America’s Oldest Public Golf Course | Adventures In Golf Season 4
The Big Apple. The Empire State. The city that never sleeps. Erik finds himself in New York for this Adventures in Golf, presented by United, to play the oldest public golf course in the United States.
Golfers first teed it up at Van Cortlandt Park in The Bronx back in 1895. The park charged nothing to play (unless you hired a caddie, which would set you back a whopping 15 cents). Because of this, and its proximity to New York’s 1-train station, the course was constantly packed.
Demand to play was so massive in the 1920s that the course had to do something. The answer, a reservation system. In other words, Van Cortlandt became the birthplace to tee times in America.
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32 Comments
NO COLLARED SHIRT…No Play…
Never played this course in the Bronx but have played the Pelham Bay golf course many times growing up. Def a hidden gem but still of course a city park so quality can be lacking certain times of the season. I'd say April and Oct. are the best times to check it out.
this course was and is always a challenge if you approach it with an open mind and Pual is one of the best swing coaches around that simplifies the game and makes absolutly fun, dudes relentless on his students tho lol
Come visit Downers Grove Golf Course outside Chicago. A very historical golf course and very fun to play
I thought it was middlesboro ky
The head golf professional summed it up nicely for a “public” course. He said we’re on a first name basis with 30,000 people a year. We treat everyone like a member. That’s what keeps players coming back. The motto of how can we make your experience more enjoyable. Props to the HP.
I’ve been watching since first episode of this series and through the seasons you can realy see him age it’s kinda funny
Head pro sounds like Steve-o
Wow, thank you for showing me this wonderful gem of a muni. On my "must play" 2020 list now.
I lived in Washington Heights and Inwood for 6 years, and this was my local course. Vanny is an absolute gem, I love it, and I can't wait to play it again the next time I visit. What a perfect Muni. I love you Vanny, please never change.
what kind of shades are those erik?
Nice…
I’m playing there today .I❤️NY
the first public golf course in america is frankilin park golf course in boston, ma
just checked apparently we are the second public course in america btw awesome vids i hope you get to come to boston to check out the course its a beautiful site.
van Cortlandt is not the oldest public course in the US, Dutcher Golf Course is
4:21 typical New Yorker. Talks a lot of shit but can't back it up.
With a swing like that, there is no way that the ball went even a bit straight.
Look man…. this is absolutely terrific in every way!
You’re like the Anthony Bourdain of golf. Love the videos!
This course is the definition of hidden gem. Nothing crazy or fancy, just a nice golf course that’s within reach of any NYC resident (funny that I’m posting this comment 2 hrs after finishing a round there😆)
Great show…wow
its hilarious to me when people call golf courses "nature"
I have always seen shorts of this channel on various social media over the years and never really dove deeper until recently. As a new Golf Club Superintendent I’m loving this series. It really shows the diversity of golf and how it can be anyones game. Makes me confident in my career choice and excited for golfs future. Hope to see more and longer episodes soon!
I would feed the ducks at the pond with my son at the public golf course. Van Cortland Park is so big, I used to play wiffle ball and soccer on the main field and then watch Manhattan College practice baseball.
Seeing Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen have that iconic scene in Wall Street in that locker room in 1987 brings back great movie memories.
Thanks for this video. I left NYC 15 years ago and still miss playing there. There's an authentic quality about it as part of the city. The nature is a big part as is the fact that it is meant to be walked; I knew I liked Paul when he once agreed with that, simply saying "Golf is a walking game."
If there was a Best Cinematography Award for YouTube videos the guy who filmed this should win it. Absolutely picture perfect sense of beauty of the pond and your tee ball on 6 made me think of my first eagle. Unlike you I pushed my drive badly but holed out a perfect punch shot. Thanks for reminding me of some of the happiest days of my life.
I guess it depends on your definition of public vs semi- private where the public is welcome Niagara on the Lake opened in 1875 and claims the same title
Shoutout to Dyker Beach GC, Brooklyn NY 1897: Located in the southwest corner of Brooklyn, just below the Verrazano Bridge and across from the Atlantic Ocean, Dyker Beach Golf Course offers both exhilarating play and extraordinary event services. This 6,438-yard par 72 course was originally designed by Tom Bendelow in 1897, then redesigned by Jon Van Kleek in 1935. A slice of waterside history, Dyker Beach continues to offer a challenging and enjoyable course.
Man I’m going up there in a few weeks to see New York hopefully I can check this place out
I love this series (3 years after they came out), but this is the best so far. Almost makes me want to go to NYC (almost).
My father has a plaque on the paddle ball courts there, may he rest in peace.
I cannot tell you what this video has meant to me. I moved to NYC for graduate school, and it was really hard. I felt super lonely, and I missed playing golf so much. When I saw this video, I decided that I had to check out van cordlandt. I took the 1 train all the way up, and it felt like a real adventure. Everything this video says about the course is right — it feels like an oasis in the middle of New York. But more than that — you meet all kinds of New Yorkers, and what's more, by the end of the round you're chatting it up and having a great time. It's a testament to the power of golf.