Ware , a retired senior executive of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority , sent a letter to The Virginian-Pilot . The letter encouraged the Navy Morale , Welfare and Recreation Division , Norfolk ’ s Economic Development Authority , and Old Dominion University ’ s Real Estate Foundation to form a working group to study the restoration of Sewells Point Golf Club . He envisions a public-private partnership to cover the cost .
“ It ’ s a great opportunity for the Navy to improve an asset , and for everyone to benefit ,” said Bill VanBuren , part of a group of about a dozen who play Sewells Point regularly . “ Even in the condition it is in , people enjoy it .”
But what ’ s so special about Sewells Point ?
The 6,200-yard , par-71 course was among the earlier designs of Donald Ross , a legend of the Golden Age of Golf . Ross is credited with more than 400 creations , including Pinehurst No . 2 , Seminole in Florida , East Lake in Georgia , and among his dozen Virginia efforts , the Old Course at The Homestead . His courses have hosted more than 100 major championships and USGA events .
Ross was known for his strict adherence to the natural curves and swales of the land . His creations are enjoyable for the average player , challenging for the more skilled .
Completed in 1927 , Sewells Point and its two-story Spanish-tile-roofed clubhouse was originally the Norfolk Country Club . The Navy purchased it in 1942 , renaming it the Commissioned Officers Golf Club . Enlisted service men were invited to play in 1974 , and it was finally opened to the public in 2017 .
Scenes from Sewells Point Golf Club .
In 1954 , Arnold Palmer made his professional debut there at an event sponsored by the Navy and Norfolk Sports Club .
Except for rebuilding the greens in 1986 , the course routing sits as Ross intended , making it unique among his vast collection . With its 100th birthday fast approaching , Ware posits it as the ideal time to resurrect an “ underappreciated destination ” that sees about 30,000 rounds of play a year — about half what it can handle according to a Virginian-Pilot story from several years ago .
“ This is a hole-in-one chance ,” Ware said , “ It offers a signature course for Norfolk citizens , military families and visitors , a home course and practice facility for Old Dominion University golf teams just two miles from campus , and a clubhouse renovation utilizing historic tax credits .”
An argument can be made that , historically , Norfolk has treated golf with indifference .
In 1938 , the Truxton Manor course was plowed under to build Norfolk International Airport . More recently , Norfolk turned its Lake Wright course into an outlet mall . It sold the Lambert ’ s Point 9-holer across the street from ODU to the Hampton Roads Sanitation District for it to expand its water treatment plant .
What ’ s left is the once-historic Ocean View where Nicklaus , Snead , Strange and Woods have played . It ’ s not enough .
At some point Norfolk leaders rationalized residents could motor over to courses in neighboring cities . There are many options , but none with the pedigree of Sewells Point .
The course-building boom in the United States is over , at least for now . According to the National Golf Foundation , only 15 new courses open each year , while nearly 75 courses reopen after renovation or restoration .
Troy Miller of Miller Golf Design has a wealth of experience in design , redesign , and restoration . He told Golf- Business magazine that when planning work on a course , there ’ s a fundamental question that must be answered first .
“ Is what was here before something that ’ s worth saving and is it still relevant in the modern game ?” he said . “ A restoration lends itself to a belief that there was something there to begin with in the original design and intent worth having .”
With Sewells Point , that answer would be an unequivocal yes .
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40 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M ARCH / A PRIL 2024 vsga . org