FORE!

Nassau Golfers Teed Off

Bruce Piel, Chairman of Park Advocacy & Recreation Council of Nassau (PARCnassau), sounds off from the 19th hole at Eisenhower Park.

Once again the Eisenhower Red Course is closed to the resident golfers whose taxes support that facility. From June 9th through the 26th, the best county course is reserved for the PGA Tour's Commerce Bank Championship.

This tournament formerly known as the Senior Tour is the least attended tour of the PGA season. While it does raise some monies for the Schneider's Children's Hospital in New Hyde Park it also costs Nassau County and by extension its taxpayers for course preparation and repair. This is addition to the loss of revenue when the course is closed.

Nassau County has never made any money off this tournament since it agreed to host it in 2001. The only true beneficiary is the PGA which sells a lot of corporate tickets, tents and other "tax write-off" amenities. Nassau allegedly does it for the "prestige" though most resident golfers would argue there is none.

If the county polls its resident golfers, we believe they would overwhelmingly vote to discontinue this "privatization" of a county golf course, especially since the county loses money and the golfers lose most of June play time. It might also be time for Nassau's resident golfers to organize and act as spokesmen for the tax-paying and fee-paying players and promote their interests.

Bruce Piel
Chairman
Park Advocacy & Recreation Council of Nassau (PARCnassau)
246 Twin Lane East
Wantagh, NY 11793-1963
(516) 783-8378
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