By Cate Schiff
Staff Writer
After 18 years of attracting local golfers, as well as Mira Costa team practices, the city of El Segundo is considering changing the El Segundo Lakes into Top Golf.
Top Golf is a bar, entertainment area, and a driving range all in one. It has already been established in Illinois, Texas, Virginia and England. Scott Morgan is the current General Manager at the Lakes, and has been a golf professional for over twenty five years.
“In the city’s eyes, it is an effort to increase revenue to the city of El Segundo,” Morgan said.
However, many parents, coaches and high school students are opposed to the change of The Lakes.
“It is not the best situation for young adults or anyone who wants to learn golf,” Theresa Tower, the girls JV golf coach said. “The El Segundo Lakes, currently, is a place for people of all ages to take golf lessons, to enjoy the atmosphere, and to fall in love with golf.”
The El Segundo Lakes is currently holding practices for the Mira Costa golf teams. However, if they do change the Lakes into Top Golf, the golfers will most likely have to travel farther as they cannot practice there.
“I know for sure that tons of people have spent endless hours there,” sophomore golfer Raina Wong said. “And it’s frustrating to think that the professionalism of The Lakes might be replaced with some novel attraction.”
The Lakes haven’t made a final decision whether to change to Top Golf or not. However, if they do, traveling to another golf course would be necessary for many golfers.
“It would drastically modify our access to a main practice facility,” Bob Timberlake, boys’ varsity coach said. “People coming to the lakes won’t be golfers. They will be the rawest of amateurs, partiers or twenty-somethings and will be used for corporate outings.”
The Lakes have an area for all types of golf including hitting, and putting, however, if The Lakes change, many golfers will have to travel to other golf courses.
“We are still practicing at the Lakes,” sophomore golfer Madi Taylor said. “It isn’t closed yet, but we won’t be able to play as much because we’d have to travel farther just to practice putting or hitting. Our playing won’t be able to progress as quickly.”
Many golfers are still practicing at The Lakes since a decision hasn’t been made final. The City of El Segundo is still investigating whether or not they will change The Lakes.
“The city hopes it will attract more people. I don’t know, I am not familiar with Top Golf, so I haven’t decided if it will attract more people or not,” Morgan said.
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