If O.B. builds course, residents will benefit

In response to Dick Wein’s letter supporting Old Bridge’s "golden opportunity" to build a public golf course (Suburban, Sept. 11), we would like to express our support for building a golf course that would directly benefit this town.

There already have been two studies, both showing the profitability of the project in three-five years after all expenses, including debt service to pay off any bonds. We don’t understand why the proposal for an Old Bridge YMCA was basically ramrodded through the Township Council, and the golf course project has taken many years and is still being fought by many council members.

There have been several Y’s in recent years that have closed down in Middlesex and Monmouth counties. Most people have extremely busy lifestyles today, and few we know are clamoring to have a Y built. On the other hand, there are only one or two public golf courses that we’re aware of in Middlesex County. Monmouth County has at least six public courses that we’re aware of even though it has about half the population of Middlesex. As the population grows older, golf is one sport that all people can still take part in.

The building and ultimate control of this profitable venture is more of a political issue, where some people would rather see the county control the purse strings. We feel that if this was a county project with all the political favors that could be handed out, the project would have been long under way.

We don’t understand why the taxpayers of Old Bridge shouldn’t benefit from the golf project instead of turning over control to a "higher" authority.

Barbara A. Erosh-Anderson

James H. Anderson

Old Bridge