Golf on Long Island

Observations: Swan Lake Golf Club

There are a couple of new additions at Manorville's Swan Lake Golf Club in 2012.  Though a driving range is not one of them, the course has upgraded its practice nets, which remain in their usual spot next to the parking lot.  Only now they are a bit bigger, a bit sturdier, and with room to accommodate more golfers.

For those concerned more about the latest on the course, the eighth hole should pique their interest.  A spiffy new sand trap made its debut earlier this year on the dogleg par-4, giving players even more reason to stay right.  The long, mostly flat bunker (pictured; click to enlarge) is short of the more familiar fairway trap inside the turn.  Whether it was put in place to serve as a deterrent, or simply as a barrier to freeze errant shots before they skitter into the trees, either way the message is clear -- keep right at all costs. 

Even the namesake swans of the Manorville course have new additions this season.  Emerging from the marsh next to the ninth tee were two proud, protective parents -- sized impressively enough to keep this cameraman at a healthy distance -- and their three miniature swanlings (pictured).  The brief swan delay is par for the Pine Barrens course, and not just because they think they run the place.  Wildlife sightings are common, including beavers scampering near the water hazard and turkeys taking their time around the woods.

For the full rundown on Swan Lake, check out the course flyover.

Rock Hill GC to host The New Life Center's charity golf outing on May 11

The New Life Center of Centereach will hold a charity golf outing honoring Bishop Emil Wcela on Friday, May 11 at Rock Hill Golf and Country Club in Manorville.  Proceeds contribute to The New Life Center's mission of assisting formerly incarcerated persons become productive members of society through counseling, mentoring and other programs.

Breakfast and registration will be followed by a 7:30 tee time.  A luncheon with awards, prizes and raffles will begin at 1:30 p.m.  Entry fee is $175 for single golfers and $600 for a foursome.  To register as a player or sponsor, print and submit the event brochure from The New Life Center website or call (631) 615-6170.

At 7,050 yards from the tips, Rock Hill is one of Long Island's longest courses.  Its three par-5s all stretch at least 555 yards from the back tees, and heavy rough throughout the course can bury scoring opportunities.  For more on Rock Hill, check out the course flyover.

Flyover: Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course

[This flyover was updated on April 2, 2018.]

From atop the 18th green at Bethpage Black -- the top of the heap of Long Island public golf -- there are two directions one could go to challenge a course widely regarded as the next-best golfing destination on the Island.  Just a few paces to the right is the first tee of Bethpage's Red Course.  And then there's a short walk straight ahead to the parking lot, where a car and a half-tank of gas await for a trip east to the farthest reaches -- "The End" -- of Long Island.  While Bethpage Red wins in the convenience department, Montauk Downs, in one of the most unique golf settings on Long Island, is worth the travel and the traffic (plus any necessary motel fees).

Shielded from many by the Hamptons car crawl and protected from birdies by the winds and terrain of far eastern Long Island, Montauk Downs State Park is Suffolk's own destination golf course, an 18-hole monster (not to be confused with the "Montauk Monster") as feisty as the lobsters hauled in daily (and steamed deliciously) at nearby Gosman's Dock.  The course occupies high ground north of the village that's surrounded on all sides by water, most notably Block Island Sound to the north and the mighty Atlantic to the south.  Though these water bodies are unseen from the Downs, their converging winds are a tremendous part of the course's rugged character.  Even from the men's middle blue tees, Montauk Downs plays to a 139 slope rating.

The land has been home to golf since 1927, but the present-day course debuted in the late 1960s as a redesign crafted by Robert Trent Jones and assisted by sons Rees and Robert Jr.  Decades later, after restoring Bethpage Black for the 2002 U.S. Open, Rees Jones returned to the South Fork to give Montauk Downs its own facelift.  Today's course is a 6,988-yard headliner that's no stranger to attention.  Golf Digest gives the course 4-1/2 stars in its Best Places To Play listing and highlighted the course in a February 2010 "Long Drives" feature.  Newsday rates it as Long Island's #2 public course, behind only Bethpage Black. 

LAYOUT:
The approach to Montauk's first green gives an uphill glimpse of what's in store on many of the course's remaining 17 holes.  The shot comes from a fairway with a subtle right-to-left tilt.  Two bunkers standing by on each side of the green's front prepare players for approach shots later in the round, as well.  The journey uphill continues at #2, a short but tricky par-3 (pictured right; click to enlarge) with barely any margin for error.  From the green, enjoy the view of #7 and Montauk Manor in the distance, but to get there you'll first need to avoid three deep traps and a false front that spits shots back down the apron.  In an odd twist of course routing, the 448-/418-yard third heads straight back toward the clubhouse.  The downhill drive is the easy part; more challenging is the approach into an angled, strongly shielded green.

A short jaunt through the driving range leads players to the fourth tee, where Montauk Downs begins to bare its fangs.  Even from prime position in the middle of the fairway, the elevated target (pictured left) appears microscopic behind two heavy-duty bunkers.  Then at #5, Montauk's first par-5, the course tosses some curves into its repertoire.  The 521-/505-yard fifth favors a soft fade off the tee, then straightens out into an ever-narrowing fairway.  Any heroic attempts to reach the green in two will prove fruitless unless there's a shot in the bag that could safely reach another angled surface wedged between two traps.  Three fairway traps inside the 100-yard marker make even the lay-ups dicey. 

Playing in the opposite direction as Montauk's first par-3 and heading downhill instead of up, the 184-/171-yard eighth looks simple enough.  But a wicked false front puts underclubbed tee shots and even some misread putts on a fast track back to the fairway.  Shadowing #8 is the 214-/194-yard 14th, where a water hazard sinks anything short of the green on the right side.  Just beyond these two greens is #12 -- to many Montauk's signature hole (pictured at top) -- where the downhill tee shot is into the wind and over a valley.  In fact, all three of these par-3s pit you against the prevailing wind.  Given the elevation -- especially on #12 -- and the gusts, careful club selection is vital on these one-shotters.

The back nine begins with a tight-looking drive, a discouraging way to start a relatively short par-5 and a particularly diverse stretch of holes.  But the fairway opens up after the initial soft right turn and leads gently uphill to a deep and narrow green sand-wiched by side traps.  One of the back side's few scoring opportunities awaits at the 331-/306-yard 11th.  Whether the plan is to go ahead with the driver or stay farther back with a fairway wood or hybrid, if you can avoid the five bunkers along the way, you'll briefly enjoy a rare position of control.

Water does not have a huge on-course presence at Montauk Downs, but when it makes its occasional cameo, it commands attention.  The 13th (pictured above) isn't memorable or picturesque like its par-5 predecessor at #7 (more on that below in "Holes to Remember"), but it does threaten players with swimming strokes from tee to green.  Though most players don't have the distance to worry about the drink on the blind tee shot, the hazard, which runs up the right side from the 175-yard mark before cutting across the front of the green, influences every shot from there on out, especially the second.  From 200 yards, do you scoff at the razor-thin margin of error and go ahead with a water-carry blast to an elevated green?  If that effort backfires, at least you can redeem yourself at #16 (pictured right), where the straight fairway dead-ends at a small pond about 50 yards short of a very shallow putting surface.

Before launching one final wind-blown drive (at least this one's downhill), take a moment to enjoy the view from Montauk's 18th tee.  The unique pyramid-shaped clubhouse pierces the sky in the distance.  Short of the clubhouse is the wide, shallow green of the ninth hole, perched confidently behind three bunkers.  On that hole, a 452-/432-yard par-4, players often find themselves positioned to hit that small target with long irons.  Here on #18 -- at 459/443 yards just a touch longer than its front-nine counterpart -- the fairway passes two recently remodeled traps on its way to a slightly more welcoming green.  Try to make your final strokes look impressive for the gallery overlooking from around the patio and starter's booth.

CONDITIONS:
If the strong and generally unpredictable wind is public (golfer) enemy #1 at Montauk Downs, the fast greens are its 18 trusty sidekicks.  The greens were arguably the biggest beneficiaries of the Rees Jones touch-up last decade.  Now stretched closer to their original dimensions and rolling down the slopes at incredible pace, the surfaces test the nerves of the most confident short-game performers.  Chips from above the hole on the two-tiered seventh green race toward the water hazard.  Next, the par-3 eighth is capable of sliding putts clear off the green.  Two recent playing partners, both Montauk Downs veterans, stood over pin-high putts to a front hole location.  Both missed their mid-range attempts underneath the cup and watched helplessly as their balls rolled 10 yards back into the fairway.  Scarier than that was their forecast for later rounds.  "The greens will play faster than this in the afternoon," they said.

The same goes for the wind, they added.  At times the wind can be strong enough to make a three- or four-club difference, especially in the PM hours.  "We played with a guy once who hit driver on the [par-3] 12th," one said.  "He was a good player too; just had no other way to reach the green with the wind up."

The Rees Jones facelift also extended to the bunkers, which were reshaped and refurbished around the course.  Continued investment in the grounds has left East End locals and tourists with pristine conditions.  "It's like playing at a private club," said the two vets.

Summer brings the masses out to the East End, and Montauk Downs is not immune to the tourist crush.  Tee times fill up quickly in the summer months.  New York State residents, of course, have a leg up on out-of-state visitors, provided they are registered in the phone reservation system.

HOLE(S) TO REMEMBER:
Montauk Downs rarely offers a full view of the green and its surroundings on approach shots, but one hole where the entire green complex is laid out for examination from afar is the par-5 seventh.  Of course, the visual audit must be conducted from the other side of a pond.  Shaped like a question mark, #7 asks players to leave their inhibitions at the tee and indulge in a good old-fashioned grip-and-rip over water.  From the tips, the 535-yard hole runs straight out for the first 300 before beginning a wide loop around the pond's right side.  It then curls sharply back to the left toward the green.  It's up to the player to decide whether to forge ahead on the longer, drier route or take the heroic shortcut over as much as 100 yards of water to a two-tiered green.  If you're playing from the shorter tees (520 from the blues, 485 from the whites), a strong drive puts the green in close enough range that the memorable approach and potential eagle putt becomes almost impossible to pass up.

A blend of disarming scenery and demanding proportions, the par-3 12th is a pleasure until the ball is in the air.  Then its flight and your score are at the mercy of the wind.  The downhill hole (first picture above) plays as long as 221 yards into the prevailing wind and over a valley.  Short is more than likely in the sand, and overpowering shots left and long leaves tough recoveries from far below the green.  You'll need to take the elevated tee into consideration when choosing a club, though it's not until you look back from the flag that you get a real feel for the downhill nature (pictured left) of the hole.

AREA(S) TO AVOID:
Montauk's par-3s get a good laugh from any tee shot that doesn't reach the green.  For the one-shot holes, short is the main defense against par.  Three of them face the prevailing wind head on, and two run quickly from back to front.  Except on #14, failing to reach the green means you're either in a deep bunker, pitching over a deep bunker or sitting at the foot of a slope.  Up-and-downs for par from these positions are tall orders.  It might be best to take a longer club and hope the swift breezes blow your shots away from any trouble behind the greens.  Though coming down from above the hole is no picnic, at least you won't have a problem getting your ball to the cup.

[Pictured below:  This ball took the roll of shame after failing to scale the false front on #8.]

NEARBY COURSES:
Poxabogue Golf Center (21 miles)

OTHER NOTES:
Fans of golf history and architecture should set aside a few minutes to linger in the clubhouse's main hallway.  The walls are lined with old scorecards, course diagrams, routing maps of the original and redesigned courses, hole sketches penned by Rees Jones, photos and magazine articles.  Anyone curious about the evolution of Montauk Downs during its 85-year existence will likely find the answers to their questions somewhere in this corridor.

WHERE TO GRAB A BITE AND A BEER:
The world is your oyster if you're looking to dine after a round in Montauk, fitting given the amount of shellfish you'll find.  There are fixtures like Shagwong in the heart of the village, surrounded by casual pubs, pizza places and grills, in addition to an ever-changing lineup of trendy food and drink venues.  North of the course at Gosman's Dock you'll find a mix of clam bars, patio cafes and restaurants, all with a focus on seafood.  And if you have an early-AM tee time, no trip to The End is complete without coffee and a jelly croissant from Montauk Bake Shoppe.

CONTACT:
50 South Fairview Ave., Montauk 11954
(631) 668-5000
nysparks.com

SEE ALSO:
Jerry Kremer and Montauk Downs: How New York State saved a cherished golf course from extinction
Golfweek ranks Bethpage Black #1 in its annual Best Municipal Courses list
Bethpage Black is Golfweek's Best Municipal for fifth straight year
Bethpage, Tallgrass, Montauk Downs again among Golfweek's Best Courses in 2013
Bethpage Black tops Golfweek's 2012 Best Municipal List (Montauk Downs #40)
Bethpage, Tallgrass, Montauk still New York's Best Courses You Can Play
Montauk Downs highlighted in Golf Digest "Long Drives" feature
Long Island Dream Club: Montauk Downs #7

2012 USSSA Junior Golf Tour tees off next weekend at Mill Pond GC

The USSSA Junior Golf Tour will crown its first Long Island junior champions next weekend when young golfers between the ages of 9 and 18 compete in the first local Tour event at Mill Pond Golf Course in Medford.  Winners from each age group earn a berth into the USSSA Junior Golf National Championships in Florida this July.

Registration is open in three age groups (9-11, 12-14 and 15-18) for the two-day event, which will be held at Mill Pond on April 28 and 29.  Entry fee is $140 for the 12-14 and 15-18 age groups (36-hole event) and $85 for the 9-11 group (18-hole event).  All players receive a USSSA wind shirt.

The next opportunity for junior golfers to qualify is May 19-20 at the Smithtown Landing Country Club.  Same prices and age groups apply.

Winners from all qualifying events will compete against the best of the best in their age group at ChampionsGate Golf Club near Florida's Walt Disney World Resort on July 27-29.  But players don't need to make it to Florida to receive star treatment.  All local events will have professional photographers and videographers on site to follow the junior participants, with footage and interviews streamed online at the Global Recreation Network website.

For more information about the Tour and individual events, contact Ray Coyne at (631) 482-3264, ext. 701, or e-mail [email protected].  Event registration is also available online at globalrec.net.

USSSA, a leading national sports association best known for slow-pitch softball, gives amateur athletes the chance to compete in local and national championships in a growing number of sports.  USSSA's Junior Golf Championship Tour is one of the association's newest offerings.  Based in Mount Sinai, Global Recreation Network runs USSSA events and tournaments on Long Island, including adult softball, youth baseball and junior golf.

SEE ALSO:
2012 USSSA Junior Golf Championship Tour open for registration

2012 Summer Golf Camps on Long Island

[Looking for this year's camp info?  See the Guide to 2023 Summer Golf Camps on Long Island.]

Summer golf is more than just early-morning mulligans on a dewey first tee and putting out on the 18th hole as the sun goes down on a twilight round.  For young kids and teenagers, summer is a great time to learn from teaching professionals about the fundamentals of golf, the golf swing and course etiquette, among other aspects of the game.  Many Long Island courses offer summer golf camps for junior players, with programs designed to either put the first building blocks in place for newcomers or provide expert guidance for juniors looking to take their game to the next level. 

The following is a list of 2012 summer junior golf camps available and open for registration at various public courses around Long Island.   For more information, follow the links below to the course websites and junior camp pages. 

(Please note that this is not a complete list of Long Island summer camps.  If a course or facility is not included here, contact them directly to learn about their available camps and clinics.)

Crab Meadow:  High School Development Program is designed for the intermediate player looking to advance his or her game.  On-course play includes lessons in course management, short game, club selection and bunker play, as well as head-to-head match competition.  Three-hour sessions take place on Thursdays beginning July 12.  $375 registration includes greens fees.

Dix Hills Park:  Basic Program open to junior players from age 6 to 14 with limited or no golf experience.  Club Division open to boys and girls who are ready for on-course instruction and play.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday sessions begin the week of July 10 and cost $325 (Basic)/$350 (Club).  Visit the junior golf program page for more info.

Gold Coast Golf Center at the Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course:  Half-day camps available for kids from age 6 to 9 with rates starting at $199; full-day camps include on-course instruction and are open to juniors from age 10 to 17 with rates starting at $499.  All programs begin on June 11 with sessions available through August.  Other programs and discounts available.  Visit the registration page for full camp info.

Great Rock Golf Club:  Half-day camps are open to boys and girls aged 7 to 14 and run in four separate sessions from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday to Thursday.  The cost is $199 per child, per session.  Full-day camps are open to boys and girls aged 9 to 16 and run in five separate sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday.  The cost is $399 per child, per session.  Full-day campers receive on-course instruction and daily lunch.  For more, see the Golf On Long Island camp profile or the Great Rock flyer.

Harbor Links Golf Course:  All camps are split into AM and PM sessions beginning the week of June 25.  Weekly programs for kids aged 6 to 9 run Tuesday to Friday and include games and drills that help develop important skills and fundamentals.  Separate programs for teens aged 10 to 16 run Monday to Friday and cover the full swing, short game, course management, rules and etiquette, and conclude with a two-day team tournament.  Cost is $410 for the 6-9 camp and $585 for the 10-16 camp, with discounts available for family and friends.  For all program information and schedules, visit the Harbor Links website.

Indian Island Country Club:  Weekly full-day camps include lunch, prizes, skills contests and on-course competition.  Camps are open for boys and girls of all skill levels between the ages of 7 and 16.  Fees are $450 per week, per camper, with family and multi-week discounts available.  Sessions begin July 2 and last through August.  See the Indian Island camp brochure for all details.

Long Island National Golf Club:  Four-day camp sessions are available for the weeks of June 25, July 9, July 23 and August 13 and open to boys and girls from age 7 to 13.  Fee is $300 per camper.  Ninety-minute clinics ($175) are also available on Wednesdays in August.  Visit the Long Island National website for additional details.

Poxabogue Golf Center:  Ten weekly sessions begin June 25 for boys and girls from age 7 to 14.  Cost is $329 per child, per session.  See the camp application for details.

Spring Lake Golf Club:  Programs available for kids from age 8 to 12 (July 16-19) and teens from age 13 to 16 (July 30-August 2).  Four-day camps teach swing fundamentals in a fun environment with morning range and putting lessons followed by afternoon course play.  Cost is $225 per child.  Visit the Spring Lake website for details.

Timber Point Golf Course:  Six-week Basic Program is designed for new players from age 7 to 10, and focuses on fundamentals, safety, rules and etiquette through fun games and contests.  Club Division (four-week and eight-week programs available) is open to experienced juniors from age 11 to 15 and includes advanced instruction and on-course play.  Basic ($250) and Club ($175/$295) sessions begin in the last week of June.  See the camp registration form for prices and schedules.

West Sayville Golf Course:  Eight-week programs are available on Tuesdays through Fridays beginning July 3.  Campers receive instruction at the range and on the course.  The $450 fee also includes shirt, hat and rule book.  Visit the course website for more information.

Off-Course Destinations: SUNY Farmingdale Driving Range

Have to admit -- I've been hitting golf balls all across Long Island for nearly two decades, and it wasn't until two weeks ago that I found out about the driving range at SUNY Farmingdale.  And ironically, in one of those strange coincidences that you always take note of, on the same day I first discovered the existence of the Farmingdale range, I overheard a bartender and a nearby customer talking about, of course, the range at SUNY Farmingdale.

Lacking the recognizable-from-afar netting of the Skydrive Golf Center just to the south on Route 110, the 20-stall driving range at Farmingdale State College exists in seclusion on the northern edge of the campus, hidden among warehouses and garages.  The open expanse -- no netting on the sides or in the distance -- is dotted only by a few flags and yardage markers.  Several light poles stand along the perimeter.  Turf mats in the 20 uncovered stalls appear relatively new, with only a few showing slight wear.  It's a perfectly adequate and serene place to warm up, especially with Bethpage close by.  (How close?  A bunch of holes on the Black Course are closer to the SUNY range than they are to the Bethpage clubhouse.)  

Buckets range from $5 to $13, with discounts available for faculty, students and seniors.  The range is easily accessed from the campus entrance on Route 110.  Follow signs to the range once on campus.

For more information, see the Farmingdale State College website.

Spring Golf Outing at Sunken Meadow State Park

Start the new week by golfing bright and early on Monday, May 7, when Sunken Meadow State Park hosts a spring tournament on its nine-hole Red, Green and Blue golf courses.  Registration for the outing is currently open at the Sunken Meadow clubhouse in Kings Park.

The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m., followed by a barbecue and awards ceremony.  Entry fee for the event is $90 and includes cart, a sleeve of balls, outing souvenir, pre-round continental breakfast and post-round lunch.  Rain date is Monday, May 21.

To register for the outing, drop by the Sunken Meadow clubhouse or call (631) 269-5351.  Each registrant can enter up to one foursome.  For more on golf at Sunken Meadow, visit the New York State Parks website or check out the Red Course flyover.

2012 Junior Golf Camps at Great Rock Golf Club

The Great Rock Golf Club in Wading River will once again host a series of junior golf camps this summer.  Interested parents can register their young golfers now for Great Rock's half-day and full-day programs, which run from late June through August in nine weekly sessions and are open to kids between the ages of 7 and 16.

All Great Rock campers work closely with teaching professionals and receive instruction on the full golf swing, short game, course safety and etiquette.  Programs also include games and contests, a junior golf academy hat and a certificate of completion.  Camps conclude with awards and a pizza party.

Great Rock's half-day camps are open to boys and girls aged 7 to 14 and run in four separate sessions from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday to Thursday.  The cost is $199 per child, per session. 

Full-day camps are open to boys and girls aged 9 to 16 and run in five separate sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday.  The cost is $399 per child, per session.  In addition to the benefits listed above, full-day campers receive on-course instruction and daily lunch.

The session schedule for half-day and full-day camps can be found at Great Rock's website.  For more information, or to register for any of the junior golf camps, call the pro shop at (631) 929-1200.

Swan Lake, Calverton Links remain open despite Suffolk wildfires

The Swan Lake Golf Club in Manorville and nearby Calverton Links are both open for play this morning despite the wildfires that are diminishing but still smoldering in parts of the surrounding Long Island Pine Barrens. 

As of 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, the courses were on or near the edges of Suffolk County's evacuation zone.  Fueled by dry, windy conditions, the brush fires have damaged several homes, caused power outages and burned more than 1,000 acres of the Pine Barrens in Manorville, Ridge, Riverhead and other areas.

For golf-related updates, contact area courses.

Registration open for the 2012 Suffolk County Junior Golf Tour

[For information on the current 2014 Suffolk County Junior Golf Tour, please click here.]

While the allure and excitement of The Masters have spurred thousands of adult golfers back to their local ranges and courses for a head start on the 2012 golf season, there are undoubtedly plenty of junior golfers eager to play and compete as well.  A few buckets at the range and a couple of practice rounds are great ways to ease young players into the new season, and the 2012 Suffolk County Junior Golf Tour -- now open for registration -- is a perfect way for them to compete.  The Tour begins with a stroke-play competition at the West Sayville Golf Course on Monday, July 9.  Parents/guardians have until Friday, July 6 to register their young golfers for this season's Tour.

The Suffolk County Junior Golf Tour is open to all boys and girls aged 9 through 17 who are familiar with the rules and etiquette of golf and have a valid county Green Key Card.  It consists of four stroke-play tournaments in July and August.  Events are nine or 18 holes depending on age bracket.  Players must walk the course, be able to carry their bags (hand carts are permitted) and adhere to a standard golf dress code.

Tour fees are $140 for 12- to 17-year-old players (18-hole events) and $125 for 9- to 11-year-old players (nine-hole events).  All four rounds, practice balls at each event, a special two-hour golf clinic at the Timber Point Golf Course, pro-shop giveaways and an August awards banquet are covered by the Tour fee.

Timber Point pro Andy Carracino will host the clinic for Junior Tour participants on Friday, July 6 at 1 p.m.  The rest of the Tour schedule is as follows:

Monday, July 9:  West Sayville Golf Course
Monday, July 16:  Bergen Point Golf Course
Monday, July 23:  Indian Island Country Club
Thursday, August 9:  Timber Point Golf Course

All tournaments begin at 2:00 p.m.  Participants are urged to arrive no later than 1:00.

For more information on the 2012 Suffolk County Junior Golf Tour, call (631) 854-4947.  You can also download a Tour registration form at the Suffolk County website.