List of WPA Golf Courses

[Matt Frey, PGA]

Does anyone have access to a complete list of all of the golf courses constructed with the help of the Works Progress Administration (WPA)? I believe I read that there were at least 200 constructed with WPA help, but do not recall ever seeing a comprehensive listing. I used to work at WPA course, Malone (New York) Golf Club, and would love to comb through a list of other WPA layouts.

[Ben Hollerbach]

I'm not sure if this is a complete list...

https://livingnewdeal.org/new-deal-categories/parks-and-recreation/golf-courses/

[Matt Frey, PGA]

Thanks, Ben. I have seen this and I do not believe it is, as Malone is not listed.

[MCirba]

No additional 7 holes at Karakung either.

[Jim_Kennedy]

It's gonna' be a big list. 


http://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/golfd/article/1940may18.pdf


p.s  the article from 1940 says 400, but I've seen estimates of up to 600 by the program's end.


Matt,


I seem to recall that Malone CC was constructed using TERA (NYState) funds. FERA (Federal) began 2 months after FDR was elected, with WPA being approved by Congress in 1935.

[Matt Frey, PGA]

Thanks, Jim.


In regard to Malone, nine holes were built first, while a second nine was added later. Do you suspect the first nine were via NYS and the additional nine were build using Federal funds?

[Jim_Kennedy]

Matt,
I thought it was Malone CC, but in retrospect, I think it was Tupper Lake that used TERA funds and then federal funds later to build their course. There was a pause when the town and Wilkinson had some disagreement, and funding for other projects in Tupper were going to be denied unless the town finished the golf course.

Wasn't there a muni built around the early '30s in Malone? Maybe that's what I recalled.

Jim

[Jeff_Brauer]

Would be interesting to see how Prairie Dunes and Southern Hills got money for work.

[Jeff Schley]

Holy Shishkabobs!  The WPA employees almost 3.4 million people at it's height out of a total population of 130!  I knew it was a huge program but that is crazy as all were unemployed before that. "To be eligible for WPA employment, an individual had to be an American citizen, 18 or older, able-bodied, unemployed, and certified as in need by a local public relief agency approved by the WPA."

Make America Great Again!

[Matt Frey, PGA]

Jim, Malone's 18-hole layout was completed in the 30s and I believe was owned by the town at the time (it's an equity club now). I am unaware of another golf course in or around Malone at that time, unless you may be thinking of the club's original location near the present-day high school, a few miles from it's current property.

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

Holy Shishkabobs!  The WPA employees almost 3.4 million people at it's height out of a total population of 130!  I knew it was a huge program but that is crazy as all were unemployed before that. "To be eligible for WPA employment, an individual had to be an American citizen, 18 or older, able-bodied, unemployed, and certified as in need by a local public relief agency approved by the WPA."

Make America Great Again!

An administration requiring citizenship and using public funds to build golf courses - a rich man's sport. Who'd a thought Trump was a New Deal Democrat!

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