Golf is not a 365-days-a-year sport on Long Island like it is in Florida, Arizona and other warm climates. But if Old Man Winter keeps Frosty the Snowman in the clouds for a few extra weeks, and if you can tolerate frigid, biting winds and a swing reined in by four layers of clothing, it can stretch closer to a 12-month sport here on the Island than you might think.
Today is the first day of the year's coldest season and the official start of winter golf on Long Island -- though many courses begin their "winter" around or even before Thanksgiving. A year ago, the winter golf season was less than a week old before a post-Christmas blizzard buried Long Island and its courses under a few feet of snow. Hopefully the 2011-12 offseason will remain playable for a little longer.
- See also: Winter Golf on Long Island overview
When heavy snow holds off through December and into January, winter golf on Long Island is like a holiday gift in itself. Until that first heavy snowfall, fairways remain in good condition and greens -- unless frozen or recently aerated -- roll close to their typical speed and smoothness. Bare trees are less obtrusive, rough is less dense. As a bonus, rounds are available at a sharp discount. For those taking up the sport or working on their mechanics, the silenced fairways of early winter are a fantastic place to practice without pressure. Only a small handful of courses close for the season; the rest stay open through the winter as the weather permits.
Golf On Long Island attempts to make winter golf easy to find by posting discount rates through the offseason. As posted earlier this month, the Great Rock Golf Club in Wading River is offering 18 holes for as low as $29. Check back for updated specials throughout the winter months.
- Ride for $29 on winter afternoons at Great Rock
- 2011-12 Winter Rates Roundup I
- 2011-12 Winter Rates Roundup II
For a full primer on offseason golf, check out the Winter Golf on Long Island page, which includes some of this season's special rates and offers from previous years.
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