Peachy Deegan and Chris Ryan, General Manager of Van Cortlandt Golf Course, the best day trip you can take right now!
Until now, it's been a record-setting draught in New York City. No rain means great golf! We returned to Van Cortlandt Golf Course; we first wrote on it in 2015 and it's our goal to spend more time golfing and less time with the computer going forward! You may think it's closed for the season, but you'd be wrong. It's only closed in snow. You can golf as long as it's clear and it's a whole new experience not going in the summer!
It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know and we know Chris Ryan. You should know him not only because he's doing a great job as a GM but also because his golf skills are just as good as the professionals we know.
Chris Ryan says: "Van Cortlandt Park is the first public golf course in America. It's a great place to play, especially if you live in Manhattan. It's a hop, skip and a jump on the 1 train and a two-minute walk. It's amazing! It's been in the original Wall Street movie (Michael Douglas), they shot Boardwalk Empire here and we just filmed Steve Elkington's Secret Golf here. They've done some Gatorade commericals here."
Before you begin, take a step back in time and appreciate all that have golfed here before you since 1895.
Their website tells us:
Van Cortlandt Golf Course is located in the North Bronx close to the Yonkers border. It is the oldest public golf course in the USA. Known as "Vanny" by the locals, it is the most easily accessible NYC course to mass transportation. The # 1 train leaves you just a short walk to the course. Over the years many famous people have played at Van Cortlandt. They include Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Joe Lewis and the Three Stooges.
Under new management, Van Cortlandt features seven new greens, new tee boxes, additional cart paths, improved bunkers, and dramatically improved drainage. The cost of these improvements approximates one and a half million dollars. The architect in charge of this renovation is Stephen Kay. This golf course, situated in a park-like setting, is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of NYC without ever having to leave the City.
A bit more on their history:
In New York City, getting to a golf course is not so easy. Unless you take the red train up to Van Cortlandt park in the Bronx! The land is owned by the city so it is a public course, but it is run privately through Golf NYC.
Before you begin, you should know the lay of the land, as shown on the map above which is inside the clubhouse. Take a look at the map:
Going from left to right up closer:
Whom You Know Scorecard Van Cortlandt Park in Yards (USA) | ||||
Hole | Par | Women's/Front | Men's/Middle | Pro/Back |
1 | 4 | 329 | 354 | 370 |
2 | 5 | 454 | 559 | 619 |
3 | 3 | 134 | 156 | 172 |
4 | 4 | 320 | 350 | 364 |
5 | 4 | 285 | 325 | 345 |
6 | 4 | 236 | 279 | 295 |
7 | 3 | 178 | 204 | 222 |
8 | 4 | 257 | 304 | 318 |
9 | 4 | 302 | 375 | 391 |
Total Front 9 | 35 | 2495 | 2906 | 3096 |
Hole | Par | Women's/Front | Men's/Middle | Pro/Back |
10 | 5 | 428 | 452 | 475 |
11 | 3 | 125 | 153 | 174 |
12 | 5 | 453 | 550 | 572 |
13 | 3 | 141 | 156 | 172 |
14 | 4 | 282 | 353 | 391 |
15 | 4 | 207 | 254 | 302 |
16 | 4 | 264 | 282 | 292 |
17 | 3 | 132 | 172 | 190 |
18 | 4 | 272 | 280 | 338 |
Total Back 9 | 35 | 2304 | 2652 | 2906 |
Total 18 | 70 | 4799 | 5558 | 6002 |
You definitely will not feel like you are in the Bronx once you walk along the golf course path to get to the clubhouse. The subway, which is above ground at this end, meets the park. Peachy suggests bright neon balls to see them better among the leaves! To be a great golfer, you really have to go far more often than she does right this second....
Here's what the course itself looks like.
As you go to each hole, you'll see they are designated by stone markers in the ground:
Van Cortlandt Park Golf in New York City is Recommended by Whom You Know!
Their phone number:
Golf NYC operates nine of the finest New York City golf courses – Clearview Park Golf Course, Douglaston Golf Course, Forest Park Golf Course, Flushing Meadows Golf Center, Kissena Golf Course, La Tourette Golf Course, Silver Lake Golf Course, South Shore Golf Course, and Van Cortlandt Golf Course. We hope to check them out!
Peachy brought her friend Toby!
