Golf on Long Island

2016-17 Winter Rates Roundup II

Nobody longs to play under three layers of clothes and a pair of gloves when they're teeing off in the middle of July.  But come the winter's post-holiday lull, forecasts calling for partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-40s are welcome news. 

Golf On Long Island loves winter golf, and you should too, if only for the chance to play quality courses with limited crowds for a discount price.  Below is a sampling of offseason 18-hole rates at area courses.  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.

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

• Pine Hills:  $35 to walk and $45 to ride on weekdays; $45 to walk, $55 to ride on weekends and holidays (subtract $10 on all rates after 12 noon)
• Rock Hill:  $32 to walk and $45 to ride on weekdays; $36 to walk, $49 to ride on weekends; after 2 p.m. daily, nine holes are $29 with cart

See also: 
2016-17 Winter Rates Roundup I
2016-17 Winter Rates Roundup III

2016-17 Winter Rates Roundup I

A round of golf might be a distant thought once the holiday gift exchange starts next week, but let's face it ... those brand-new Callaway irons aren't going to swing themselves.

Golf On Long Island loves winter golf, and you should too, if only for the chance to play quality courses with limited crowds for a discount price.  Below is a sampling of offseason 18-hole rates at area courses.  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.

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

• Lido Golf Club:  $27 to walk and $41 to ride on weekdays until 2 p.m. (save $6 on twilight rounds after 2 p.m.); $35 to walk, $49 to ride on weekends and holidays (save $12 after 2 p.m.)
• Mill Pond:  $51 to ride, $40 to walk on weekdays before 12 p.m., $41/$30 after 12 p.m.; $53 before 12 p.m. (riding only) and $42/$31 (after 12 p.m.) on weekends (all fees lower with Town of Brookhaven resident cards)

See also: 
2016-17 Winter Rates Roundup II
2016-17 Winter Rates Roundup III

Winter Golf on Long Island: 2016-17 Edition

Long Islanders woke up this final pre-Christmas weekend to find their holiday decorations covered with three inches of snow, a wet, sloppy reminder that the winter golf season can arrive at a moment's notice.

Many Long Island golfers put their clubs away for the year around the same time they pack up their Halloween decorations, but for a frost-hardened minority, the local golf calendar flips year-round.  Sure, cold-season golf features hazards not typically encountered during the summer months -- one round on a long-gone New Years Eve afternoon included an unexpected hail storm; a bitterly cold December round saw both a fortunate skip off a frozen greenfront pond and a highly unfortunate bounce off and far over a frozen green. 

See also: Winter Golf on Long Island overview

But it also comes with wide-open fairways, no waits and significant discounts.  And with ground conditions typically favorable until the first prolonged snow accumulation, the experience, if you get out on a warm day, can pass for a pleasant October round.  There's no better time to practice on the course without pressure, introduce a newbie to on-course play or break in that new fleece you got as a Christmas present.  (Winter Golfer's Holiday Tip: Use golf-store gift money on a pair of cold-weather gloves.)

As long as the weather allows, all but a handful of Long Island's public courses welcome golfers to the first tee -- just as soon as the frost delay is cleared.  Golf On Long Island attempts to make winter golf easy to find by posting discount rates through the offseason.  At some courses, winter rates can be as low as two bucks a hole.  A few throw in lunch, too.  Check back for updated specials throughout the winter months.

• 2016-17 Winter Rates Roundup I

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.

Snowmobiler damages greens and tees at Cherry Creek Links after weekend snow

The first snowfall of the year was a costly one for the Links Course at Cherry Creek, according to reports by Newsday and the Riverhead News-Review.

Cherry Creek staff discovered snowmobile tracks across two greens and several tees and bunkers at the course over the weekend, Riverhead police announced Sunday.  Police officials said estimated damage is in the thousands.

Anyone with information should contact Riverhead Police at (631) 727-4500, extension 323.

Costco's store-brand golf ball is the Tickle Me Elmo of golf gear

Good news for Long Island's golf-playing Costco members: the bulk-shopping giant's store-brand golf ball is on par with, and might even outperform, the renowned Titleist Pro-V1, and for a third of the price.

The bad news...they're getting harder and harder to find.

Forbes reported earlier this week that Costco's Kirkland Signature golf balls, which sell for $15 per dozen, have flown out of stock at the wholesale behemoth, and when they are available again in stores next week, there will be a limit of two 24-packs per customer.  Not surprisingly, a robust secondary market has emerged where golfers are bidding up to and beyond Pro-V prices.

[UPDATE: Costco made the balls available again on its website on December 20 and sold out in 30 minutes.]

So why all the fuss?  Last month, MyGolfSpy published the results of its own Kirkland Signature vs. Titleist Pro-V1 ($48/dozen) performance test in which the Kirkland ball beat the Pro-V1 in driving distance and matched it in iron/wedge distance and spin.  The website gave the Kirkland Signature ball a 10 out of 10 rating.

Long Island Costco members have ample time before next season to try their luck at the Melville, Westbury, Commack, Nesconset, Lawrence, Holbrook and Riverhead locations.  Meanwhile, this might be the push that golfing non-members need to finally pony up for that club card.

December 31 is the last day to play at three Suffolk munis

The curtain will close on the 2016 season at three of Suffolk County's four municipal courses the same day the ball will drop to welcome 2017 in Times Square.

County golf courses at Bergen Point, Timber Point and West Sayville will go into winter hibernation at the conclusion of play on Saturday, December 31.  Reopen dates are in early to mid March.  At Timber Point, look for the annual holiday scramble on or around St. Patrick's Day.

Indian Island in Riverhead will remain open through the winter, weather permitting.

Though the course will be closed, West Sayville is worth a visit on Sunday, February 12, when the Long Island Maritime Museum, located on the grounds of the West Sayville course, will host Golf On Long Island's Phil Carlucci for a discussion on local golf history. 

Bethpage Black among the elite in Matt Ginella's top 50 public courses

Golf Channel's travel and buddy-trip guru Matt Ginella announced his list of the top 50 public courses for 2016 last week, and Long Island's lone representative, Bethpage Black, finds itself on familiar ground -- near the top.

Bethpage Black is ranked behind only Pebble Beach, Pacific Dunes and Pinehurst No. 2, settling in at #4 on Ginella's list, which features a deep group of Carolina, California and Pacific Northwest courses.  The Black is the only top-50 course in the Northeast.

To see the entire list, check out Ginella's piece on Golf Advisor.

Holiday Gift Idea: Signed copy of Long Island Golf for $17.99 and free shipping

There's still time to pick up a Christmas or Hanukkah gift for the golfer and golf history fan in your life -- signed copies of Images of America: Long Island Golf by Golf On Long Island's Phil Carlucci are available for $17.99, with free shipping included through the end of December.  Order soon to ensure delivery before the holidays.

For more on the book and to order your copy, visit the Long Island Golf book page, and be sure to check out last summer's Newsday review.

Brentwood, Holbrook to close for the season December 18

There are two weekends left to golf at the Brentwood Country Club and Holbrook Country Club.  The two Town of Islip municipal courses will close for the 2016 season at the conclusion of play on Sunday, December 18.

Both courses typically reopen in mid March.

For more on the Islip courses, check out the Brentwood CC and Holbrook CC flyovers.

Harbor Links, Cherry Creek Woods closed for the season

Two of Long Island's seasonal golf courses have closed for the winter. 

The Woods Course at Cherry Creek in Riverhead, typically among the earliest to end its season, will reopen in March 2017.  Its sister course across the street -- the Links -- will remain open as weather permits.

Harbor Links in Port Washington planned to remain open through this coming weekend, but poor weather pushed up the closing date.

For more information on either course, click the links above.

Be sure to check back in March for a list of 2017 course opening dates.