Ferry Point, The Bronx

[Mark Fedeli]

I'm thrilled that someone who gets as much press as Trump is using an architect like Hanse in his big projects. But I'm reserving my final judgment of the new and improved Donald until after we see how he operates Fort Apache Ferry Point.

What I'm most curious to see is how much favoritism tax-paying residents will receive over non-residents when it comes to, not just cost, but to availability and accessibility of tee times. The Bethpage model is fine, but with the amount of city tax dollars that have gone into the project, I wouldn't even bat an eye if non-residents had to be accompanied by a resident on weekends (or barred from weekend play all together).

Taking that even further. Are ALL residents created equal? What about some kind of priority membership or weekend men's league option that, yes, favors someone like myself over other city residents who play golf infrequently and without as much dedication? If these options don't have increased cost, they simply require full payment up front, is it still unfair or undemocratic? What if these options are only open to those not currently members at other clubs and courses?

Am I completely out of my tree?

[Ronald Montesano]

Naive, more than out of your tree.

[Mark Fedeli]

Naive, more than out of your tree.

i prefer hopeless dreamer, but yeah.

[Keith Grande]

I'm assuming some tee times will be allocated to "policital interests"...

[RussBaribault]

anyone have any idea on greens fees for this place when it opens?

[Mark Fedeli]

anyone have any idea on greens fees for this place when it opens?

I've heard tell that the city set a rate maximum into Trump's contract. I'm not entirely sure what it is but the figures I've always heard thrown around are $125-$135 for residents. If that's the case, it had better be double for non-residents, along with tee time restrictions.

[M. Shea Sweeney]

Mark-
Here is your gauge to see if this is going to be treated as a true NYC public golf course;

if Ferry Point has the $7.75 junior rate that stands at many of the NYC courses. 

MS

[Mark Fedeli]

Mark-
Here is your gauge to see if this is going to be treated as a true NYC public golf course;

if Ferry Point has the $7.75 junior rate that stands at many of the NYC courses. 

MS

Good point. Not all city courses are created equal and I'd have no problem with FP being positioned as the super-premium option. Frankly, I'd rather be priced out than have to compete with non-residents for times on weekends.

[Bruce Katona]

When I worked on this, given what the greens fee & tee time restrictions were in the Parks Dept RFP, the numbers never came close to working.

Then again, didn't get the deal so who knows.

I'd love to see the place be successful and get a tour.

[jeffwarne]

"Taxpaying" citizens had the right to vote out the morons who made the decisions that brought them here.
That's the way a democracy works, or doesn't
The price of golf will have to support the new business model, and if that reduces cheap tee times for taxpayers, so be it.

[Michael Felton]

Right - I fear it more likely that there will be restrictions on locals getting times rather than the other way around. I imagine that Mr Trump will be eking as much money out of it as he possibly can within the confines of the contract. If that means he can get more out of towners at $300 a round over residents at $130, you can bet he'll be doing it.

[B.Ross]

nyc native & resident here who grew up playing HS golf on the nyc public courses, amongst others. IMO they should give ferry point the bethpage RED treatment. price it up a bit w/ some restrictions, but not quite bethpage black.

[Jim Nugent]

I read some time back that Ferry Point had already cost $97 million, with the costs still mounting.  My question is who paid for that: federal, state or local?  It seems to me that should go a long way towards determining who if anyone gets preferential treatment at the course. 

[Jaeger Kovich]

This place just seems doomed for failure to me, as NYC resident in the golf biz. Based on the pictures and articles, I don't think anyone is going to be able to stomach the place more then twice around at anything above $125, when Split Rock and Bethpage exist. I can't imagine how much Trump is planning on charging for corporate outings (his general golf model), but to compete with all the top-100 types in the area, and get any return business, I would imagine the price per head is going have to be a lot less than one would need to recover the cost of building the place.

[Michael Felton]

I think the City is going to take the vast majority of the cost on the chin. Trump will I think have to pay a retainer to the city to be able to run the course, but the rest he gets to keep as profit. I think the deal is quite a good one for Trump and he has got the course built, which no one before him got anywhere close to. If he manages to get a PGA Tour event there (or even a US Open or some such), then he'll be able to charge a significant amount which people will pay. I kind of hope that it costs enough that it's possible to get a tee time. That would make it a once or twice a year visit for most people. I just hope the model doesn't end up being $125 for city residents, $300 for non-residents and non-residents get 80% of the tee times.

Whatever happens, a high end public facility near the city will ease some of the pressure on Bethpage and make tee times there easier to come by.

[Mark Fedeli]

I think the City is going to take the vast majority of the cost on the chin. Trump will I think have to pay a retainer to the city to be able to run the course, but the rest he gets to keep as profit. I think the deal is quite a good one for Trump and he has got the course built, which no one before him got anywhere close to. If he manages to get a PGA Tour event there (or even a US Open or some such), then he'll be able to charge a significant amount which people will pay. I kind of hope that it costs enough that it's possible to get a tee time. That would make it a once or twice a year visit for most people. I just hope the model doesn't end up being $125 for city residents, $300 for non-residents and non-residents get 80% of the tee times.

Whatever happens, a high end public facility near the city will ease some of the pressure on Bethpage and make tee times there easier to come by.

let non-residents have 80% of the tee times... on weekdays.

because of the prime location, i tend to doubt that anything below $150 will be expensive enough to make tee times any easier to get. Ballyowen is $135 and in the middle of nowhere and does very good weekend business. same goes for other nearby public courses that charge $100-150 like Wild Turkey, Hudson Hills, NYCC, Harbor Links, Royce Brook, Patriot Hills, etc.