NY's Van Cortland Park Golf Course. I'm going to miss you! (Long rant)

[golf_junkie27]

I'm done with Van Cortland Park. Today, for the first time, being on the golf course was worthless. Yes, I played well and was happy with my game. It was everything else that I hated especially the group in front of me. Congratulations, you are the first group of players that I've had to call the clubhouse on after completing one hole of golf. Yes, one hole. Here's why:

When I begin a round, I ask the starter if it would be possible if I can tee off after the group has cleared the green. This allows me to get into a rhythm and allows the same for the group behind me. They know for at least the first few holes, they won't be waiting on me. He said sure and since, at the time, there was no one behind me, it was fine. My group bogeyed the first hole. While we were on the green, the group in front was hitting on the tee box. When we get off and walk to the second hole, they are still there. Why? Because they decided to re-hit since no one was directly behind them. Additionally, they were BSing and joking around. We decide to do the same for the second hole, wait a bit. Only, we notice that these guys are destroying the course. Two of these guys are the absolute worst golfers I have ever seen and I'm being kind. Scores of 8 and 9 on par 3s, 12 and 13 are par 5s and 10 and 11 on par 4s without hitting the ball out of bounds. It was "worm burner day" and they were playing from the tips. Anyway, the second hole was a par 5, 620 yards. It's a three shot hole for me and I'm watching as they are about to putt. However, the beverage cart girl is driving by and the guy stops, walks off the green and proceeds to buy two beers before heading back to finish his putt. I lost my mind. I started yelling "What are you doing?" I also call the clubhouse. Big mistake as the guy they sent out starts making excuses about how it's a weekend, it's a muni, etc. Well, here's a newsflash. There is a group of guys that play on weekends. They are great golfers, most of them score in the high 60s, very low 70s. They also play for millions of dollars and have marshalls and course officials making sure they keep pace of play. If they can enforce this on them, why can't you do something about Joe Hacker? I would have jumped, ahead, but did not feel like I should lose out on playing three holes because you won't enforce a pace of play and make people pick up the ball.

Long story short, I had to watch two guys shoot a combined 320. That's not an exageration, either. They were that awful. One of them also broke his driver on the tee box. He was so upset about one of his shots, I mean, really, pick any shot. They all were awful. The most priceless part of the day was the 18th hole. He hit his tee shot about 25 yards into the woods. He tees up again except his playing partners have decided not to watch. I'm sitting there and he hits it about 150 yards down the middle. He turns to me and the following was exchanged:

Him: Did you see the ball?
Me: Yes, down the middle, in the fairway.
Him: Where?
Me: Down the middle, in the fairway.
Him: Where in the fairway?
Me: What? Dude, are you serious? Go down the fairway and look for the white ball in the green grass. That ball is probably yours.

He does not say "thank you" or anything else. He also walks off the tee box leaving his Oakley glasses in the grass. I call him and tell him that he left his glasses on the grass. Comes back, picks them up and does not say "thanks" or anything like it.

As for the course itself, invest in a lawn mower and mow the greens. I've played off fairways that had less grass. Apparently, nine greens were renovated. I counted five that were worth putting on. Additionally, how's about making sure that all of your greens have flags. It's pretty hard to shoot at holes when the flags are missing.

It's a shame, too. I started playing golf at Vanny. There is hardly a soul there during the fall and the rates are great. It's also a place that I used to love to play. My last two experiences have been awful. I won't be going back until they get rangers that enforce pace of play, mow the greens and actually show that they care about all golfers. At $53 a round and $5 for a Hot Dog, I expect a little more.

Sorry, rant over. I feel better, thanks.

[Harry Longshanks]

I'm done with Van Cortland Park.

Instead of writing a rant here (or in addition too - venting can be healthy), write a letter to the course manager/superintendent/whatever. CC it to the director of the Parks Department if it's a muni.

Let them know about the problems you had. Let them know the Marshall was worthless (I've had my share of run-ins with worthless Marshalls - but that's for another thread and another day.) Be blunt, but diplomatic and polite. Make the tone one of "I'm trying to help you make this course better." And for Pete's sake, people (not directed specifically at you GJ27 - just advice to the reading public), check it for typos, spelling errors, and grammatical errors (e.g. "they're" means "they are", "their" is a plural possessive pronoun, and "there" is a location!; "you're" means "you are", while "your" is a possessive pronoun). Any letter or email with poor grammar and/or spelling will not be taken seriously. What's the worst that could happen? Nothing, right? But you've already basically written the letter, so no great loss. Heck, maybe somebody will take notice and try to do something. Stranger things have happened. Sorry about your bad experience.

[nevets88]

That was a truly clueless bunch you had to deal with. What are the odds?

Al Pacino was so right when he said, "New York City, freak show central".

I've been paired up with some truly bad golfers, but nothing like you. Someone I know told me she got paired up with a weird guy who bought 1, ONE ball for the entire round at Rockland.

Think of it this way. At least you didn't find the homicide (I think it was), or at least very dead guy, at VC or Split Rock.

Someone ought to start a golf rant blog, kind of like waiter rant, which turned into a book. Or at least worst experiences. That would be easily filled up I am sure.

[Jonah523]

sorry to hear about VanCortland... I haven't played that course in a while, but I remember enjoying it a lot. I hope the issues that you mentioned get worked out.

So what's the ruling on a dead guy on the golf course... play it as it lies, or what?

[pjsnyc]

I feel you on the greens. They were IMPECCABLE when the season started! Hard to believe when you look at them now, I know...and to be honest I do like the management there. They put up with a lotta crap as you would expect from a muni that gets a lot of traffic (especially on the weekends). I can only hope that they will fix the greens up (again) in the off season. As for the group in front of you - obviously there's no reason for them to act the way they did...just another one of those things that I've come to accept when playing at Vannie. Kinda the reason why I ALMOST ALWAYS play twilight when I go there - only 18 bucks if you're walking (about 36ish if riding)...makes it feel like I actually did get my money's worth...

...on a side note - I did play golf in Van Cortlandt Park as well on Sunday...only on the other side at Mosholu :P

[golf_junkie27]

I feel you on the greens. They were IMPECCABLE when the season started! Hard to believe when you look at them now, I know...

And that's the thing. Heather and Will are terrific people. The starters, generally, are friendly and let you know what's going on. "It's slow, you can drop as many balls as you like, etc."

My beef is that enjoying a round of golf became impossible by the second hole. I know people have to learn to play, somewhere. However, they should be cognizant that playing "hackey sac" with a golf clubs and ball is not enjoyable or beneficial for anyone. A ranger should be there to address that problem.

[pjsnyc]

...My beef is that enjoying a round of golf became impossible by the second hole. I know people have to learn to play, somewhere. However, they should be cognizant that playing "hackey sac" with a golf clubs and ball is not enjoyable or beneficial for anyone. A ranger should be there to address that problem.

Totally in agreement with you on this one...odd though - usually, if there's a bottleneck, it happens on the par-3 third hole and then clears up as you go to 4, 5, etc...then gets bottlenecked again at the next par 3, and on and on. Usually makes for a decent round in terms of pace. Sucks that you got stuck behind this oblivious group :(

[1UnderU]

IMHO any course within 30 miles of New York City is unbearable to play. They aren't golf courses, there amusement parks.

[pjsnyc]

IMHO any course within 30 miles of New York City is unbearable to play. They aren't golf courses, there amusement parks.

Unfortunately, some of us don't really have a choice. It's either play or watch on TV and drool - take your pick!

[JohnTwing]

I've learned how to play, mostly at Dyker and Pelham and Clearview and Marine Park, never played Van Cortlandt, but I have to say the riffraff is big this summer for some reason. I recently was behind a group that had 2 players take at least 23 and 21 strokes, respectively, at #1 at Dyker, which is basically one of the easiest holes on the course.

Learning how to play is one thing, but if you're incapable of making contact with a golf ball, you shouldn't be on the course. Go to Cheslea Piers or Randall's Island, learn how to hit a golf ball a reasonable distance, then you can go out. If you can't hit anything more than 30 yards, golf is going to be impossible and frustrating for you.

[nevets88]

If you're starting out and are dying to play on a real course, you should go to an executive course. I understand we all pay taxes and courses are public, but I see this *ALL* the time. On munis, someone brings a newbie, literally, the first time on a real course, to a full fledge 6000-6500 yard course.

All the rules have to be explained in addition to swing instruction.

They play two, three balls.

Look for balls.

10 yards off the tee.

Almost hit you from 20 yards away with a skull, no fore.

Kill time.

It's an unofficial rule for people that late afternoon on munis, anything goes.