Golf on Long Island

Long Island Dream Club: Eisenhower Red #15

Golfing Magazine put together its 2009 Long Island Dream Golf Club in its recent Fall issue, a collection of the area's finest 18 holes and its top off-course facilities.  Made up of ten private and eight public holes, the Dream Golf Club is a 7,219-yard par-73.  With holes like the blind-carry 16th at Lido and the split-fairway sixth at Harbor Links, the 2009 Dream Club demands smart strategy and precise execution from the public golfer.

Every Monday through the winter, Golf On Long Island will feature one public hole from the Dream Golf Club along with commentary from Golfing Magazine editors.  Photographs are provided by Golf On Long Island where available.  To view the Dream Club's 18-hole lineup, re-visit the original post here. 

And to review Golfing Magazine's 2008 edition of the Dream Club, click here.

GOLFING MAGAZINE'S 2009 DREAM GOLF CLUB

EISENHOWER PARK, RED COURSE -- HOLE #15
454 / 402 / 307 yards
Designed by Devereux Emmet / Robert Trent Jones

"The [former] host of a Champions Tour event, the course's 15th hole always makes the home stretch interesting.  There's nothing daunting off the tee, but stress builds with the approach shot.  Short hitters must contend with water that crosses the fairway 20 yards before the green.  For bombers, the water's not a factor, but they face a downhill lie to an elevated green.  Bunkers wrap the whole right side of the green, plus part of the left side too.  A ridge running diagonally through this big green makes three putts possible."

Golf On Long Island provided a flyover of the course in July 2009:

"Its serenity is matched by its history.  Eisenhower Red was originally the #4 course at the Salisbury Golf Club, a five-course complex that was once dubbed the "Sports Center of America."  Famed architect Devereux Emmet designed the course in 1914, and 12 years later, it hosted a PGA Championship won by the legendary Walter Hagen.  It was the only original Salisbury course to survive the club's downturn after the Depression and World War II, and was later joined by the new White and Blue Courses in the 1950s."

To read more about Eisenhower Red, check out the course flyover.

Long Island Press poll: Bethpage is best, Eisenhower and Montauk Downs are next

It flew a little farther beneath the radar than the New York Islanders did when they won their third consecutive Stanley Cup in the 1981-82 NHL season, but Bethpage State Park clinched a three-peat of its own last week when the Long Island Press revealed the winners of its annual Best of Long Island competition.

Bethpage bagged top honors in the "Best Public Golf Course" category for the third straight year, beating out Eisenhower Park and fellow New York State park Montauk Downs for the crown.  Long Island Press readers were undoubtedly swayed by Bethpage's reputation as the premier public golf facility in the country and its exposure during the 2009 U.S. Open.  The park draws hundreds of golfers to eastern Nassau County every day for rounds on the famous Black Course, the renowned Red, the Blue, Green and Yellow.

Six miles to the west, historic Eisenhower Red is the main attraction at the 54-hole complex in East Meadow.  The Devereux Emmet design is one of a dozen Long Island courses to receive four stars from Golf Digest in the magazine's Best Places To Play listing.  Third-place finisher Montauk Downs earned 4-1/2 stars from Golf Digest and was recently featured in the magazine's "Long Drives" feature.  Newsday rates it as Long Island's #2 public course, and Golfweek ranks Montauk Downs #38 in its list of America's Best Municipal Courses.

Long Island Dream Club: Harbor Links #6

Golfing Magazine put together its 2009 Long Island Dream Golf Club in its recent Fall issue, a collection of the area's finest 18 holes and its top off-course facilities.  Made up of ten private and eight public holes, the Dream Golf Club is a 7,219-yard par-73.  With holes like the blind-carry 16th at Lido and the split-fairway sixth at Harbor Links, the 2009 Dream Club demands smart strategy and precise execution from the public golfer.

Every Monday through the winter, Golf On Long Island will feature one public hole from the Dream Golf Club along with commentary from Golfing Magazine editors.  Photographs are provided by Golf On Long Island where available.  To view the Dream Club's 18-hole lineup, re-visit the original post here. 

And to review Golfing Magazine's 2008 edition of the Dream Club, click here.

GOLFING MAGAZINE'S 2009 DREAM GOLF CLUB

HARBOR LINKS - CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE -- HOLE #6
515 / 493 / 448 yards
Designed by Michael Hurdzan

"A classic risk-reward hole with great views of the rest of the course, this one offers a split fairway.  The right fork is narrower and slopes toward hilly rough separating the fairways, but hitting this top tier gives you a chance to get home in two.  The lower tier is easier to hit, but the hole runs uphill from there and requires three shots.  Any short approach shot is trouble; the hill fronting the green is deep rough, with a bunker left.  The green slopes hard from back to front."

Golf On Long Island provided a flyover of the course in July 2009:

"Tee shots on the 493-yard sixth must carry, depending on the tees, close to 200 yards to reach either of the two fairways on this par-5.  Attack the hole by bombing a drive to the high fairway on the right, but know that shots lost to the right are in danger of flying out of bounds. ... On the low side, hitting the green in two won't often be a consideration, so the focus is on laying up effectively.  Heavy rough separates the fairways from the layup area and covers an uphill slope in front of the green.  Ideally, this rough will be avoided, because once you're in it, it takes a supreme effort to get back out and score as intended."

To read more about Harbor Links, check out the course flyover.

Long Island Dream Club: Bethpage Black #5

Golfing Magazine put together its 2009 Long Island Dream Golf Club in its recent Fall issue, a collection of the area's finest 18 holes and its top off-course facilities.  Made up of ten private and eight public holes, the Dream Golf Club is a 7,219-yard par-73.  With holes like the blind-carry 16th at Lido and the split-fairway sixth at Harbor Links, the 2009 Dream Club demands smart strategy and precise execution from the public golfer.

Every Monday through the winter, Golf On Long Island will feature one public hole from the Dream Golf Club along with commentary from Golfing Magazine editors.  Photographs are provided by Golf On Long Island where available.  To view the Dream Club's 18-hole lineup, re-visit the original post here. 

And to review Golfing Magazine's 2008 edition of the Dream Club, click here.

GOLFING MAGAZINE'S 2009 DREAM GOLF CLUB

BETHPAGE BLACK -- HOLE #5
478 / 423 / 401 yards
Designed by A.W. Tillinghast

"The only good news here: a downhill drive.  But to have any chance to reach the green in regulation, the tee ball must fly the right-side bunker at 245 yards.  Otherwise, aim left but prepare to lay up from there -- the trees and high fescue on the left side cut you off from the uphill green.  And no matter where you are, you must fly the approach all the way to the green, or deal with carpet-thick rough plus a few bunkers.  An overcooked approach leaves a speedy downhill chip.  Even the pros walk away grumbling."

Golfing Magazine's 2009 Dream Golf Club

Golfing Magazine is celebrating its 20th year as Long Island's top regional golf mag, and in its 2009 Fall issue, the publication unveiled its annual Long Island Dream Golf Club.  The club consists of the best holes in Nassau and Suffolk, plus the finest clubhouse, restaurant, pro shop and practice facilities.  This year's Dream 18 is a par-73 with some of the most grueling public golf holes in the area, including Lido's double-carry 16th, Harbor Links' split-fairway sixth and Willow Creek's water-bordered ninth.

Beginning this week and continuing through the winter, Golf On Long Island will feature each of the Dream Club's eight public holes along with commentary from Golfing Magazine editors.  The magazine is published five times a year and can be found at all Long Island courses and golf retail outlets, and is also available by subscription.  Check out the magazine's Free Golf Program, which includes a certificate for free green fees at area courses beginning in April and a one-year magazine subscription.

You can also review the 2008 Dream Golf Club for a look at another octet of the Island's best public golf holes.

GOLFING MAGAZINE'S 2009 DREAM GOLF CLUB
#1:  Great Rock GC -- par-5, 489 yards
#2:  Pine Ridge GC -- par-4, 471 yards
#3:  Meadow Brook Club -- par-4, 456 yards
#4:  National Golf Links of America -- par-3, 195 yards
#5:  Bethpage Black -- par-4, 478 yards
#6:  Harbor Links -- par-5, 515 yards
#7:  Engineers CC -- par-4, 292 yards
#8:  Deepdale GC -- par-4, 408 yards
#9:  Hamlet Willow Creek Golf & CC -- par-5, 570 yards

#10:  Mill Pond -- par-4, 381 yards
#11:  The Bridge -- par-4, 445 yards
#12:  Mill River Club -- par-3, 185 yards
#13:  Middle Bay CC -- par-4, 420 yards
#14:  Seawane Club -- par-3, 187 yards
#15:  Eisenhower Red -- par-4, 450 yards
#16:  Lido GC -- par-5, 487 yards
#17:  Nissequogue GC -- par-3, 207 yards
#18:  Sebonack GC -- par-5, 560 yards

Blue Tees:  7,219 yards
White Tees:  6,499 yards
Red Tees:  5,636 yards

Golfing Magazine's Free Golf Program -- Green fees and subscription for $39

Long Island golf courses are buried under two feet of snow this holiday week, but Golfing Magazine already has its attention focused on the 2010 golf season.  The magazine is preparing for its annual Free Golf Program by offering an Early Bird Special on subscriptions.  So reward yourself this holiday season for a year of hard work by registering for the program, or give the gift of green fees to the golfer in your life this Christmas.  Or this Valentine's Day.  Or even St. Patrick's Day.  The special runs from now through April 1.

For the Early Bird rate of $39, golfers receive a certificate good for one full round at each of the participating courses, plus a one-year subscription (five issues) to Golfing Magazine.  All you pay on the day of your round is a cart fee.  The 2009 program included nine courses -- Harbor Links, Swan Lake, Rock Hill, Island's End, Great Rock, Brentwood, Holbrook, Dix Hills Park and Gull Haven.  Participating courses for the 2010 program will be announced in the spring.

After April 1, the price for the certificate and subscription is $49.  Even at that rate, the certificate pays for itself after just one round.  Subscribers will receive their certificate in April and can use it through the end of 2010.

For more details, or to subscribe, contact Golfing Magazine at (516) 822-5446 or www.GolfingMagLI.com.

Eisenhower Park's Red Course closed for season

Golfers have pulled the flags for the last time in 2009 at Eisenhower Park's Red Course, which closed for the season yesterday and will reopen in March.  The park's Blue and White courses will remain open for play throughout the winter as weather allows.

The historic, Devereux Emmet-designed Red Course received a four-star rating from Golf Digest in its 2008-09 Best Places To Play list and is considered one of Long Island's "must-play" courses by Newsday.

Bethpage Black and Red closed for season, to reopen in April

The Bethpage State Park golf season continues through the month of December and into 2010 on the Blue and Yellow courses, the only two layouts at the 90-hole complex that will be open to golfers through the winter months. 

Bethpage Black closed the curtain last month on a memorable 2009 season that included the emergence and collapse of Ricky Barnes, an inspirational run by Phil Mickelson, an empty run by Tiger Woods (not to mention his other run -- from local fans -- after a Monday practice round), the resurrection of David Duval and ultimately a victory by Lucas Glover at the rain-soaked U.S. Open.  The Red Course also closed for the season.  Both will reopen in April.

Reservations can be made on the Blue Course through the winter.  The Yellow Course is the walk-up course through March, and the Green Course will be open intermittently in the offseason as needed.

The Bethpage driving range is also closed until the spring.

Holiday Turkey Trot at Lido Golf Club

Get out of the house early and begin your holiday morning with 18 holes of seaside golf on Nassau's south shore.  The Lido Golf Club is holding its annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, and all Long Islanders are free to participate.

For $85, the Turkey Trot includes cart, range balls, breakfast and a Lido GC winter hat by Under Armour.  There will also be competitions on the course for longest drive, most accurate drive and closest to the pin. 

Shotgun start is scheduled for 8:00 a.m., but arrive early for breakfast and registration.  To reserve a spot in the event, contact the Lido pro shop at (516) 889-8181.

The Lido Golf Club is located alongside Reynolds Channel in Lido Beach.  Players at this windy layout only a few hundred feet from the Atlantic must contend with the channel and a series of ponds and inlets throughout most of the back nine.  The course was selected by Newsday as one of the Island's best public courses in 2008, and its double-carry 16th hole is part of Newsday's Long Island Dream 18.

Fall Special on Golfing Magazine's Free Golf Program -- now just $29

Two months remain in the 2009 golf season, and though some players have already packed the clubs away to hibernate in the garage, Golfing Magazine is doing its best to make sure the rest of us stay on the course for as long as we can stand the plummeting temperatures.

Golfing Magazine's Free Golf Program runs until the end of 2009, and now players can sign up for just $29.  Program subscribers receive a certificate good for one round at each of nine different Long Island courses, as well as five issues of the magazine.  All subscribers pay for on the day of their round is a cart fee.

The Golfing Magazine certificate covers greens fees at Great Rock, Island's End, Swan Lake, Rock Hill, Harbor Links, Brentwood Country Club, Holbrook Country Club, Dix Hills Park and Gull Haven.  For those who travel through New England, the certificate is also valid at more than 30 courses across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.  All that for less than the tank of gas that will get you there.

Conditions vary at each course.  For more details, or to subscribe, contact Golfing Magazine at (516) 822-5446 or www.GolfingMagLI.com.