Barclays Tournament to Close Roads

Ranger Sewer August 20, 2012 at 11:48 pm

Close roads for a GOLF Game? Give me a break. Who came up with that idea? Out of town spoiled rich Golf players are more important then TAXPAYERS trying to go to work to pay their HIGH TAXES.

bob dittmeier August 21, 2012 at 02:54 am

How about the LIRR station! Looks closed to me.Great for commuters !

Jason Molinet (Editor) August 21, 2012 at 04:20 am

I'd say Massapequa or Huntington line looks good to me.

Sam C August 21, 2012 at 12:17 pm

Ranger and Bob, you guys are a bunch of complainers, this is a huge event and will only help the surrounding communities. Where do the golfers, their families, their friends, the television crews, the golf fans (not all from Long Island) stay for the 5 days and eat for the 5 days? Hmm, perhaps hotels, restaurants, maybe they go shopping. Same thing happened during the last two US Opens at Bethpage.
The LIRR is providing extra service to Farmingdale for the event (http://mta.info/news/stories/?story=782). I take the LIRR everday and welcome additional ridership, it can only bring needed revenue. Since the summer is winding down, the trains are typically less crowded anyway.

Michael Barr August 21, 2012 at 01:02 pm

Sorry Sam, but as a business owner in Plainview during the first visitation of the PGA, and a business owner in Farmingdale during the second coming, local businesses see ZERO increased business. Just ask. They are busing the spectators in from Jones Beach Parking lots, and then right back there. Most of the golfers travel with motor homes, or are staying outside the immediate area to avoid issues. The TV crews are mostly local, staying at home and commuting to Bethpage instead of NYC, and the fans are local too.
As far as the LIRR, now that schools and colleges are opening, ridership goes UP, not down during the week, but I think the increase is good for revenue also. You might want to rethink your statement and do some checking before calling others complainers. I am actually in an industry that expected to do well because of these events, and was told by the operator of the PGA outreach program that a Wisconsin company was responsible for all that related to my business. ZERO increased revenue, ZERO sales tax increase, and because it is in a State Park, ZERO benefit to the tax base of the surrounding communities. Still nice to have, but no economic boom.

Karen M August 21, 2012 at 01:20 pm

The Roads that are closed are my regular path to work, and I am spending more in gas and time to re-route, which doesn't thrill me I must admit. And yes the elite seem to get preference in all aspects of life, however they are giving to charity and really making an effort to bless the community while they are here disrupting our everyday schedules. Did you know they are throwing a baby-shower for (was it 40) local women whose husbands are serving in armed forces overseas? Lets make our inconvenience our contribution to the effort to help those let fortunate this week =^..^=

Robert m August 21, 2012 at 04:32 pm

I cant agree more its costing me more in gas to go from farmingdale to old bethpage to work its just very sad we have to put up with this in our back yard no rite they destroyed my lawn last time at the open and no one paid to fix my lawn cars park where they want people leave they garbage in the street and tob didnt do a thing about it we dont need this here move it out east not in our nice town

DeeJorge August 21, 2012 at 08:30 pm

WHO GIVES A CRAP, YOU HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN ROADS FOR THIS, IT TAKES FOREVER TO GET HOME NOW SURE ADD ANOTHER HOUR TO THE STUPID COMMUTE.....

JOE August 22, 2012 at 12:52 am

Complaining about a major golf outing when you live close to Bethpage park is very similar to residents in Howard Beach complaining about the airplane noise. You live near a beautiful park . 51 weeks out of the year there is no traffic or noise. So you get inconvenienced for a few days .Is it really that big of a deal? NO

Dick Blair August 22, 2012 at 02:13 pm

I think it is great.
Plenty of extra work for local law enforcement, the federal government, and town workers. Expanded News 12 coverage, expanded "Newsday" coverage, increased readership and articles for "The Patch", lots of volunteer work available for the locals, national television on Sunday, talk of the town, very exciting and it puts us on the map! Gotta love it! God, country, apple pie and the PGA Tour! Life is wonderful!