Golf on Long Island

Long Island Dream Club: Mill Pond GC Driving Range

The first thing visitors typically notice when they pull into the parking lot at the Mill Pond Golf Course in Medford is the sprawling driving range on the west side of the clubhouse.  It's here where players prepare their swings for the wide-open fairways and breezy, mostly treeless layout that stretches out over both sides of Mill Road.  It's also a prime spot for junior players and beginners of all ages taking lessons or participating in group clinics.

Golfing Magazine selected Mill Pond's driving range to this year's Dream Golf Club.  For more information on the facility, including lessons, clinics, camps and rates, visit the Mill Pond website.

From the mag:

"Serving as an excellent warm-up before starting a round of 18, the driving range at Mill Pond is conveniently located adjacent to the parking area, clubhouse and first tee.  The range has a total of 26 stalls, facing a wide area that includes distinct yardage markers to several flags (which are listed in each stall), as well as green putting-surface contours which provide additional targets."

Long Island Dream Club: Bethpage Pro Shop

In addition to its 90 golf holes, Bethpage State Park also boasts one of Long Island's best pro shops.  It is here where local players grab a last-minute sleeve of Callaways before running out to the starter, or an umbrella and towel after they've booked 18 in the rain.  It is also from here where the young caddy depicted in the Bethpage logo begins his journey across the nation and around the globe in the travel bags and on the left chest of thousands of visiting golfers.

Golfing Magazine selected the Bethpage pro shop as a member of this year's Dream Golf Club.  Though the winter of 2010-11 has been a total washout so far, you can always stop over at the Bethpage clubhouse to do some offseason equipment, apparel and souvenir shopping.  The view of the snow-covered fairways isn't so bad either, we hear.

From the mag:

"Wherever you turn in this 4,000-square foot pro shop, you will see the new Bethpage logo that combines the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Opens, both played on the superior Black Course.  The pro shop carries top-brand merchandise, specializing in all sorts of apparel for every season -- including the holiday season, when you might find more golfers inside the pro shop than out on the courses."

2010-11 Winter Rates Roundup II

Thanks to Old Man Winter, the only golfing to be done on Long Island since Christmas has been in a simulator or on a Nintendo Wii.  Still, keep an eye on these offseason rates just in case the grass emerges sometime in the near future.

• Mill Pond:  $30 to walk, $40 to ride weekdays (residents), $40/50 weekdays (non-residents); $42 with cart on weekends (residents), $52 with cart on weekends (non-residents); all rates less after 12 p.m.

• Pine Hills:  $29 to walk, $39 to ride weekdays; $35/45 weekends.

• Tallgrass:  $40 to walk, $50 to ride 9 a.m. to noon; $30/40 after 12 p.m.

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 2010-11 Winter Rates Roundup I and 2010-11 Winter Rates Roundup III.

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

Long Island Dream Club: Swan Lake #9

Golfing Magazine recently announced its 2010 Long Island Dream Golf Club, this season's collection of the Island's finest 18 holes and top off-course facilities.  The club's six public golf holes can all be found on the front nine of this 6,636-yard par-71. 

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 2010 Dream Club's 18-hole lineup, re-visit the original post here. 

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

GOLFING MAGAZINE'S 2010 DREAM GOLF CLUB

SWAN LAKE -- HOLE #9
373 / 343 / 305 yards
Designed by Charles Martin

"Even from the back tees, length is not a problem on this straight, but deceptive par-4.  The lake looms along the right side of the fairway, and a driver might be too long for the pond that guards the front of the green.  Speaking of which, the green is wide and generous, as most of them are at Swan Lake.  A putt of over a hundred feet is not uncommon on a hole that can either propel you with positive energy to the back nine, or derail your entire round."

Golf On Long Island flew over Swan Lake in August 2009:

"The 343-yard ninth 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."

To read more about Swan Lake, check out the course flyover.

Best of LI poll: It's Bethpage...again

Long Island hasn't seen a four-peat like this since 1983.  And unlike the Islanders, Bethpage State Park won't stop contending for more titles anytime soon (or move to Queens). 

Bethpage once again finished on top of the "Best Golf Course" category in the Best of Long Island survey run annually by the Long Island Press.  Even though the Press opened the competition this year to some of the Island's private courses, readers continued to reward Bethpage with mouse-clicks for the challenges and top conditions found on all 90 holes and enhance its reputation as the premier public golf facility in the country.  The park draws hundreds of golfers to eastern Nassau County daily for rounds on the famous Black Course, the renowned Red, the Blue, Green and Yellow.

Eisenhower Park dropped from second place to third in 2011, replaced as the runner-up by Harbor Links in Port Washington.  The Michael Hurdzan design near Hempstead Harbor is a very challenging layout that's more American Southwest than Long Island North Shore.  Built from what was formerly an industrial sand mine, Harbor Links presents golfers with rock formations, high bluffs, split fairways and "environmental areas" (the course is a member of Audubon International's Signature Program).

The historic Red Course is the centerpiece of the 54-hole complex at Eisenhower Park 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.

Long Island Dream Club: Bethpage - Red Course #8

Golfing Magazine recently announced its 2010 Long Island Dream Golf Club, this season's collection of the Island's finest 18 holes and top off-course facilities.  The club's six public golf holes can all be found on the front nine of this 6,636-yard par-71. 

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 2010 Dream Club's 18-hole lineup, re-visit the original post here. 

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

GOLFING MAGAZINE'S 2010 DREAM GOLF CLUB

BETHPAGE - RED COURSE -- HOLE #8
418 / 364 / 351 yards
Designed by A.W. Tillinghast

"Many believe this hole is where the Red Course begins to show its teeth.  Trouble looms on both sides of this fairway, making an accurate tee shot imperative.  The left side is well bunkered, running opposite and adjacent to the equally difficult 9th.  A large bunker on the right 240 yards from the back tees surrounded by fescue makes reaching the green in regulation a challenge.  Miss the green, and you'll face a test for your short game.  Thick rough, fescue and bunkers will hamper your ability to get it 'up and down.'"

To read more about Bethpage Red, check out our course observations.

2010-11 Winter Rates Roundup I

Most public golf courses on Long Island remain open through the cold, sometimes harsh winters.  Conditions are typically decent until snow blankets the ground for the first time.  Then, the still-green turf turns dull and sloppy, putting surfaces shut down and players are redirected toward crudely chalked circles near the end of the fairway.  This year, the winter golf season was only five days old before a blizzard froze it down.

Eventually the courses will thaw, and brave players will make their way out to the (temporary) tee once again.  Despite the frigid air and squishy conditions, winter is still a good time to play some of the area's better courses at significantly reduced rates and your own pace.

The following are some of the offseason 18-hole rates at area courses, which in many cases have already been in place since the fall.  For full details about rates and course conditions, contact the course pro shops or visit their websites.  Note that these do not represent discounted rates at all courses:

• Calverton Links:  $35 to walk/$45 to ride during the week; $40/$50 on weekends.  Weekday morning rates include range balls and lunch.  Twilight rates ($10 off) available after 12 p.m.
• Island's End:  $20 Monday to Thursday; $30 Friday to Sunday (plus cart fees -- mandatory before noon Friday to Sunday).

• Links at Cherry Creek:  $30 to walk/$40 to ride during the week; $40/$50 on weekends.  (Nine-hole rates available on Links Course only.)

• Woods at Cherry Creek:  $30 to walk/$40 to ride during the week; $40/$50 on weekends.

For more winter rates, check out 2010-11 Winter Rates Roundup II and 2010-11 Winter Rates Roundup III.

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

Bay Park, Morley closed for the season

The Nassau County municipal golf courses at Bay Park in East Rockaway and Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn are closed for the season.  Both nine-hole par-30s will reopen sometime in March.

Bay Park is a flat, wide-open course exposed to strong winds off Hewlett Bay and surrounding inlets.  Christopher Morley is shorter and tighter.  Nassau's other two munis -- North Woodmere and Cantiague -- will remain open through the winter, weather permitting.

For more on any of the four Nassau munis, click the links above for the course flyovers.

Long Island Dream Club: Timber Point - Blue Course #6

Golfing Magazine recently announced its 2010 Long Island Dream Golf Club, this season's collection of the Island's finest 18 holes and top off-course facilities.  The club's six public golf holes can all be found on the front nine of this 6,636-yard par-71. 

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 2010 Dream Club's 18-hole lineup, re-visit the original post here. 

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

GOLFING MAGAZINE'S 2010 DREAM GOLF CLUB

TIMBER POINT - BLUE COURSE  -- HOLE #6
366 / 343 / 298 yards
Designed by Harry S. Colt and C.H. Alison

"This par-4 is short, straight, picturesque and quite deceiving.  The beautiful Great South Bay borders this hole on your left, from tee to green, with club selection determined solely on the wind, or lack thereof.  The fairway features some undulations at the 140-yard mark, leading to a slightly elevated green guarded by traps at the front and to the right.  The green gently slopes from right to left toward the water.  To be sure, there are longer par-4s with more twists and turns, but few more beautiful or challenging when Mother Nature joins your foursome."

Timber Point's famous Gibraltar hole precedes #6 and overlooks the bay, the sixth fairway and the rest of the club.  From Golf On Long Island in November 2009: 

"The scenery is just as awesome on the sixth and seventh.  Both par-4s play along the bay, which dominates each hole's left side.  It takes some fearlessness to set the aim of your driver out over the water, but when the gusts blow in off the ocean, it's a necessity.  The green on the 346-yard sixth is elevated behind two spacious traps, and the flat surface quickly drops off the left side into messy rough."

To read more about the Blue Course at Timber Point, check out the course flyover.

(Photo taken in March 2009.)