Goodbye to The Links at Shirley

The middle of March is a time of golf rebirth on Long Island.  For Mel Mindich, owner of The Links at Shirley, this March will instead be an especially cruel one, a time of dark skies and gloomy forecasts.  When courses around the Island get into the full swing of spring, Mindich's will not take part.  The Links at Shirley, though yet to be officially confirmed, is likely gone for good.

A Newsday blog post in early February by columnist Mark Herrmann set an ominous tone.  In it Herrmann said that the "closed for the season" sign on Shirley's front gate was only a half-truth; the course likely would not open again at all.  Updates in any form since then have been hard to come by.  Calls to the course throughout February and March were met with an operator's recording that the number is out of service.

Then today, Herrmann outlined the fate of the course in his opening Golfbeat column of 2010.  The outlook is bleak.  And to rub additional salt in the wound, last week's storm toppled a huge tree on the front nine, Herrmann said.

The Links at Shirley, like the Tallgrass Country Club and Great Rock Golf Club on the opposite end of William Floyd Parkway, was lauded as a public course with a private feel since its debut in 2000.  It was noted for its outstanding conditions and challenging layout.  On the course website, Shirley is described as "the fulfillment of a dream."  Back in July 2009, all signs pointed to a resurgence in Shirley, that the course was not only surviving (after previous reports of a dismal future) but thriving.  But according to Herrmann, Mindich lost millions on his investment financially, and plenty more emotionally.

Golf On Long Island correspondent Rob Dimino echoed the Islandwide praise for Shirley in the past.  "The course is immaculate," he said.  "Some of the best conditions I've ever played on the Island.  It deserved a better fate."

Meanwhile, in his column, Herrmann contrasts the doom at Shirley with the boom at Tallgrass.  The Shoreham course is under new management, and after some recent issues involving land and development held its fate in limbo, Tallgrass is apparently here to stay.

Shirley fans can share their feelings on the matter in the comments section below.

Comments

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It's too bad the "The Links at Shirley" decided to close. I enjoyed golfing there with my husband a few times and also enjoyed the restaurant. They could make the golf course smaller. Like 9 holes and just have pull golf carts allowed.Also keep the driving range. It was a great golf course and close to where we live. It was really pretty. We need pretty in this world. Not more houses with kids to add to the school tax.
So sad.