“Going green” is a popular phrase these days, but Baldwin City could be looking to get rid of some of its greens, namely those found on the Baldwin City Golf Course.

A proposal has been made to cut out some of the golf course and turn that land into soccer fields. The course is already small, being a nine-hole course with only one par five.

If more of this golf course is removed, is there really any point in keeping the rest of it?

The appeal of the course could be lost if the length of each hole is roughly the same. Since the course is already only nine holes, parts of the par five and possibly one or two of the par four holes would most likely be what is shortened. If more and more of the course is taken away, the rest of the course might as well be turned into a putt-putt course.

Depending on where these soccer fields would be located in relation to the rest of the course, it seems like these two sports, golf and soccer, would clash.

The golf course is usually a fairly quiet, relaxing environment, unless you are shooting 30-over par, and the participants of the course may not appreciate the noise coming from the soccer fields. Golf requires concentration, and whistles blowing and fans cheering after a goal may distract a golfer who is in the middle of a swing.

There are not many other venues in which to play soccer in Baldwin City, but this is the only golf course in town. Golfers in the area would have to travel to Lawrence, to Alvamar Country Club, or go somewhere in the Kansas City area in order to play a round close by, especially golfers who want to play a longer or more diverse course.

Cutting the course is not going to help convince golfers to stay in Baldwin to play, and the Sands could also see a cut in attendance with a cut from the course.