[Dixie Yooper]

The New York area newspapers used to have stories back then about people who would get up at the crack of dawn -- or even sleep in their cars in the parking lot -- to get a good weekend tee time at public courses. I don't hear stories like that anymore

The year you heard that story was when they held the US Open at Beth Page State Park, the Black Course. In 2 years (I think) it will be held there again, and you will again here about the line of cars parked over night. Just because the MSM doesn't report it, doesn't mean it's not happening.

[wagglebee]

That's because it's one of the top half dozen or so courses in the country, but the greens fees are about one-tenth of what you would pay at a place like the Number 2 Course at Pinehurst, or Pebble Beach (those two courses are at least "semi-public" most other top courses are totally private).