Itās a hole-in-dumb.
Lefty mayoral hopeful and city Comptroller Brad Lander wants to pave over public golf courses to build much-needed homes to ease the Big Appleās housing crisis ā to the chagrin of many golfers.
Lander, in a campaign video released Thursday, said that if elected mayor heāll push to build neighborhoods on four of the cityās 12 municipal golf courses.
āIt would mean we could create 50,000 homes for New Yorkers to rent or buy,ā he said. āAnd not just roofs over peopleās heads, but real new neighborhoods with green parks and open space, small businesses and schools.
āLook, Iām no pro golfer, but this is a hole-in-one.ā
The big swing on golf courses is part of Landerās 30-page housing plan released last week.
The plan calls to declare a state of emergency on the cityās housing crisis and build 500,000 new homes over the next decade ā a goal shared by Mayor Eric Adams, who has declared it his administrationās āmoonshot.ā
Landerās golfing-to-housing pitch doesnāt specify which four courses heād convert, but argue some of their 2,500 combined acres can be used for houses rather than putting greens.
His plan calls to conduct a feasibility study to select the best opportunities ā a stance confirmed by his campaign spokeswoman Kat Capossella.
But pitching homes on the cityās already-scant golf courses still struck Luis Ardila, 60, as a āterrible idea.ā
Ardila, who works as assistant manager at Flushing Meadows Pitch & Putt Golf Course, said at least 200 people golf on the grounds during the weekends, with many more on holidays. He also noted itās a public open space with trees and other wildlife.
āI say think of somewhere else to build these houses,ā he said.
āAre you going to take away that enjoyment from people who love the game? Let it stay. Do not touch it.ā
Tommy Hirrel visits the course twice a week from Brooklyn to play with friends. He said he understands the need for housing, but doesnāt want Lander to touch āthe only place we gotā for golfing.
āHeāll never become mayor if he does that. Thatās for sure!ā he said.
The idea also got panned by Jeff Brooks, a retired social worker who both works and golfs at the Flushing course.
āI donāt know much about Brad Lander, he doesnāt come across my mind,ā he said. āBut I donāt think itās a good idea to propose housing in an area thatās already being utilized for the good of the community in a healthy positive way.
āIn the summer, itās so crowded people wait in line hours to get their shot in because of their love for the game. It outweighs any desire for a politician to score points for promises he may not deliver.ā
Landerās plan contends that city officials should rethink the use of public golf courses, given the sportās supposed waning popularity ā an assertion backed up by statistics from 2018.
But golf actually saw a boom amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with total player participation hitting 47 million last year ā a 38% increase over 2019, according to the National Golf Foundation.
Parks officials didnāt immediately respond to a request for information how many players use the cityās municipal courses.
The courses, beyond providing golfing opportunities to New Yorkers, also have a long history.
Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course is the first public course in the nation ā and attracted famous golfers ranging from Babe Ruth to the Three Stooges.
Staten Islandās LaTourette Golf Course boasts a mansion turned into a club house thatās on the National Register of Historic Places.