Welcomes tourney, but profits little from it
With tens of thousands of people descending on your zip code over a five-day period, you would think that there would be a trickle down effect, some monetary spillover.
But that has not been the case with the series of big golf tournaments hosted by Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, beginning with the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009, and the Barclays in 2012 and next week.
“There’s very little economic impact on the village,” asserted Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand. “Most people get there by train and shuttle buses. They’re walking around an average of 6 to 8 miles a day on the course. [As far as the Baclays] it’s August, they’re hot and tired. The last thing they want to do is walk a couple of blocks to our downtown.”
Ekstrand was referring to the extra train service to Farmingdale train station the LIRR will be implementing. Buses will then bring the golf enthusiasts to the nearby course.
“I think they’re expecting 55,000 people for the final day. Of those, the village probably gets a couple of hundred,” said Ekstrand.
As for things like traffic and safety, “We greatly feel we have everything ironed out,” he said.
He added, “People along the bus route are well-informed” about what’s going to happen.
State Police will be stationed at Quaker Meeting House Road and Puritan Lane—the intersection closest to the park’s main entrance—and will make sure only area residents will pass through. Illegally parked cars on roads near the park will be subject to towing and a $250 fines, Ekstrand noted.
The village’s own code enforcement will patrol the area, and have a list of residents to guard against unauthorized entry and parking.
The tourney will be held from Tuesday, Aug. 23, through Sunday, Aug. 28. It draws the top 125 golfers on the PGA tour and kicks off the four-event FedExCup Playoffs to determine the season’s champion. It has a purse of $10 million, with $1.8 million going to the winner.
“If you live in the Farmingdale area and want to go to the tourney, the best thing is to get dropped off at the railroad station and take one of the shuttle buses,” Ekstrand said. “It’s the easiest way to get there.”
A County Welcome
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano joined PGA Tour executive director Peter Mele in welcoming back the Barclays to Nassau County for the 50th playing of this prestigious golf tournament.
“Nassau County is proud to sponsor The Barclays, which brings four days of great competition on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, Long Island’s premier golf course,” said Mangano. “Having a tournament of this caliber, that has the ability to attract people from throughout the metropolitan area, is a tremendous boost to Nassau County’s economy.”
It is estimated that the tournament will result in $34.4 million in spending related to lodging, recreation, food, retail, transportation, tickets and employment of those working at the event.
