billyblancoNYC
January 12th, 2004, 05:35 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/154008p-135502c.html
Golfing goes to forefront
7 city courses to get upgrades
By BILL FARRELL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Not all that long ago, public golf courses in New York City were in such bad shape, golfers would jokingly ask: "What's the rule if your ball lands in the backseat of an abandoned car?"
Those were the days when the city was losing $2 million a year just keeping the courses open. That's not the case anymore.
City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has announced deals that will generate more than $180 million in rent revenue and capital improvements at seven of the city's 13 public golf courses over the next 20 years.
"Even before all the improvements, the revenue from the courses will almost double, from $2.4 million to $4.8 million, overnight," Benepe said last week. "We've seen some tremendous improvements in the courses over the years, and things are going to continue to get better."
Under the agreements, American Golf Corp. will continue to manage South Shore and LaTourette golf courses on Staten Island, Dyker Beach golf course in Brooklyn, Pelham and Split Rock golf courses in the Bronx, and Clearview golf course in Queens.
Douglaston Golf LLC - a group headed by Norman Tafet and his son Michael, who operate Forest Park golf course and Flushing Meadows Pitch and Putt in Queens - will take over operation of Douglaston.
"We are very excited, and we're planning on doing some really good things," said Michael Tafet. "Between the golf course and the clubhouse [at Douglaston], we will make more than $3 million in capital improvements."
In addition to immediately putting in new tee boxes and making improvements on the bunkers, there will be numerous other changes at Douglaston. One significant one: Restaurateur Dominick Bruccoleri will bring in a new team to manage the clubhouse dining facility.
American Golf also will continue to make improvements, including bringing in golf course architect Robert Trent Jones 2nd to upgrade and redesign Split Rock to make it a tournament-quality course. There also will be new restaurant and catering facilities at Dyker Beach, LaTourette and Pelham/Split Rock, as well as clubhouse improvements at Dyker Beach, Clearview and Pelham/Split Rock, which share a clubhouse.
And in what is perhaps the best news for local golfers, the commissioner said: "There are no plans to raise the greens fees."
Operating agreements for the city's other courses have not yet expired, Benepe said.
Originally published on January 12, 2004
Golfing goes to forefront
7 city courses to get upgrades
By BILL FARRELL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Not all that long ago, public golf courses in New York City were in such bad shape, golfers would jokingly ask: "What's the rule if your ball lands in the backseat of an abandoned car?"
Those were the days when the city was losing $2 million a year just keeping the courses open. That's not the case anymore.
City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has announced deals that will generate more than $180 million in rent revenue and capital improvements at seven of the city's 13 public golf courses over the next 20 years.
"Even before all the improvements, the revenue from the courses will almost double, from $2.4 million to $4.8 million, overnight," Benepe said last week. "We've seen some tremendous improvements in the courses over the years, and things are going to continue to get better."
Under the agreements, American Golf Corp. will continue to manage South Shore and LaTourette golf courses on Staten Island, Dyker Beach golf course in Brooklyn, Pelham and Split Rock golf courses in the Bronx, and Clearview golf course in Queens.
Douglaston Golf LLC - a group headed by Norman Tafet and his son Michael, who operate Forest Park golf course and Flushing Meadows Pitch and Putt in Queens - will take over operation of Douglaston.
"We are very excited, and we're planning on doing some really good things," said Michael Tafet. "Between the golf course and the clubhouse [at Douglaston], we will make more than $3 million in capital improvements."
In addition to immediately putting in new tee boxes and making improvements on the bunkers, there will be numerous other changes at Douglaston. One significant one: Restaurateur Dominick Bruccoleri will bring in a new team to manage the clubhouse dining facility.
American Golf also will continue to make improvements, including bringing in golf course architect Robert Trent Jones 2nd to upgrade and redesign Split Rock to make it a tournament-quality course. There also will be new restaurant and catering facilities at Dyker Beach, LaTourette and Pelham/Split Rock, as well as clubhouse improvements at Dyker Beach, Clearview and Pelham/Split Rock, which share a clubhouse.
And in what is perhaps the best news for local golfers, the commissioner said: "There are no plans to raise the greens fees."
Operating agreements for the city's other courses have not yet expired, Benepe said.
Originally published on January 12, 2004