Miniature golf was a popular activity in the Bronx
REPRINTED FROM 10-28-2010
This card was given to all those who got a hole in one on the 18th hole of
the Pelham Bay Miniature Golf Course. It entitled the bearer to one free
game. This card was obviously never redeemed.
There were other courses
throughout the borough and
Nick DiBrino recalls one at
the southeast corner of Morris
Park and Bronxdale Avenues.
Some may recall another on
Jerome Avenue near the 170th
Street IRT station where you
had to get the ball into the
clown’s nose on the 18th hole to
get a free game. That one was
adjacent to Thrifttown where
some players would go to purchase
a snack before or after
the game. There were dozens
of others throughout the borough
and each will hold some
fond memories for those of us
who played at them but our
numbers are dwindling.
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I am purchasing ____ dinner reservations at $50 each. (BEFORE July 8th)
I am purchasing ____ dinner reservations at $60 each. (AFTER July 9th)
am purchasing rafe ticets at 2 each.
Rafes ill e dran hursday, ugust 1, 21 at fundraiser.
Winner need not be present.
ould lie to mae a donation in the amount of
____________________ to Preston Center of Compassion.
Make checks payable to
2780 Schurz Ave, Bronx, NY 10465
or
visit our e site at .prestoncenterofcompassion.org to mae an online donation
Preston Center of Compassion a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion is a elcoming community
that addresses critical community needs y providing counseling, mentoring, leadership, empoerment, spirituality,
and educational support services and programs for omen, children and families ho are most in need.
PCC is a 501(c)(3) organization separate from Preston High School.
was a turbulent era and many
of these mini-courses throughout
the city closed at that time.
The Mellusi family still owns
the property, however, from
which they operate a used car
lot.
Some older folks referred to
these miniature golf courses
as Tom Thumb Golf and they
dotted our borough. There was
one on Locust Point adjacent to
Jack and Sally Blackman’s general
store on East 177th Street
but it was always overgrown
and not well tended. A better
one was further west on that
same street east of Tremont
Avenue and opposite the Fort
Schuyler Presbyterian Church.
That one was well maintained
and a free game was offered to
all who got a hole in one on the
18th hole.
1st Prize $5,000*
2nd Prize 2 Tickets to Hamilton on Broadway
3rd Prize Manhattan Getaway
One night accommodation to Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel,
Two tickets to Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Plaza
and Dinner for o at Rosie radys imes Suare Restaurant.
4th Prize iPad, Donated y Fitgeral alde,
Manager of Citibank, Throggs Neck Branch
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Four anee icets AND Four ets icets,
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR ULY 19-25, 2019 55
BRONX SCENE
I opened a bottle of Snapple
not too long ago and the underside
of the bottle cap carried
a message indicating that it
was real fact #155 and it read:
In 1926, the fi rst outdoor minigolf
courses were built on rooftops
in NYC. The very fi rst, in
fact, was atop a skyscraper in
the fi nancial district of Manhattan.
It didn’t take long for
a trend to be established and
before long these mini-courses
were popping up throughout
the land. They remained very
popular for decades and still
can be found here and there
including, of course, in the
Bronx and that one is at Turtle
Cove on Rodman’s Neck.
It probably wouldn’t be fi nancially
feasible operating on its
own, but there’s a golf driving
range and a batting range at
the same facility which also
draws a crowd. I’ve taken my
children there when they were
young and often encountered
good sized crowds regardless
of the onslaught of mosquitoes.
They do spray for those pesky
little critters but I’m not sure
if being bitten or inhaling the
spray is worse.
Miniature golf was a big
seasonal attraction when I
was young and I started thinking
about the various Bronx
courses I could recall. The
most popular by far was the
one on Pennyfi eld Avenue
at Tierney Place in Throggs
Neck. Robert Schaefer opened
it on May 3, 1931 and would
keep a record of the low scorers
so that he could place their
names in concrete at the end of
the season. I recall John Robben
mentioning that his name
was recorded among them.
Schaefer sold the property to
Phil Mellusi in 1960 who closed
it when it no longer drew large
crowds in the mid-1960s. That
Please join us for our
6:30 - 10:30 PM
oin s for an eening of good food, msic and fn to benet PCC
Honorees
AnaMarie Murphy – dministratie ssistant, Hman esorces fcer, PHS
For her faithful leadership, friendship and untiring dedication and service to the Sisters of Divine Compassion, PCC, and PHS for over 13 years.
obert Crafa Waterfront
irector, S Maritime College
For his extraordinary commitment to Preston Center of Compassion Summer Recreational Program and the Bronx community for over 12 years.
Throggs eck Commnity ction Partnership (TCP)
Under the auspices of
rchdiocese of
rg bse Preention Program (
PP)
For CPs strong memership support and dedication to the hroggs ec community since 1 .
Sponsored in part by:
Bronx
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Prizes
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Space has been donated by SCHUYLER HILL FUNERAL HOME
/.prestoncenterofcompassion.org