Cliff H:
The agreement from what I understand is that no such provision applied to out-of-state golfers. What irks me is that many of these people who have demonstrated long time loyalty to the facility and really touted the course to the powers-that-be and who played it, when there was no grass or very little, are now left out in the cold.
The joke is simple -- a tremendous amount of $$$ was spent to administer this year's Open and a salute should go to everyone. But, I believe, Newsday ran a story on how much costs went into the event for things such as security and the like. The joke is simple -- out-of-state people are now looked upon as the cash cow to cover those expenses.
Clearly, this is a New York State Park System facility and priority should go to those first. However, given that tee times are now even more of a premium and the fanfare from the Open will forever be a part of Bethpage it is a shame that such a truly P-U-B-L-I-C course at one time is becoming with each passing year a de facto "private" club.
The raising of green fees for out-of-state people is an easy deal for Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro and Governor George Pataki. No out-of-state people vote for his re-election effort so if he pisses them (us) off it can't come back to bite him this November.
I also understand that green fees for NY residents CAN rise but not beyond the rate of inflation for at least a few years. Either way I'm just seriously concerned that BB will lose a big part of what made it such a joy to play for the 30+ plus years I've played at the facility.
Bethpage may be owned by the State of New York but it is part of the golfing community and I would just hope that key people, including the USGA, weigh in privately to make sure that the "people's Open," as it was dubbed, doesn't become the singular playground for the Wall Street types.
