Dave, There are several private clubs in the US that are just as exclusive as Liberty if not more so. It's called conspicuous consumption, similar to a 125 foot yacht, a 35,000 sq. ft. mansion, a private Boeing 737, or a barn full of Ferrari's. But if that's what they want, remember, this is America and no matter how tacky one's spending habits, they ARE economic activity, and they do provide a lot of jobs in a lot of categories. Class envy is unproductive. Such excesses are just a matter of degree from lesser private clubs and enterprises.

Well, if we're lucky, the course will bore its members to death (how exciting can a Tom Kite course be, really? His golf game puts insomniacs to sleep, plodding as it is) and we average-joans and juans can get in on a new, upscale-public course.

Alex: If you're accusing me of p---s envy, forget about it. I get the USA-USA-USA thing. Point here is that these people are acting like they're doing something great for the game, like leaving a legacy. No legacy here! Fact is, it wouldn't surprise me if there are a few USGA Exec Comm. members on this membership list.

Not at all, Dave. I did some research into the seed money behind Liberty National. There wasn't one dime of municipal, county, state, or Federal money spent on Liberty. The land on which Liberty was built had been abandoned for decades, a virtual polluted wasteland. Completely private sources purchased the land which had been declared by the EPA as unacceptable on which to construct anything,razed many tumble-down buildings, did a meticulous job of cleaning up the pollution, built a beautiful golf course and several nice structures on the property, and in doing so pumped $130 million into the local economy through contracts to local demolition companies, construction companies, landscaping companies, etc. The demolition and construction was all done with union labor at prevailing rates. It may seem tacky to some, myself included, to spend such a sum with a lot more to be spent, in such a previously depressed area. One thing that cannot be debated is that the development of LIberty National helped the local economy immensely, and will help it even more in the future with the additional jobs, good jobs, it will provide.

Alex, once again, it's not the wonderful things that the boys at Liberty National have done for the local and national economy that I object to. Rather it's the fact that they think they are doing something great for the game. Sorry, NOT! They are simply entertaining themselves.

Alex it is nice to see you took the time to do a little research. The MEMBERS of this Blog should do some also.

I had the good fortune to be a guest to play on the Fourth of July at Liberty National. It is a spectacular course in perfect condition with greens that may only be found elswhere at Augusta. They are also quite difficult in addition to being perfect. I think it is quite a treat to be able to view Lady Liberty (yes the Statue of Liberty) from about 14 or 15 of the holes.

As expected, everything is First Class but in an understated manner. I think it will become a unique and famous course in spite of the issues poor Dave has with the concept.

It is no secret that Paul Fireman of Reebok fame leads the Principal Group. If someone does a little research they will learn he was not born wealthy. Bob Cupp and Tom Kite need no defense for their course design achievements.

It is nice to see a city that needs help get some investment and attention. While it is obvious that few in Jersey City will ever play golf at Liberty National, success breeds success and the surrounding area and people will benefit as more investment is made in high rise apartments that are part of the plan. This will create more permanent jobs and ratable tax income for the city. It is a win win situation for many people. I am pleased I had the opportunity to play there and I look forward to being invited again.

I am sorry that some small minded envious people cannot understand why this is a good thing. I think that is their own problem and I hope they never have to suffer the embarassment of playing there in the future.

Joe, Notice how Dave doesn't congratulate the folks at Liberty for cleaning up an eyesore and replacing it with a first-class facility and helping out the economy of beleaguered Jersey City. No, he just says he doesn't OBJECT to it. How considerate of you,Dave! He says he is primarily miffed because some individual, probably in an attempt to be politically correct, made a comment about Liberty being some sort of "legacy" to the sport. That comment is akin to all the lofty speeches one can hear at a highschool graduation. Dave has a lot of trouble with the fact that the members of Liberty might get considerable enjoyment from their masterpiece. Like so many of the class envious, he thinks that wealthy people, the captains of industry, the movers and shakers don't need any enjoyable pastimes. Joe, one would really think that if a group of wealthy people decided to spend $130 million to make a "silk purse out of a sow's ear" and create a lot of jobs and improve the heighborhood in the process, that they would have nothing but praise heaped upon them. But alas, the deadly sin of envy seems to have won the day in the minds of Dave and others like him.