Golfweek released its 2016 Best Courses You Can Play list this week, though for followers interested in seeing what Long Island golf courses made the cut, the mag might as well have reprinted last year's list, or 2014's, or 2013's...
It's now seven straight years that the vaunted foursome of Bethpage Black, Bethpage Red, Tallgrass and Montauk Downs represents Long Island in Golfweek's annual ranking of New York State's publicly accessible courses, led of course by Bethpage Black, which bagged a #22 ranking on the Classic Courses list, also released on the magazine's website on Tuesday.
Bethpage Red jumped one spot to #5, while Shoreham's Tallgrass Golf Course and the renowned Montauk Downs dropped to #12 and #14, respectively.
While the future is bright for the New York State-operated courses at Bethpage and Montauk Downs, Golfweek's rankings arrive just a few days before a decision is made on Tallgrass's presence on Suffolk's north shore. Tallgrass remains on the list despite the looming threat of its destruction and repurposing into a Shoreham solar farm. The Brookhaven Planning Board is scheduled to address the course's future next week on March 7.
Golfweek's Classic Courses list ranks the top 200 American courses built prior to 1960. At #22, Bethpage Black finished behind three Long Island clubs, all of which ranked in the top 10 -- Shinnecock Hills, National Golf Links and Fishers Island Golf Club.
For more on all four courses, including Closer Looks at Tallgrass #8 and Red #13, check out the course flyovers via the above links.
[PICTURED: The par-3 12th at Montauk Downs]
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