Golf on Long Island

Bethpage Green #3 closed temporarily

The third hole at Bethpage Green is temporarily out of commission due to "severe stress" on the putting green resulting from the recent August weather, according to course staff.  While recuperating, the 153-yard par-3 has been replaced with a modified par-3 "eighth" built into the ninth hole.  The par-5 ninth has been shortened to a par-4 of approximately 420 yards. 

Green #3 is part of Newsday's Long Island Dream 18.  It is a deceptive, uphill par-3 fortified by the steep climb and a front bunker.  The putting surface is hidden from view, and missing it anywhere but short can lead to unfavorable position in the woods behind the green or back down the slope to the right.

Call (516) 249-0701 for updated course conditions.

Discount rates still available through Golfing Magazine

Summer golf under the hot sun will very soon give way to autumn golf in a cool breeze, but one thing that will not change is the availability of discount golf across Long Island courtesy of Golfing Magazine.  Its Free Golf Program runs through the end of 2009, and still for just $49, subscribers will receive a certificate good for one round at each of nine different Island courses, as well as five issues of the mag.  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.  At $49, the certificate pays for itself after just one round.

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

Flyover: Pine Ridge Golf Club

[This flyover was updated on June 1, 2022.]

SEE ALSO:
Observations: Pine Ridge Golf Club, 6/27/2011
Observations: Pine Ridge Golf Club, 6/14/2010

A quick glance at the Pine Ridge Golf Club scorecard reveals little that would inspire a double or triple take.  At a touch over 6,600 yards from the back tees and a modest 6,135 from the second-set blues, Pine Ridge, at first, appears no more notable for its dimensions than any of the course's central Suffolk neighbors.  But a closer inspection shows that Pine Ridge, one of the newest kids on the Long Island public golf block, can throw a heavier punch than most.  It is a beast from the black tees thanks to par-4s -- four of them -- that stretch longer than 450 yards.  And Pine Ridge is certainly no slouch from the second set of tees either -- those same par-4s each measure no less than 420.

Land that at the turn of the millennium was a large tract of pine forest is now occupied by the par-70 Pine Ridge Golf Club, a challenging, tree-lined layout that debuted in 2006 under the management of Billy Casper Golf.  With many of its holes walled off from one another by tall, dense pines, the course has a rustic serenity that's not so common on Long Island.  Also uncommon is its grass driving range (always a welcome amenity).  Pine Ridge is a softly rolling layout where accuracy between and around the great pines is essential.

LAYOUT:
Pine Ridge digs deep inside its bag of tricks early on with four par-4s of varying styles.  The opener is a relatively short 341-yarder with a deep green offset from the fairway by a pork-chop bunker.  A lengthy 428-yard second hole (471 from the black) fades toward a huge green with water right and deep.  Sand and ankle-deep grass bisect the fairway at the 90-degree dogleg third, turning a 357-yard hole into a mild test of shotmaking that demands good placement off the tee to enable an attack on its multi-level putting surface.  Completing the opening run of par-4s, the 278-yard fourth is reachable for confident drivers, but the left half of the bean-shaped green is protected by the hole's distinctive valley of sand and a separate greenside bunker.

Another hefty par-4 -- the long and straight 439-yard sixth -- is sandwiched between Pine Ridge's first par-3s.  It's a good idea to stay short and chip on at #5, a 196-yarder where an overworked tee shot can find either of two bulky traps (pictured left).  Par on the 130-yard seventh is a smooth short iron away.

A wayward swing absolutely must be corrected by the eighth tee, because a succession of straight shots is mandatory on Pine Ridge's first par-5.  Players with a left-to-right ball flight can find trouble easily on this painfully narrow 513-yard hole (554 from the black) with a fairway that kicks balls down toward the right side.  Lingering headaches from #8 can be alleviated on the 300-yard ninth, a wide-open par-4 that has par or better written all over it.

A par-3 to open the back nine is a rarity and, depending on how the front concluded, a welcome sight.  But lurking beyond the 173-yard tenth is a grueling test of muscle and endurance.  In contrast to the front nine's opening variation in design, the first half of the back nine bludgeons players with distance.  In fact, nearly a third of Pine Ridge's total yardage will be traversed between the 11th tee and 14th green!  Some water is thrown in for good measure on the 571-yard par-5 11th.  A pond divides the fairway at its midpoint and influences the first and second shots.  Well-executed drives short of the pond will need to account on the next shot for several bunkers that carve up the right rough over the hole's final 100 yards.  Beyond the bunkers to the right -- more water.  The sloped green is deep but extremely slender.

The 12th and 13th par-4s play straight out and ask for challenging shots into different style greens.  Approaches on the 421-yard 12th take aim at a spacious but tiered putting surface (pictured right).  Position on the ultra-roomy fairway of the 440-yard 13th (a shade under 500 from the black) should be easy to find, but the same cannot be said of the tiny green protected by sand and the hole's uphill slant.  Life is easier on the 510-yard par-5 14th if a nice fade off the tee finds daylight beyond the dogleg's turn, otherwise a good scoring opportunity could be squandered.

The final holes challenge players' touch and accuracy after the preceding feats of strength.  The flag on the par-3 17th sits tantalizingly close, but a pond in front demands a full water carry.  Landing a short or middle iron on the correct tier yields a favorable birdie opportunity.  On #18, the landing area is narrowed by tall pines, but anything in the fairway sets the stage for a heroic middle iron (or less) into Pine Ridge's final green.

CONDITIONS:
Pine Ridge was carved out of Coram pine forest less than two decades ago, and despite its newness, it blends naturally into the terrain.  It has a very understated, rustic appeal, seemingly free of foreign elements.  (Even on the driving range, with its grass teeing area.)  The routing weaves through the area's native pines, which along with an abundance of strategic bunkers (occasionally centered by a pine or two of their own) form the course's major obstacles.  Wispy brown grasses accent some areas around bunkers and greens.  Water interrupts the line of play on only three holes.

The course's spacious greens keep Pine Ridge playable for the bogey golfer and higher handicappers.  With the frequent call for long approaches, the generous targets are a relief.  Greens play slower than they look, a lesson I've learned but have yet to put into practice.  Popular landing areas, such as the end of the first fairway section on the doglegged #3, are prone to voluminous divots.

Pine Ridge's reputation has taken some hits in recent seasons, with common complaints swirling around bare spots in fairways, chewed-up tees and hardpan rough.

HOLE(S) TO REMEMBER:
Ironically, the challenge on one of Pine Ridge's most treacherous holes, the par-5 11th, has little to do with the ever-present pines.  Of course, the towering trees -- like they do on nearly every tee shot -- closely frame the drive zone, but the more pressing concern is how to navigate the hole once this tee shot is already on the ground.  Second shots on this 571-yard three-shotter (589 from the tips) must clear a small pond that splits the hole in two.  Players who set themselves up in good fairway position can follow their drive with a safe play to the left half of the second fairway, leaving a short or middle iron to the green.  Why conservative?  Because inside 100 yards the fairway begins to narrow and squeeze between sand.  What once was a long river of sand running up the right side is now a five-trap chain cut into sloped rough.  Water beyond the sand doubles the strength of this hazardous condition.  An overly aggressive or careless second shot unnecessarily brings all of this into play.

Keep in mind, however, that playing too safely away from the hazards can be a liability in itself.  A final approach from left of the flag will have to find a deep but wafer-thin green that slopes steeply from left to right.  Enjoy!

AREA(S) TO AVOID:
The Pine Ridge greens are inviting targets, but going deep onto or over the few multi-tiered surfaces can be problematic when the pin is up front.  This is especially true on #17, the water-carry par-3, where the pond is only a few paces from a bottom-tier flag stick.  A distant putt or chip from above becomes a high-tension stroke.  The 17th is also one of four holes to feature bunkers that house strips of tall grass or trees.  Awkward lies and difficult greenside blasts from these traps on #1, #13 (pictured), #14 and #17 are score killers. 

NEARBY COURSES:
Hamlet Willow Creek Golf & CC (3 miles)
Spring Lake - Thunderbird/Sandpiper (4 miles)
Mill Pond (4 miles)
Middle Island CC - Spruce/Oak/Dogwood (7 miles)

CONTACT:
2 Golf Course Dr., Coram 11727
(631) 331-7930
www.pineridgegc.com

SEE ALSO:
Observations: Pine Ridge Golf Club, 6/27/2011
Long Island Dream Club: Pine Ridge #5
Observations: Pine Ridge Golf Club, 6/14/2010
Long Island Dream Club:  Pine Ridge #2

Have thoughts and opinions on Pine Ridge?  Share them with other Golf On Long Island readers by posting in the comments section below.

Middle Island CC to host 2nd Annual Bill Evans Celebrity Golf Outing

The Middle Island Country Club -- home of the nine-hole Spruce, Dogwood and Oak courses -- will host the 2nd Annual Bill Evans Celebrity Golf Outing on Monday, August 31 to raise money for breast cancer research.  All proceeds benefit Breast Cancer Help, Inc. and their Long Island Cancer Help and Wellness Center. 

Entry fee for the outing is $200 for single golfers and $750 for foursomes.  Registration includes a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start, continental breakfast, lunch at the turn, dinner, auctions, raffles, music and entertainment.  Bill Evans is the Emmy-winning meteorologist on WABC 7 Eyewitness News.  For registration, donation and sponsorship information, visit the Breast Cancer Help, Inc. website.

Middle Island is a 27-hole facility featuring the recently renovated Spruce course and its new island-green par-4 seventh hole.  The Dogwood nine is reportedly undergoing modifications this season. 

August aeration at Lido Golf Club

Lido Golf Club will be aerating fairways and greens beginning tomorrow, August 19, until Friday, August 21.  The waterside course along Reynolds Channel will remain open for play during aeration.

Check the Lido website for any updates.

Registration open for Fall Classic at Montauk Downs

The Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course will host a Fall Classic on Tuesday, September 29, and registration for the event is now open to the public at the park office.  The scramble tournament is open to the first 120 registrants and will include a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, cart, giveaways, awards and prizes. 

Entry fee for the tournament is $130.  Register in person at the park office or call (631) 321-3510 to receive a registration form by mail or fax. 

Montauk Downs is the easternmost course on Long Island.  A quick scan of its accolades makes it clear that the Robert Trent Jones layout is worth every minute of the drive.  Golfweek ranks the Downs #38 in its list of top 50 municipal courses for 2008-09, and has named the Downs among its Best Courses You Can Play for three straight years.  Golf Digest gives the course a 4-1/2 star rating in its Best Places To Play listing, an achievement shared by only four other Long Island courses, and Newsday places the Downs at #2 (behind only Bethpage Black) on its "must play" list. 

Flyover: Swan Lake Golf Club

[This flyover was updated on June 7, 2022.]

SEE ALSO:
Observations: Swan Lake Golf Club, 4/29/2012
Observations: Swan Lake Golf Club, 11/24/2010

[NOTE:  Swan Lake Golf Club flipped its front and back nines in April 2019.  The following flyover reflects the current routing.]

When time allows, most players prepare for a round by grooving their swing at the range and finding their touch around the practice green.  At the Swan Lake Golf Club, home of what are likely the most tremendous greens on Long Island, the pre-round routine should never skimp on putting.  Players and their putters will be in close company throughout a round at Swan Lake, and if the relationship is rocky, if lag putts sputter out halfway to the hole, stroke after stroke will be lost atop the course's gigantic surfaces. 

The Swan Lake Golf Club in Manorville is a 7,035-yard par-72 (6,375 from the middle) with huge greens, spacious fairways and water hazards on seven holes.  Fairway bunkers are prevalent on the front nine; water comes into play more frequently on the back side.  It is a well-maintained course that allows scores to go low as long as players can limit their confrontations with 75-foot putts.  Beginners will enjoy the open fairways and big targets.  Skilled golfers can set a figure to mind and get after it on a course that is forgiving by nature, but only to a point.  Some holes are not kind to carelessness.

LAYOUT:
In the spring of 2019, Swan Lake flipped its nines, leading players first to its drier, sandier half.  Six of the seven par-4s and par-5s feature at least two fairway bunkers, some as hefty as the Swan Lake greens.  The opener is a straight par-4 with two traps in the fairway's left.  Water and sand squeeze the front half of an enormous surface that, from the narrow front tongue to the back edge, stretches 50 yards deep -- a three-club variation.  Longer than #1 but with a similar setup, #3 is a 431-yard hole where par can only be had by landing a long approach on an extremely slim green.

Both par-5s on the back -- #2 and #6 -- are murder on slicers (OB lines their right sides).  Second shots must stay left to avoid traps, especially on the sixth, where even careful plays can still get sucked into the two behemoths at the far end of the fairway.  The par-4 fifth and eighth are right doglegs with bunkers at the turn -- large, of course -- that can be carried off the tee.  Landing safely away from the two traps in the ninth fairway will set up an inviting downhill approach to a wide-open green -- target practice to end a round.  Don't go long -- water surrounds the green's back half.

Another bike-seat-shaped green -- narrow entry with a wide, rounded back -- approaches 50 yards deep at the start of the back nine.  The 391-yard tenth features water on the right, and what amounts to an alternate fairway on the left.  (Both fairways have taken turns as the hole's regular maintained fairway throughout Swan Lake's past, though now they are both essentially in play.)  Out-of-bounds closely borders the left sides of #11 and #12, but both fairways are open on the right and bunker-free.  A pond hides from view behind the green on the 481-yard 12th, so don't overclub trying to reach the par-5 in two. 

The 307-yard 13th is defended by a quartet of large bunkers -- two guard the neck of the green, the other two protect the offset fairway.  Getting caught in any of them spoils a prime scoring hole.  Deep bunkers also complicate the approach to the wide green on #15, a 507-yard par-5 with three traps that force players to angle shots toward safe lay-up areas.  Two huge bunkers inside the turn on the left-dogleg 17th are the green's gatekeepers -- a close encounter is a necessity in order to score on this 354-yard par-4.  Stay short of the trap and an angle to the green is non-existent.  The 343-yard closer pits players against water to the right and out-of-bounds left.  A finger of the pond extends into the hole and cuts off the far end of the fairway, making long hitters think twice about gripping the driver.

Finding the greens on Swan Lake's par-3s shouldn't be a problem as long as you get your irons up in the air, and neither should scoring on them -- provided you are having a good putting day.  The 177-yard 14th (247 from the blues) is Swan Lake's longest par-3.  The green is partially hidden from view by trees encroaching on the left side.  A pond and a big-mouthed bunker affect only short pulls on #16.  Club selection can vary by two or three irons on #4, which sports a deep green with a ridge on its left side.  The 124-yard seventh is a pushover, just don't get suckered into either of two deep traps while attacking a front pin.

CONDITIONS:
Swan Lake's greens may be on steroids, but once you reach the massive surfaces, how hard is it to find the cup?  Well, if your lag putting skills are up to snuff, you're in the clear.  There is some undulation in the greens but, with few exceptions, the middle of the greens are easy to read.  Stray too far toward the rear, however, and you'll start to face more downhill putts. 

Most importantly, be sure to check pin placement before reaching the greens.  Careful club selection is vital, especially on the par-3s, where yardage varies widely depending on tee location. 

HOLE(S) TO REMEMBER:
The 307-yard 13th is a fun scoring hole, light on challenge and full of options.  Big bombers' eyes light up at the thought of driving the green -- the front edge is less than 300 yards away -- and they will likely ignore a few deep traps if it means a potential eagle putt.  Safer players can opt to leave a fairway wood or hybrid short of those bunkers, but two more traps in the fairway wait to pick off shots misfired to the left.  Accurate iron players may be more comfortable sacrificing yardage for a safe spot far from the sand.  Either way, the second shot will be short, into a large green that slopes toward the center.

In contrast, the par-4 third is a 431-yard brute with a green that's much harder to track down.  Par demands a strong drive and a great second shot into an ultra-thin green shaped like an hourglass.  There is no arguing that #3 is one of Swan Lake's most difficult holes.  Whether or not it is one of Long Island's toughest -- a boast made in the course's yardage book -- is up for spirited debate.

AREA(S) TO AVOID:
Swan Lake is a forgiving course where smart play and strong execution are rewarded with low scores.  One way to miss the scoring boat though is by carelessly losing balls in the sand on some of Swan Lake's easier holes.  Finding one of the two fairway traps on #13 (discussed above) is a mistake, especially with the greenside traps one more mishit away.  There's no excuse for flirting with the trap inside the turn of the doglegged fifth.  Worst of all, perhaps, is straying into the sand on the 124-yard seventh (pictured).  The two bunkers here are deep with high faces.  Leaving a blast far from the cup -- or inside the bunker -- makes bogey or worse a cold reality on a simple par-3.

OTHER NOTES:
Swan Lake added a netted driving range in 2022.  It features nine stalls and is located near the parking lot and clubhouse, adjacent to the ninth fairway.  A practice bunker is also available.

NEARBY COURSES:
Pine Hills Country Club (5 miles)
Rock Hill Golf Club (6 miles)

WHERE TO GRAB A BITE AND A BEER:
Swan Lake is located in one of the more isolated settings of any golf course on Long Island, so dining options in the immediate area are slim.  The Maples, an old-school biker bar and grill that most golfers will pass on their way from the LIE, is just about the only option without exploring the rest of Manorville or Riverhead.

CONTACT:
388 River Road, Manorville 11949
(631) 369-1818
www.swanlakegolf.com

SEE ALSO:
Observations: Swan Lake Golf Club, 4/29/2012
Long Island Dream Club: Swan Lake #9
Observations: Swan Lake Golf Club, 11/24/2010

Have thoughts and opinions on Swan Lake?  Share them with other Golf On Long Island readers by posting in the comments section below.

Charity outings at Rock Hill Golf Club

The Rock Hill Golf Club in Manorville, one of Newsday's 12 "must play" Long Island courses, will host a pair of charity outings later this month. 

The Lieutenant John M. Clancy/Firefighter Jimmy O'Shea Memorial Golf Outing will take place on Tuesday, August 18 at 10:00 a.m.  Entry fee is $170, and sponsorships are available.  Visit the Uniformed Firefighters Association website for details or call (631) 278-5021 for information and registration.

On Wednesday, August 26, the Chrissy's Wish Memorial Fund will hold its third annual golf outing, with proceeds benefiting mental health research.  The outing tees off at 1:30 p.m. and is open to the first 144 registrants.  A $150 entry fee includes cart, pre-round lunch, and a post-round dinner and open bar.  Sponsorships are available and donations are being accepted.  For additional information or a registration form, visit Chrissy's Wish online or call (631) 243-3573.

Flyover: Cedar Beach Pitch-and-Putt

The golf course at Cedar Beach is located on the south side of Ocean Parkway, about five miles west of the Robert Moses Causeway and Captree State Park.  It is an 18-hole pitch-and-putt course with no hole longer than 100 yards. 

Pitch-and-putt golf is a great way for families, beginners and young kids to get into the sport without the hassle and expense of chasing balls around an active and overwhelming full-length course.  At Cedar Beach -- and at the nearby pitch-and-putt at Robert Moses -- a quick round of short-game golf can easily be incorporated into a summer day in the surf.

LAYOUT:
Cedar Beach's 18 holes range from 55 to 100 yards.  Many of the course's longer holes face the ocean, so you'll have to put a bit of a charge into shots to get them through the stiff winds blowing off the Atlantic.  On shorter holes facing away from the beach, you'll need a more delicate touch as ocean gusts at your back can carry your pitches into no-man's land -- or Ocean Parkway.

A patch of thick shrubbery (above) serves as a hazard on the 11th hole.  The 15th hole is the only one with any bend.  A wooden pole stands tall as a visual aid.  Bring extra balls, especially if you or your playing partners are new to the game.  Many of the holes are bordered closely by bushes and dense vegetation, and a sign next to the clubhouse (left) makes it clear that reaching in for lost balls may not be in your best interests.

As of July 2009, a round at Cedar Beach costs $7 for Town of Babylon residents and $8 for non-residents.  Players can also rent equipment -- $3 per club, $1 per ball.

NEARBY COURSES:
Robert Moses State Park Pitch-and-Putt (6 miles)

CONTACT:
Ocean Parkway, Babylon 11702
(631) 321-4562

Have thoughts and opinions on Cedar Beach?  Share them with other Golf On Long Island readers by posting in the comments section below.

Supervisor's Cup Golf Classic at Lido

The Town of Hempstead will host its 2nd annual Supervisor's Cup Golf Classic on Wednesday, September 16 at the Lido Golf Club in Lido Beach.  The event is open to town residents 18 and older and will be filled by a lottery drawing later this month.

Participants receive range balls, cart, continental breakfast, barbecue lunch, prizes and refreshments in addition to 18 holes at one of Nassau County's most popular courses.  Shotgun start is scheduled for 10 a.m.  Awards will be given out for top team score, longest drives, accurate drives and closest to the pin.  The winning four-person team (scramble format) will receive the Supervisor's Cup.  Entry fee for selected participants is $15.

The tournament is limited to 144 players and will be filled by lottery.  You can register by printing an application from the Town of Hempstead website or by attending one of the on-site registration dates (August 13 and 15) at either Lido or Merrick Road Park.  Deadline to register is August 21, and the lottery will be held at Merrick on August 26.

For specific details and instructions regarding the registration process, and for additional information on the tournament schedule and format, visit the Town of Hempstead website.