Since the announcement of fee and registration policies at the Town of North Hempstead's new Harbor Links golf complex, several residents have contacted me or written to local publications expressing disappointment that the course fees could not be as low as the fees charged at some other Long Island public courses.

No one would have wanted more than I for this fabulous course to be both the most beautiful and the lowest priced on all of Long Island. Unfortunately, the town could never have opened the course with four or six or $10 greens fees, nor did we ever imply that we could. The Harbor Links fees were objectively, scientifically based on estimated rounds of play and financial demands, and the final fees were consistent with published estimates dating back to 1996.

In actuality, our greens fees are very reasonable for a brand-new public course. The recent (May) issue of Golf Magazine has an extensive report on what they consider to be the Top 100 public golf courses in America (we hope Harbor Links will break into this exclusive circle in next year's issue). Of the top 100 courses, 65 have greens fees in excess of $101. Twenty more have greens fees of $56 to $100. Only two of these 100 top public courses have fees below the $31 - $55 bracket, one of which is Bethpage black in Bethpage State Park, a course whose construction costs were totally paid off years ago.

In fact, of the four new public golf courses opening in New York State in 1998, Harbor Links basic greens fees are the lowest. For a fee of $37 - $41, depending on the day (and $25 for resident seniors on weekdays), North Hempstead residents can enjoy this fabulous new golf resource. The nine-hole executive-style course will cost $10 - $18 depending on the day and age of the player. As the bonds which helped us build the courses and surrounding park are paid down over the years, we may well consider adjusting rates accordingly.

The course fees were established by unanimous, bi-partisan vote of the town board. The town board has wisely built great flexibility into the fee and registration policies at the new golf complex. These policies were based on educated guesses about patterns of registration, speed of play and many other factors after analysis by experienced golf management professionals. Every golf course has unique registration and play patterns, and should any of our estimates not pan out as expected, I will be the first to suggest adjustments that maintain the accessibility and quality of play that my town board colleagues and I envision for our residents.

May Newburger

Supervisor, Town of North Hempstead