Are public golf courses subject to Section 4(f), even when fees and reservations are required?
Answer A: The applicability of Section 4(f) to a golf course depends on the ownership of the golf course. There are generally three types of golf courses: • Publicly owned and open to the general public, • Privately owned and open to the general public and • Privately owned and for the use of members only. Section 4(f) would apply only to those golf courses that are publicly owned, open to public and determined to be significant recreational areas (see also Question 2 B). The first type of golf course mentioned above includes those that are owned, operated and managed by a city, county or state for the primary purpose of public recreation. These golf courses meet the basic applicability requirements, as long as they are determined to be significant by the city, county or state official with jurisdiction and FHWA agrees with this determination. Section 4(f) would not apply to the two types of privately owned and operated golf courses mentioned above, even if they are open to the general
