Peachy on the Links: Van Cortlandt Golf Course in New York City Summer 2015 Our Coverage Sponsored by Hallak Cleaners the Couture Cleaner
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We are pleased to present our first golf review!
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. We went with the expectation of playing only 9 holes but wound up playing 18, as it is that much fun. For everyone reading us that is into NYCFC and you all should be into it, just check Andrea Pirlo's Instagram to see who's golfing right now. And he just tweeted: "La mia grande passione. My great passion #golf #NY "
If you haven't learned, here's your chance. However, we believe a lot of people in Manhattan grew up in beautiful suburbia knowing how to golf and now live here and need a good golf escape.
Today, the top dog is Chloe:
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 can rent a locker for the season!
The locker rooms upstairs are full of history, but sadly the walls do not talk:
Here's the clubhouse from the outside:
You know you will need beaucoup de balls and tees, and you can find them there.
The clubhouse is well done and quaint, and quite historical as well.
We were lucky to be driven on a golf cart, and Chris Ryan, General Manager, was fantastic to work with and even picked us up at the train.
It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know and now 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, and I've been here as the GM for four months. 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 commmericals here."
We really liked the Grapefruit beer he suggested, and remember to drink a lot of water too.
(Click here for Champagne Wishes, our alcohol review column. Our golf column aspires to have nearly 500 posts also- if you run/own a golf course we would like to hear from you. Justin Farrell we have not forgotten about you & Links of Ireland! We're making a list and checking it twice...)
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.
Here's what the course itself looks like.
You start at the putting green.
This is a vacation without even leaving New York.
Put on your glove and you are all set.
We still have souvenirs from the Glenlivet City Links, which were fun while they lasted!
As you go to each hole, you'll see they are designated by stone markers in the ground:
Of course when you are golfing, mind your manners. Maybe we should publish a list of golf etiquette in Etiquette from Connecticut.....
Fore!
This is not the beautiful part of our game but our putting is pretty good.
Another essential of Van Cortlandt park is knowing the halfway house, which you will pass by during three holes. It has more Grapefruit beer, and hot dogs which are great!
Go see Chloe and play some golf! She's looking forward to seeing you. (Chloe check your instagram (click here to follow Chloe!)-Leon the Bulldog in Japan wrote to you... (click here to follow Leon!).) Van Cortlandt Golf Course is a lot of fun, not difficult to get to, and quite hospitable once you're there! Don't you deserve a vacation with your golf clubs?
Van Cortlandt Park Golf in New York City is Recommended by Whom You Know!
Book a tee time:
Their phone number:
Their policies and frequently asked questions are found here:
On Peachy Deegan:
Glove by Bionic Gloves
Polo by Johnnie-O
Visor by Italian Golfers (National Team)
If you are patriotic:
Outside the clubhouse in the back:
Photography by
Peachy Deegan
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reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
