It’s a hole-in-dumb.
Lefty mayoral hopeful and metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander needs to pave over public golf programs to construct much-needed houses to ease the Massive Apple’s housing disaster — to the chagrin of many golfers.
Lander, in a marketing campaign video launched Thursday, mentioned that if elected mayor he’ll push to construct neighborhoods on 4 of town’s 12 municipal golf programs.
“It might imply we may create 50,000 houses for New Yorkers to lease or purchase,” he mentioned. “And never simply roofs over individuals’s heads, however actual new neighborhoods with inexperienced parks and open house, small companies and colleges.
“Look, I’m no professional golfer, however this can be a hole-in-one.”
The large swing on golf programs is a part of Lander’s 30-page housing plan launched final week.
The plan calls to declare a state of emergency on town’s housing disaster and construct 500,000 new houses over the subsequent decade — a purpose shared by Mayor Eric Adams, who has declared it his administration’s “moonshot.”
Lander’s golfing-to-housing pitch doesn’t specify which 4 programs he’d convert, however argue a few of their 2,500 mixed acres can be utilized for homes reasonably than placing greens.
His plan calls to conduct a feasibility research to pick out the perfect alternatives — a stance confirmed by his marketing campaign spokeswoman Kat Capossella.
However pitching houses on town’s already-scant golf programs nonetheless struck Luis Ardila, 60, as a “horrible concept.”
Ardila, who works as assistant supervisor at Flushing Meadows Pitch & Putt Golf Course, mentioned at the very least 200 individuals golf on the grounds in the course of the weekends, with many extra on holidays. He additionally famous it’s a public open house with timber and different wildlife.
“I say consider someplace else to construct these homes,” he mentioned.
“Are you going to remove that enjoyment from individuals who love the sport? Let it keep. Don’t contact it.”
Tommy Hirrel visits the course twice per week from Brooklyn to play with pals. He mentioned he understands the necessity for housing, however doesn’t need Lander to the touch “the one place we acquired” {for golfing}.
“He’ll by no means develop into mayor if he does that. That’s for certain!” he mentioned.
The thought additionally acquired panned by Jeff Brooks, a retired social employee who each works and golfs on the Flushing course.
“I don’t know a lot about Brad Lander, he doesn’t come throughout my thoughts,” he mentioned. “However I don’t suppose it’s a good suggestion to suggest housing in an space that’s already being utilized for the nice of the group in a wholesome optimistic manner.
“In the summertime, it’s so crowded individuals wait in line hours to get their shot in due to their love for the sport. It outweighs any need for a politician to attain factors for guarantees he might not ship.”
Lander’s plan contends that metropolis officers ought to rethink the usage of public golf programs, given the game’s supposed waning recognition — an assertion backed up by statistics from 2018.
However golf really noticed a increase amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with whole participant participation hitting 47 million final yr — a 38% improve over 2019, based on the Nationwide Golf Basis.
Parks officers didn’t instantly reply to a request for info what number of gamers use town’s municipal programs.
The programs, past offering golf alternatives to New Yorkers, even have a protracted historical past.
Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course is the primary public course within the nation — and attracted well-known golfers starting from Babe Ruth to the Three Stooges.
Staten Island’s LaTourette Golf Course boasts a mansion changed into a membership home that’s on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.
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