The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-11-19
HUGE PUBLIC GOLF
SCHEME PROPOSED
Park Commissioner John N.
Hartman Plans Municipal
Links on Dyker Heights.

Details OF the plan to construct n
Dyker Beach Park were made public
by Park Commissioner John N. HAIR
man yesterday. The proposal includes
the taking OF ground now used for its
links by the Marine and Field Club and
utilizing private property to the west
along Eighty-sixth street, Brooklyn. 1t
is understood the Mayor. Borough
President Riegelmann and other Off
Gals heartily approve the undertaking.
Commissioner Hartman has placed the
in order to receive the financial author
ization to proceed with the improve
ments. One of the questions raised by
its presentation to the board As whether
the expenditures necessary shall be laid
upon the borough solely or upon the
city as a whole.
IF ever had my doubts about the
wisdom OF this PLAN" said Commits
sioner Hartman yesterday. "they were
all removed when opened the practice
putting course and the driving net in
Prospect Park last summer for golfers.
$50 great was the demand for their
use that in few weeks had received
500 applications for permits. Now if
such an apology for links can excite
such interest how wide must be the de-
sire to use complete eighteen hole city
course
Eighty Acres to he Bought.
The land embraced in this project of
Commissioner Hartman comprises about
220 acres. of which lao are in Dyker
Park and 80 are to be bought. To OBJ
tain the requisite ground the site of the
present elk holes of the Marine and
Field Club lying between Eighty-sixth
street and the park driveway would be
purchased by the city for $7b.0 900. In adj
dition there would be bought for $125.-
600 the segment between Seventh and
Twelfth avenues and n strip between
Tenth and Eleventh avenues
In carrying out the complete plan
there would also be built an extension
Of the Shore road from the present
terminus to Dyker Park, with mar
ginal drive along the beach. The swamp
land in the park would be filled In and
the Fort Hamilton military reservation
would be taken back by the city from
the War Department.
AS soon as the Board of Estimate
has supplied Commissioner Hartman
with the necessary funds work on the
golf course will be begun, and next
season ought to see the improvements
we'll under way.
Need for New Links.
Speaking about the proposed city golf
course at Dyker Park Commissioner
Hartman said yesterday:
There can be no doubt of the need
for such a public course when one con-
siders tho crowded conditions at Forest
Park In Queens and Van Cortlandt In
The Bronx, congestion that makes play
ing more OF trial than $pleasure.
have been told that on crowded week
end days players have been compelled
to wait nearly six hours for chance
to start after registering. The opening
OF such q course right here in Brooklyn
ought to alleviate conditions at the other
city courses and make playing more
agreeable.
Taking into account the extent of
this undertaking and the benefit to b
derived by the public the expense In
volved is surprisingly small The half
million dollars which would be required
to bring the plan to fruition would en-
tail the purchase of eighty acres of land
now privately owned.
Would BE self-supportins.
Tho real estate Involved would cost
the city between $3.50 and $500 lot.
purchasable by the acre, in a district
where adjoining lots are selling in the
open market at prices ranging between
$1,000 and $4,000 each"
Chicago. with n much smaller popu-
lation than Greater New York, has
nearly a dozen public golf courses,
against the four now in operation in the
five New York boroughs. three, of which
are in The Bronx.
The new links projected by Commits
sioner Hartman will extend from Eighty
sixth street 10 Gravesend Bay. n cross
country distance OF ABOUT a mile. The
course will virtually Front the ocean
and will be in this Respect the most
beautifully situated links in the city.
With the large use of the links. which
Is almost certain to follow it's opening
the Park Department believes the new