Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course

Course in better shape. Noticed new first tee being built. Finally.

I was surprised at the condition of the course. The tee boxes were almost bare; large patches of the fairways were bare also. The greens were pretty good. I enjoy playing the course, so you can understand that I was a bit disappointed. I know the crazy weather is largely responsible.

Course is tight and has a good layout. Tee boxes are in horrible condition. No driving range and the putting green is up by the first hole about half a mile away from the pro shop. Still an enjoyable time and the shack in the middle that you hit 3 times is very nice

Course conditions were very good. My only complaint were the conditions of some of the tee boxes.

- do not play after it rains. Course has a really hard time draining.

- tee boxes are a mess. One doesn’t exist and 10 is a sandbox. Others are very patchy.

- course nickel and dimes you to death. Hot Dog 6.50. Only public courses that charges to park ($3). $45 to walk and another $20 to ride. They do it because it’s super convenient, but if you want bang for your buck go somewhere in queens or out of the city. $75 can get you a lot of course that’s better than here.

My girlfriend played today as a single and around the 14th hole, 4-5 youths, late teens, early 20's, harassed her by first taking her cart temporarily and then frightened her when she protested loudly (with absolutely no one else around to help!). Very upset to say the least and when she later saw an employee, he acknowledged that the place is 'unsafe'.

Players, especially women be warned!

And NYC Parks Dept. better take notice and take appropriate measures before someone gets seriously hurt.

Once again, Van Cortland Park, the oldest public course in the U.S., lived up to its promise -- a quick escape from NYC and a fun round of golf -- even possible on the spur of the moment. I left work a little before 3 pm, was on the course by 3:30, and was able to get almost a full round in by 5:30! Wow!