Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press North Hempstead to limit lucrative golf outings at Harbor Links
Summary
A Manhasset resident told the town board that frequent, lucrative outings at Harbor Links after Labor Day reduced public tee time availability and urged the town to set standards limiting outings; town staff disputed aspects of the account and said contract language is vague and requires clarification.
At the Jan. 13 Town of North Hempstead meeting, resident Charlene Prunas urged the board to curb what she described as excessive, lucrative golf outings at Harbor Links that she said reduced public access.
"All summer long, I had no problems getting tee times. That abruptly changed after Labor Day," Prunas told the board. She said outings increased to "3 to 4 times a week" in September and October, and alleged the operator is incentivized to schedule outings because "the golf operator keeps 85% of all revenue over $7,000,000." Prunas said she and other residents have screenshots showing no tee times were available on multiple dates.
Town representatives and other speakers pushed back on some of Prunas's factual claims. A town representative said some outing days still left unused rounds and that Monday outings are customary at many courses. The town attorney said a prior meeting found no consensus that the contract limited outings to two per week outside the summer season and acknowledged contract language was vague and that standards still need to be set.
Other audience members argued that first responders, union members and regional groups have the same rights to use the public course as local residents. Prunas said the issue is not "gaming the system" by a few golfers but the prevalence of multi‑group outings that block availability on certain dates.
Prunas asked the town to meet and set standards and to review the contract; the board said it has met with the operator and the town attorney and that staff will continue to review the contract language and set standards as appropriate.
Provenance: transcript topic introduced at SEG 143 and discussed through SEG 257.
