Editor’s Notebook -- Danette Goulet

I played my very first game of frolf, Frisbee golf, on Sunday.

Since moving out here I had heard of frolf but didn’t really know what

it was. For any East Coast transplants like myself, in frolf you use

smaller than average Frisbees and play a course with 18 “holes” like

golf. Instead of hitting a little white ball along the green to the hole,

you throw a Frisbee along the green to a raised metal basket that you

must land your Frisbee in.

So I was pretty terrible -- scored a 42 -- but it was fun.

My friends had the Frisbees and we paid a buck at the course in

Central Park and spent a gorgeous Sunday afternoon outside.

I relate this experience because, coincidentally, it was a topic at

Monday nights City Council meeting.

As they discussed the contract with Disc Sports Management ,council

members pondered how they could make more money off this for the city --

perhaps by raising the rate.

Stop right there.

Please, can’t we stop making everything about money? Maybe I’m naive

or idealistic, but I thought, as I played on Sunday, what a great thing

this was. It was a fun, active thing to do that didn’t cost a lot (most

courses I’m told are free, by the way)

And a buck is OK. They give you a little map to follow the course, so

I figure that’s mostly what I’m paying for. The metal baskets have

clearly been there for a while, with no real upkeep needed. But raising

rates? Come on -- we’re talking about playing Frisbee in Central Park.

How much do you think you can charge people for that? Maybe we should

start charging children to play on playgrounds, too. It’s bad enough that

a trip to the beach costs a fortune in parking. Maybe we can charge a

kite-flying fee -- yeah, and the higher it goes the more it costs. And if

you want to picnic in Central Park, perhaps we should charge a “taking up

public space” fee. Perhaps we should also put turn styles with meters

along sidewalks.

The nominal fee is fine, but please, stop trying to make everything a

moneymaker.

* * *

In the last week I have had quite a bit of feedback from my thoughts

on the proposed inlet at Bolsa Chica State Beach. As one might expect, I

have heard from several members of Amigos de Bolsa Chica -- founding

members and the current president -- all very upset with me for my

thoughts on the subject. I even drew fire (also expected) from my

columnists Vic Leipzig and Lou Murray. Although they disagreed with my

views, rather than send a barrage of insults, Vic has asked me to go out

to the wetlands with him so that he might change my mind.

I accepted.

Vic contends that it will not be the invasive desecration of the beach

that I think it will be.

Despite letter writers contentions that I am ignorant on the subject,

I have read a portion of the volumes of studies done, visited Batiquitos

Lagoon in Carlsbad where a similar natural inlet was widened and have

spoken to engineers dedicated to the project.

But I am by no means saying my mind can not be changed. I merely

shared my musings on the subject. My columns are a means of opening

community discussion and I look forward to my trip to Bolsa Chica with

Vic, whose opinion I respect.

I’ll be sure to let you know if he is successful in his mission.

* DANETTE GOULET is the city editor. She can be reached at (714)

965-7170 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .