The New York herald., 1922-01-08
NEW GOLF COURSE
FOR CITY PLANNED
Park Commissioner Harman
Submits Proposal for Links
at Dyker Beach.

The plan to construct new eighteen
hole golf course, municipality owned and
managed and comprising approximately
100 acres at Dyler Beach. is now under
consideration by the city, The matter
has been proposed by Park Commits
sioner John n. Harman to Mayor Hylan
for submission to the Board of Estimate.
Vast as the project appears to be, the
expenditure is surprisingly small. 1t is
estimated at not more than quarter
million dollars and this amount includes
| the purchase OF about eighty acres of
land now privately owned. The real
! estate involved would cost the city be-
| tween $3.50 and $500 q lot purchasable
by the acre. in a section where adjoining
building lots are selling in the open
market for prices ranging between
$4,000 and $4,000 each.
1t is Commissioner Harman's idea to
combine the 140 acres of land now
known as Dyker Beach Park. and owned
| by the city, with the adjoining north
erly tract on which the present Dyker
Heights links. controlled by the Marine
! Field Club, are located. This course Is
small. and Its inadequacy will be more
keenly felt with the rapid growth of the
steadily growing army of golf enthus-
! lasts The prorosed links would ex-
tend from Eighty-sixth street to Crave
send Bay--a cross country distance of
| two miles.
The property to be acquired is now
being leased by the Marine and Field
I Club from it's owners. The principal
interest among these latter is an estate
the executors Of which are eager to
liquidate it's assets. They control six
teen acres between Eighty-sixth street
and Twelfth and Thirteenth avenues,
which their representative has offered to
Commissioner Harman for $4,000, or
about $3.50 per lot, though the assessed
valuation. being $4,000, exceeds the
price they ask. Real estate men in the
section believe that this offer will not
hold good for long. AS soon as the
building situation has been stabilized
this property is more than likely to
take its place among the most desirable
/ plots in Bay Ridge, and then the oppor-
tunity to buy it by the acre will be gone
forever.
No Swamp Land Included.
The second largest tract in the plot
/ is in the hands of William c. Courtney.
Mr.. Courtney represents the owner of
the property fronting on Eighty-siXth
street at Benson avenue between Twelfth
and Seventeenth avenues. This segment
is assessed for $SS,600. Mr.. Courtney
says he will accept s125.000 for it..
There is third parcel that completes
the territory involved. It is a small
strip on the south side of Eighty-sixth
street, between Twelfth and Tenth ave-
nues, tapering to a triangular point.
This portion is built up and would have
to be acquired by the city through pri-
vate purchase or by condemnation. The
cost, compared with the magnitude of
the project. is considered negligible. None
of this property which it is proposed to
acquire includes swamp land
The southern line of the plot, now ac-
cupied by the Dyker Heights Club, ad-
joins Dyker Beach Park The 140 acres
of the latter, including the portion that
is still swamp land and must be filled ir
anyway If the sanitary interests of Bay
Ridge are to be fully safeguarded, Is tc
form the main portion of the proposed
links. Adjoining Gravesend Bay at the
south, the course will virtually front the
ocean and will thus be- the coolest and
most beautifully located In the city
The view from Twelfth avenue and
Eighty-sixth street is one of the most
magnificent in Greater New York.
Having thus devised a plan to add to
New York's golfing facilities an eighteen
nation of the land, can be made the
finest of its kind, at a cost which is
usually paid for a playground of about
an acre in extent, the Park Department.
expects to make these new links self
supporting. 1t is too early of course
Park Commissioner Harman said yes
terday. to talk about locker rates, but
he believes that the very size of tho
course will attract such crowds thai
even very moderate charge will re-
suit in considerable proceeds.
To Add other Holdings.
The proposal to create the giant
course is only part of q broad plan tc
add to the holdings of the city In Bay
, Ridge. Negotiations are now under
way between the Park Department ant
the Federal Government for the re-
, linquishment by the latter of the entire
; Fort Hamilton reservation. which Is ne
! longer needed for military purposes
There seems to be a disposition on the
part OF the War Department to rit
itself of this property for which 1t ha:
no use and which Is of immense value
| to Brooklyn. At present a few soldiers
are the only occupants of the grea
tract If the city regains the t40 acres
comprising the reservation, 1t will b'
enabled TO carry out the plan of con
structng the much needed margina
drive and extending the Shore Roat
ell the way between the terminus ant
Dyker Heights Park.