If New York were Montreal there would already be a Formula 1 race course on Governors Island, but the differences are obvious. What else would distinguish New York City on this site? A real golf course, not just a stack of driving range tees. (I can hear your yawn or rightgeous yawp from here). Now I am not even a golfer as it is beyond my financial means. However consider the many businesspersons who are pained by the lack of a real course which is within easy reach during a short business trip to the city who think otherwise (so I am willing to conjecture). They are those who now pay an extra $200 to be pre-screened at a heliport to be whisked away to JFK where they skip the security ordeal altogether. Why not use that extra time to combine 9 holes on Governors Island with a helicopter ride to their flight home from JFK? Good for city businesses with out of town clients? You bet. Again, I adore parks, especially Central Park, but New York already has one of those. Why not add a new dimension to the experience which made the city such a great business center in the first place? For comparison see the 20 acre 9 hole course at Grayslake, IL and the 56 acre regulation length 9 hole course in Fort Collins, CO. It can be done. Build it and they will come. Again and again. On the other hand should need arise in future it is easy stuff to turn a golf course into a cityscape unlike the converse.

But a golf course, especially as you describe it, would benefit only those who could afford it, not all the people of New York. I would prefer something that was free.

It is not free or fast to take the bus or subway to the Battery where Governors Island is and it's a very long walk from 42nd street, I've done it. Central Park is easier to get to because it is, well central. A reasonable compromise might be to have a discount for Manhattan residents who would have a certain percentage of the greens fees reserved for them at a reduced charge as is now done with some concerts and ballet at Lincoln Center (for special groups like teachers). If you viewed the proposal slide show you may have noticed that in one scenario a group of rock climbers were on an artificial cliff. I have done a lot of rock climbing before and I can assure you that activity would not be free either. As it were you can never please everyone. The course could also be used on special occasions for a few free concerts each summer as Central Park now is but limited in number for the same reason, concert goers will take a toll on the turf.

It is not free or fast to take the bus or subway to the Battery where Governors Island is

I should have used "inexpensive" instead of "free." It's certainly not free to take the bus or subway to Battery Park and then a ferry to Governors Island, but I'll bet the two fees would still be cheaper than a greens fee. As for a discount for New York residents--- just how many New Yorkers golf, anyway?

Yours is a good point. Who will benefit from which activity or mix of activities? I was a census enumerator once and leisure activities were not a part of the questions so it may be hard to know just how many New Yorkers golf. My mom spent half of her life living in Manhattan and never golfed but she was often glued to the TV watching it broadcasted from someplace far away. Perhaps the exotic locations interested her, I never asked, but a sense of vicarious pride in ones own community should also be present in whatever form the park on Governors Island takes. Lets hope your mom can be proud of whatever gets done there.

This competition seems typical of the urban planning approach typical to the U.S. Why not simply let the island go back to nature with some well-placed demolition work? It seems like a waste of land until you realize that such an approach would serve as a decent carbon sink for the region.

It's not always advisable to "do" something with land. If the carbon sink idea is not palatable, my second preference would be agricultural. A lot of food could be generated for NYC with well-chosen ag products. This would serve to reduce the transportation load on the city, lower food costs a bit, keep money in the local economy, and provide healthier food for the city.

New York already has Central Park, so why does it need another? Lots of cities benefit from having several parks. A golf course would use massive amounts of pesticides and be an environmental disaster. Fortunately, that's not under consideration, but some of the options presented would be very bad too. Turning most of the island into a meadow again is the most aesthetic and clearly the greenest option.

It should be turned into a totally natural nature reserve, unaccessible to the public but for the wildlife caretakers and people like photographers. Have natural trees, flora, fauna, deer, bunnies, birds all happy and frolicking next to the greatest city in the world.

That would elliminate the park being used by 99% of the people. As you say only those who could afford 9 rounds of golf could use the majority of the park.Shame on you. What about the many?

Why do anything, its going to be underwater in a few years!

I like EarlyBird's idea of allowing it to be a little nature preserve. We all know migrating birds need more locations than just Central Park.

But I think no matter what, green space is green space, and as long as they aren't going to build apartment towers on it like Roosevelt Island, they're going in the right direction. I just hope they leave as many trees as possible.

Typical - As a former NYer who now lives in CA (God forgive me I cant take the NY winters) - I was dismayed that as usual the golfers think that any open space should be used for their pleasure. OOOOhhh - the poor golfers. Who cares about their tee time problems? How about an equestrian venue that would be able to generate millions of dollars in hosting world class sporting events? Now that the stable in the Park has closed what about this space incorporating a bridle path? An open space for police horses? A wildlife refuge would generate alot more money from tourists than a damn golf course. Think what a wonderful thing the open space would be - how it would take some of the pressure off Central Park. Why should 8+ million people be subjugated to the will of a small minority of natives and visitors? Doesnt NY kowtow to visitors enough?

I grew up surrounded by the many parks of the Bronx and I can tell you how those free parks gave us poor kids a place that wasnt concrete to play and dream. It should be an open space, a open air concert venue, there's plenty of hotels in NY - there's no need to CONSTANTLY cater to the whims of the rich is there? I hope NY will NOT give into the pressure from the planners, businessmen and developers who gentrify and call it progress. Here in Southern Cal, golf courses abound and the rest of the space in these kinds of deals crams everyone else into a small corner that's left. I would hate to see that NY couldnt do the right thing, this is wonderful opportunity.

I STILL LOVE NEW YORK !!

Oh - and one more thing wm, WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE PAINED BUSINESSMEN SO MUCH? Its time that NYers get put first. You should SEE how bad it is here in San Diego, there arent any real open space parks, they put condos on anything that's got more than a garage sized space open. I REALLY dont understand your logic. As far as "...the great business center" - PEOPLE need a place to play! They already have Manhatten - isnt that enough?

Are you hoping to PROFIT in some way from this thing? It's the WEIRDEST argument against open space I read in the Fray so far. You must come from San Diego. Money money money.

I was born in the Bronx and lived in Manhattan until I was 6. Then I spent my life in the New Jersey suburbs fighting with marching bands and softball teams for a place to practice soccer with my team mates (they had permits and all we had were foul mouths. They always won). Later in life I spent much time in New York City and consider it my true home which regrettably I cannot afford to live in. I recently have lost my house in New Jersey and am trying to start my life over again with nothing (my intelligence analyst skills from the Army are not very marketable I am learning). I live in motels while I travel searching for a job. No, I will not profit from a golf course, I am only advocating what I think may be of value for the city's standing in the world.