Golf on Long Island

Junior "SNAG" clinic next week at Spring Lake

Just because it's the middle of winter doesn't mean junior golfers can't get a little professional guidance.  If the sparsely crowded courses dotting Long Island's winter golf scene are too chilly for you and the kid golfer in your family, take them indoors at the Spring Lake Golf Club.

Cristy Jurgens, director of golf and teaching pro at the 27-hole facility in Middle Island, will run an indoor "SNAG" clinic for juniors on Saturday, February 4 at 11:00 a.m.  SNAG (Starting New At Golf) is a comprehensive system that simplifies golf instruction for kids and provides them the opportunity to effectively transition into the game.

The hour-long clinic is open to kids aged 4 to 7 and costs $20 per child.  For more information or to register for the program, call (631) 924-5115.

Long Island Dream Club: Sunken Meadow, Blue Course #9

Golfing Magazine recently announced its 2011 Long Island Dream Golf Club, this season's collection of the Island's finest 18 holes and top off-course facilities.  Public golf holes make up half of this year's 6,954-yard layout, which begins and ends with lake-jumping shots at the public Sandpiper Course at Spring Lake Golf Club and the historic private club at Inwood.

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 and additional commentary are provided by Golf On Long Island where available.  To view the 2011 Dream Club's 18-hole lineup, re-visit the original post here. 

Also be sure to review Golfing Magazine's 2008 Dream Club, 2009 Dream Club and 2010 Dream Club by clicking on the links.

GOLFING MAGAZINE'S 2011 DREAM GOLF CLUB

SUNKEN MEADOW, BLUE COURSE -- HOLE #9
345 / 331 / 308 yards
Designed by Alfred Tull

"Not the longest of par 4s, but one that requires some accuracy and strategy with an elevated tee area allowing longer hitters to blast it to within a short iron, or even a flip-wedge of the green.  There is a bunker on the left side of the fairway that can snare some shorter tee shots.  The fairway is tree-lined on the right and runs downhill at first, before heading back uphill to a two-tiered green that is open up front, with bunkers to the right.  A 9th hole that can potentially serve as a confidence-builder on the way to your 2nd nine at Sunken Meadow."

2011-12 Winter Rates Roundup II

What a difference a year makes.

At this time in 2011, Long Islanders were reaching for the snow shovel, not the sand wedge.  Fast forward to the present and you've got 60-degree weekend afternoons and tee times flying off the board.  Take away the bare branches and the early-morning freeze and it's like swinging a 7-iron in October.

The good weather fortune will surely run out, so now's the time to take advantage.  Here's another sampling of winter rates at Long Island golf courses:

• Mill Pond:  $50 to ride, $40 to walk on weekdays before noon ($40/$30 after 12 noon); $52 to ride on weekends before noon ($41 after) -- all rates cheaper for Brookhaven residents with discount card

• Middle Island Country Club:  $45 on weekends, $35 on weekdays; $25/$20 for nine holes

• Cherry Creek:  $50 to ride on weekends, $40 to walk; $40/$30 on weekdays; half-price nine-hole rounds available on Links Course only

Contact the course pro shops or visit their websites for full details about rates and course conditions.  Note that these do not represent discounted rates at all courses.

For more winter rates, check out 2011-12 Winter Rates Roundup I.

And for offseason rates from previous years and a primer on winter golf in general, refer to Winter Golf on Long Island.

Timber Point Red and White to close for the season this weekend

The famous ball will drop in Times Square this weekend on New Years Eve, and a few hours later, the final balls of the season will drop onto the greens at Timber Point on New Years Day.  Timber Point's Red and White courses are closing for the season at the end of the day on January 1.  The facility is tentatively scheduled to reopen on March 9, 2012.

Timber Point's other nine -- the Blue Course -- has been closed since early October due to repair work stemming from August's Hurricane Irene.

Long Island Dream Club: Spring Lake GC, Sandpiper Course #1

Golfing Magazine recently announced its 2011 Long Island Dream Golf Club, this season's collection of the Island's finest 18 holes and top off-course facilities.  Public golf holes make up half of this year's 6,954-yard layout, which begins and ends with lake-jumping shots at the public Sandpiper Course at Spring Lake Golf Club and the historic private club at Inwood.

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 and additional commentary are provided by Golf On Long Island where available.  To view the 2011 Dream Club's 18-hole lineup, re-visit the original post here. 

Also be sure to review Golfing Magazine's 2008 Dream Club, 2009 Dream Club and 2010 Dream Club by clicking on the links.

GOLFING MAGAZINE'S 2011 DREAM GOLF CLUB

SPRING LAKE GOLF CLUB, SANDPIPER COURSE -- HOLE #1
464 / 414 / 335 yards
Designed by Charles Martin

"This ultimate 'risk/reward' par-5 is a great way to start our Dream 18.  Long hitters can bomb away for a chance to reach the green in 2, while all others will lay up with a 3-wood or less, which would then require flying it over the waters of Spring Lake twice to get to the dance floor.  Water also guards the undulating green off the back side, leaving little room for error.  An opening hole where anything is possible -- from an eagle putt to losing a sleeve of balls.  This is truly the way to get your juices flowing as your dream round begins."

Golf On Long Island first visited Spring Lake's Sandpiper nine in October 2008:

"Sandpiper #1 is the hole to remember for the entire 27-hole facility, not just Sandpiper, and if you don't agree, take it up with the yardage book, which labels it Spring Lake's "Signature Hole."  The double-carry par-5 is not hard to score on, but for an opening hole it can be a little daunting.  It's still fun though -- the green is reachable in two, and if you pull it off, starting your day by conquering two water carries and lining up an eagle putt should set the tone for a great round."

To read more about Spring Lake's Sandpiper Course, check out the course flyover.

Golfing Magazine's 2011 Dream Golf Club

Golfing Magazine published its annual Long Island Dream Golf Club earlier this Fall, and after only six public holes cracked the layout in 2010, this year's all-star 18 is split down the middle with nine public and nine private golf holes from across the Island.  Every season, Golfing Mag editors highlight some of the best holes in Nassau and Suffolk, plus the finest clubhouse, restaurant, pro shop and practice facility.  The 2011 Dream Club is a 6,954-yard par-72 with public holes along both shores (Glen Cove on the north, Bergen Point down south), and others featuring water carries over namesake hazards (Spring Lake) and stadium greens surrounded by tall grass (at, uh, Tallgrass). 

Beginning next week and continuing through the winter, Golf On Long Island will feature each of the Dream Club's nine public holes along with Golfing Magazine's commentary.  Long Island's top regional golf magazine is published five times a year and can be found at most 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, 2009 Dream Golf Club and 2010 Dream Golf Club for more information on some of the Island's other fantastic public golf holes.

GOLFING MAGAZINE'S 2011 DREAM GOLF CLUB
#1:  Spring Lake (Sandpiper) -- par-5, 464 yards
#2:  Glen Cove GC -- par-4, 407 yards
#3:  Nassau CC -- par-3, 159 yards
#4:  Cedarbrook Club -- par-4, 470 yards
#5:  Pine Hills CC -- par-4, 353 yards
#6:  Colonial Springs CC -- par-4, 431 yards
#7:  Bergen Point -- par-4, 410 yards
#8:  Crab Meadow -- par-5, 481 yards
#9:  Sunken Meadow State Park (Blue) -- par-4, 345 yards

#10:  North Hills CC -- par-4, 445 yards
#11:  Tallgrass -- par-4, 384 yards
#12:  Brookville CC -- par-4, 437 yards
#13:  Huntington CC -- par-4, 419 yards
#14:  Bellport CC -- par-3, 188 yards
#15:  Calverton Links -- par-5, 562 yards
#16:  Long Island National -- par-4, 466 yards
#17:  North Shore CC -- par-3, 125 yards
#18:  Inwood CC -- par-4, 408 yards

Blue Tees:  6,954 yards
White Tees:  6,444 yards
Red Tees: 5,330 yards

Long Island Press wants your vote for "Best Golf Course" in annual poll

Thirteen public golf courses in Nassau and Suffolk are in the running for the title of "Best Golf Course" of 2012 in the annual Long Island Press "Best of LI" poll, and 12 of them are looking to wrestle that title away from Bethpage State Park.  The 90-hole centerpiece of Long Island golf will win the category for the fifth straight year unless one of the dozen public courses (or two private clubs) in the competition pulls off a major upset when the Press poll closes on December 15.

Last year's runners-up Eisenhower Park and Montauk Downs are again in the field of 15, along with these public facilities:

• Crab Meadow
• Harbor Links
• Mill Pond
• Rock Hill
• Smithtown Landing
• Stonebridge Golf Links
• Tallgrass
• Timber Point
• Town of Oyster Bay GC
• West Sayville

Vote for the "Best Golf Course" of 2012 until December 15 at www.LongIslandPress.com, and don't forget to choose your favorite driving range and golf shop while you're there.  Winners will be announced in January.

Observations: Middle Island Country Club

Until the first substantial snowfall of the offseason, fairways and greens around Long Island typically remain in very good condition even as the players driving over and stomping on top of them add layers of apparel to block the chill.  Plenty of layers were shed on Friday at the Middle Island Country Club during a post-Thanksgiving round that began with a frost delay then ended under a warm, spring-like November sun.  Fairways were smooth, soft and lush at the 27-hole course, where conditions continue to improve overall thanks to an ongoing rehabilitation under new ownership over the past four years.

"This place had fallen into pretty bad shape," an MICC veteran of more than 20 years said yesterday while waiting to tee off on the Spruce nine.  "But these new owners have turned it around."

The course renovation has included extensive tree removal, addition of water hazards on Spruce, rebuilding of tee boxes and other enhancements.  One minor addition is a large bunker shared by Spruce #2 and #5.  In previous seasons, this area between the two holes was cluttered with trees.  A sandy pit was left over briefly once the trees were cleared.  Now a trap nearly 50 yards long occupies the open space.  (The bunker appeared to be under repair during our recent round, however.)

Over on the Dogwood and Oak nines, finding our balls was a breeze since the fairways and most of the rough were completely cleared of leaves, an impressive feat considering the course's volume of trees.  "I'm impressed," the MICC vet said of the decluttered playing area. 

Also noted since our previous visit to Middle Island:  There are no more GPS units in the motor carts.

Nine-hole Thanksgiving Day Scramble at Timber Point GC

The Timber Point Golf Course in Great River will host an abbreviated holiday scramble on Thanksgiving morning, November 24, complete with food, drinks, prizes and bonuses for all turkeys (no, not the ones you douse with gravy).

Timber Point's Thanksgiving outing -- a nine-hole, four-person scramble -- will begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.  The $45 entry fee covers pre-round bagels and mimosas, plus motor cart and range balls.  All players will be in the running for putting and accuracy prizes, high- and low-score honors, and will also have the opportunity to bag a "turkey" -- three consecutive birdies -- for a bonus prize.

Check-in for the tourney begins at 8:00.  Register before Thanksgiving to secure a spot, though you can still enter on the day of play for an extra $5.  Singles, pairs and threesomes are free to enter and will be placed on scramble teams.

To register, send an e-mail to timberpointgolfcourse@yahoo.com or call (631) 581-2401.  For more on Timber Point's Red, White and Blue (closed for the season) courses, click the links to the course flyovers.

Spring Lake GC to host Thanksgiving Shotgun

Start Thanksgiving at the crack of dawn in Middle Island at Spring Lake Golf Club's holiday shotgun outing, set to begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 24.

Arrive early for continental breakfast, then compete against fellow holiday golfers for first-, second- and even last-place prizes.  The outing will follow best-ball format.  Entry fee is $54.  Visit Spring Lake or call the course at (631) 924-5115 to sign up.

Spring Lake is a tree-lined 27-hole facility consisting of the Thunderbird and Sandpiper courses.  Tight corridors and tough angles put a premium on accuracy.  Players who spray the ball around the course will often find themselves underneath trees and, at this time of year, searching through leaves.  The nine-hole Sandpiper course is more forgiving, and its lakeside opener is the most picturesque hole at the facility.

For more on Spring Lake, check out the Thunderbird and Sandpiper flyovers.