- Dyker Beach Golf Course
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Dyker Beach Golf Course is a public golf course located in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. Its roots go back more than 100 years.[1] It is one of the most played public golf courses in the nation.[2] It has produced some notable golfers.
History
The golf course originally named Dyker Meadows Golf Club was built in the 1890s and was located near the Fort Hamilton Army Base. With the expansion of the Army base, Dyker Meadows was moved to its current location at 86th Street and 7th Avenue and renamed Dyker Beach Golf Course. In 1935 Dyker Beach got its final makeover by John Van Kleek. It was a golf getaway located in the heart of Brooklyn and was one of the most played golf courses in the United States in the 1960s, averaging over 350 golfers a day during the season. Many of its golfers are locals who line up early in the morning in order to get a number for a round of golf.[3] The course is open for an eight-month golf season.[4]
Dyker Beach was run by the New York City Parks Department until 1984, when operations were turned over to a private operator, American Golf Corporation.[5]
Dyker produced some notable golfers. Willy "Wiffy" Cox was the course's golf pro from 1921 to 1935.[6] The five Strafaci brothers were all regulars at the course, and Thomas Strafaci served as golf pro at Dyker, as did his son Thomas Strafaci Jr. In 1972, a soldier from the Fort Hamilton Army Base named Earl Woods learned to play golf at Dyker and later passed his love of the game on to his son, Tiger Woods.[2]
Dyker Beach is home to three golf clubs: the Shoreview Golf Club, incorporated in 1930, one of the oldest public men's golf clubs in the United States; the Brookridge Ladies Club, also one of the older public golf clubs in the country; and the Sand Trappers Senior Golf Club, which plays on Tuesdays and caters to older golfers.
References
- ^ "Dyker Beach Golf Course Hosts Ribbon Cutting Event to Celebrate Renovation of its Historic Clubhouse and Event Venue" (Press release). Dyker Beach Golf Course. June 4, 2009. http://au.sys-con.com/node/990793. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ a b Gola, Hank (June 11, 2002). "Earl of New York". Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2002/06/11/2002-06-11_earl_of_new_york_tiger_s_fat.html. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ Boenzi, Neal (June 10, 1957). "Sunrise Golfers Show Foresight". The New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50613FB3F5D157A93C2A8178DD85F438585F9. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ Beyer, Gregory (July 13, 2008). "Short on Subway Stops, Long on Christmas Lights". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/realestate/13livi.html. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ McGeehan, Patrick (September 17, 2002). "Goldman Sachs, A Bowling Bust, Takes Up Golf". The New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00F11FE3F540C748DDDA00894DA404482. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ "Willy Cox, Golf Star of 1930's And Former Pro Here', Is Dead". The New York Times. February 21, 1969. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0D17FA385D137A93C3AB1789D85F4D8685F9. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- SI Vault, Brooklyn's Mad Golf Course, WWW.SportsIllustrated.com, retrieved 10/17/2010
- The New Yorker Digital Edition May 31, 1938, Strafaci Brothers, Archives.New Yorker.com, Retrieved 10/17/2010
Links
Coordinates: 40°36′39″N 74°01′09″W / 40.61083°N 74.01917°W
Categories:- Brooklyn
- Golf clubs and courses in New York
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