Big first day for golf with views of Miss Liberty

Originally appeared in the Jersey Journal onThursday, June 15, 2006

By JARRETT RENSHAW

With the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline serving as a backdrop, officials from the Liberty National Golf Club - dubbed the most expensive golf course ever built - officially opened its doors yesterday to its small and select group of members.

"It will become one of the most spectacular golf courses on the planet," said Bob Cupp, who along with former U.S Open champion Tom Kite designed the 7,400-yard golf course on the western shore of New York Bay.

The highly exclusive par-70 golf course, which several former pros describe as one of the toughest they've ever played, features views of the Big Apple and Lady Liberty on 15 of 18 holes. The signature hole is number 18, a par four, 450-yard stretch of land that ends less than 1,000 yards from the Statue of Liberty.

"This rare convergence of the finest in golf, luxury and location, location, location is what puts Liberty National in a class of its own," said Dan Fireman, president and CEO of Willowbend Development, who along with Applied Companies helped finance the $129 million course.

The deposit fee required to join the club is $400,000, but course officials declined to say how much the annual membership fee would be. The club is only accepting 50 memberships this year, and is already near that number, said Aurelian Anghelusiu, the club's managing director.

The prestige and uniqueness of the course has some city officials thinking a major PGA championship is not far away. "This will be a destination golf course for ESPN . and all the other major networks," said Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. "Soon, the PGA Tour and the U.S Open will be coming here and the world can see how great a city Jersey City is." The members, along with several local officials, were allowed to play the course for the first time yesterday.

One of the club's first members is Nick Patti Jr., an independent contractor from Staten Island. He said he heard about Liberty National while being involved in projects in Hudson County.

"I live in Staten Island, and the location is great. I also may want to move to Jersey City, so the whole thing makes sense," Patti said.

Though the hefty price tag made Patti think twice, he considered the prestige and benefits were worth the cost.