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Bethpage State Park's four non-Black courses will be aerated next month, starting with the Red Course, which is scheduled to open for play on Friday, March 31. Red will be closed for aeration on April 10 and 11.
Here's the rest of the aeration schedule:
Bethpage Black is scheduled to open for the 2017 season on Friday, April 14.
Call the Bethpage golf reservation number at (516) 249-0707 for scheduling updates.
[Looking for this year's camp info? See the Guide to 2024 Summer Golf Camps on Long Island.]
It might still feel like the summer is a long way off, but before you know it, the spring will have come and gone, and you'll be standing in the center of a lush fairway under a hot July sun. And as you try to float that wedge over a trap to a front pin, why not give the junior golfer in your family the opportunity to pick up those same skills under the guidance of a Long Island teaching pro? There are summer golf programs available in your area that will set the building blocks of a lifelong interest in golf for boys and girls, whether they are new to the sport or carrying years of casual or competitive playing experience.
Many public courses in Nassau and Suffolk feature summer camp programs that school young players in golf's key fundamentals and the various types of swings and strokes, as well as rules, etiquette and safety. Kids work closely with teaching pros on the course, in the range and around practice greens and bunkers; in some cases, the pros working with your young golfer have been recognized nationally for their work as junior-golf instructors. Campers leave each session with skills and knowledge in place for years of enjoyable experiences on the course.
The following is a general overview of 2017 summer 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 this list only includes camp programs hosted at public golf courses. This does not include golf programs held at general summer camps or any type of private instruction.)
Bergen Point (West Babylon): Two camp sessions are open to golfers of all skill levels from age 7 to 17. PGA pros instruct campers on the short game and full swing in the driving range and on the course. Camps meet once a week (for four weeks) on either Tuesdays or Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m., with lunch and beverages included. Cost is $250 per session. Applications are available on the Bergen Point website.
Cedars Golf Club (Cutchogue): The Cutchogue course offers two separate sessions in July (7/5 to 7/31) and August (8/2 to 8/28). Campers meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with times varied by age group. Juniors age 10 and under benefit from group instruction and on-course play, and also receive prizes, pizza lunches and a ten-round Cedars Junior Pass. Those in the 11-and-over group receive 30 minutes of private instruction each week in addition to on-course play, group work and a full-season Junior Pass. Cost is $570 per four-week session (10 and under); $600 per four-week session (11 and over). Extended instruction is available for additional cost. Call (631) 734-6363 or e-mail [email protected] to register or for full details.
Cherry Creek (Riverhead): Cherry Creek offers camp sessions in July and August. Dates and program details will be available later in the spring. Contact the pro shop at (631) 369-6500 for info.
Eisenhower Park (East Meadow): PGA Junior Golf operates a series of camps for all ability levels, including advanced camps for competitive juniors. The program includes full-day camps for players age 12 to 17, modified full-day camps for experienced players age 8 to 13, and half-day camps for beginners and intermediates age 7 to 13. There is also a special 90-minute session for "Wee Ones" age 4 to 6. All regular camps include hours of hands-on instruction and advanced teaching technology. Full-day camps include nine holes each day and on-course teaching. Visit the PGA Junior Golf Camp site for full information on pricing, session dates and available discounts.
Glen Cove Golf Club: Weekly sessions typically run from late June through the month of August. Camps meet Monday to Friday and cover the full swing, pitching, chipping, putting, rules and etiquette. Call (516) 671-0033 for 2017 pricing, schedules and registration info.
Harbor Links Golf Course (Port Washington): Harbor Links offers a wide variety of programs led by teachers all named U.S. Kids Golf Certified Instructors. Camps begin the week of June 26, with sessions available through August. Weekly programs for kids age 6 to 9 run Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and include games and drills that help develop important skills and fundamentals, in addition to a skills competition and gift packet. Separate programs for teens age 10 to 16 are split into four-hour AM and PM sessions and run Monday to Friday. These cover the full swing, short game, course management, rules and etiquette, and conclude with a two-day "Junior Scramble" team tournament. Early registration (before April 25) is $495 for the 6-9 camp and $595 for the 10-16 camp. For all program information, schedules and registration forms, visit the Harbor Links website.
Indian Island Country Club (Riverhead): Indian Island's 16th annual golf camp consists of week-long sessions that include lessons, lunch, prizes, golf gear, skills contests and on-course competition. Camps are open to boys and girls of all skill levels between the ages of 7 and 16. Fees are $525 per week, per camper, with family, returnee and multi-week discounts available. Week-long sessions begin June 26 and continue until Labor Day weekend. See the Indian Island camp brochure for all details.
Island's End Golf & Country Club (Greenport): Hour-long junior clinics are offered each Thursday in the summer, open to boys and girls age 5 and up. Camp info will be available later in the spring. Visit the Island's End website for more information.
Long Island Golf Camps / Mike Reilly Golf Academy (Massapequa, Babylon, Hauppauge): Long Island Golf Camps runs programs at three public courses -- Peninsula Golf Club (Massapequa), Sumpwams Creek/E. Donald Conroy Golf Course (Babylon) and Wind Watch Golf & Country Club (Hauppauge). The Peninsula and Wind Watch camps are week-long, full-day programs (9:00/9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with sessions beginning June 26. They include instruction on different aspects of the swing, on-course play and daily lunch. Babylon camps run Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; afternoon sessions might be available based on demand. Instruction takes place on the course and in the short-game area. Enrollment is $595 for Peninsula, $605 for Wind Watch and $249 for Babylon. For schedules and registration, and for information on a fourth camp program held at the private Colonial Springs Golf Club in East Farmingdale, visit the Long Island Golf Camps website.
Middle Bay (Oceanside): Six full-week sessions begin on July 10. Camps meet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday and include instruction on the course, practice green, in the driving range and the short-game area. Cost is $429 per weekly session with family and multiple-week discounts available. Call (516) 766-1880 for additional details.
Mill Pond (Medford): Camps are available in 3-day and 5-day sessions beginning in early July. The shorter programs are beginner-oriented with a focus on swing fundamentals, rules and etiquette. Juniors with some playing experience will also receive instruction on course management. Week-long programs are geared to more experienced juniors, with on-course instruction included during the last two days. (On-course play will be held at Rolling Oaks Golf Course in Miller Place.) Beginning July 25, additional high school development camps are available for experienced golfers age 12 to 17 looking to advance their game on a competitive level. Discounts for Town of Brookhaven residents are offered. Visit the Mill Pond website or call (631) 732-8249 for info on registration, pricing, schedules and program format.
Pine Ridge Golf Club (Coram): Full-week sessions for beginners and intermediate players begin the week of June 26. Camps are full-day (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and focus on fundamentals to build the foundation of a proper swing, with on-course play included. The $299 camp fee covers daily lunch and a goodie bag. Visit the Pine Ridge website for session dates and online registration.
Poxabogue Golf Center (Sagaponack): A total of ten sessions run from the week of June 26 to the week of August 28. Sessions are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and are open to boys and girls from age 7 to 16. Campers will learn basics of the full swing, short game, course management, rules and etiquette, and will receive golf gear, snacks and giveaways. Cost is $479 per session. Visit the Poxabogue website for info and registration.
Smithtown Landing Country Club (Smithtown): Smithtown Landing hosts camp programs led by PGA professional and Hall of Famer Michael Hebron. Instruction covers grip, swing, putting, chipping, pitching, rules and etiquette. Call (631) 979-6534 for 2017 pricing, schedules and registration info.
Spring Lake Golf Club (Middle Island): Spring Lake is celebrating its 50th anniversary and will once again offer four-day camps the week of July 25 (age 11 to 14) and the week of August 1 (age 8 to 10). Camps meet from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with lunch and on-course play every afternoon. Cost is $249 and includes an anniversary hat. Contact Spring Lake pro Cristy Jurgens at (631) 924-5115.
Stonebridge Golf Links (Hauppauge): Starting July 10, full- and half-day programs are available for beginners through intermediate players. Half-day sessions (9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.) are geared to beginners age 6 to 9 and focus on fundamentals, rules, etiquette and course/club basics. Full-day camps (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) help experienced players age 10 and up improve on skills and knowledge through on-course play and instruction. Cost is $215 for half day and $375 for full day. All campers receive a Nike golf shirt and glove. Discounts available for siblings and multiple sessions. Call (631) 724-7500 for session schedules and registration info.
Timber Point (Great River): PGA Junior Golf runs programs for beginners and experienced players, as well as advanced camps for competitive juniors. Full-day camps for players age 10 to 16 are designed to improve technical skills and course management. Half-day camps are suited for beginners and intermediates age 7 to 13. Advanced camps focus on game improvement, course management and competitive play. All camps include hours of hands-on instruction and advanced teaching technology. Costs are $650 for full/advanced and $395 for half-day. Visit the PGA Junior Golf Camp site for session dates and registration.
Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course (Woodbury): Full-day camps for boys and girls age 10 to 17, and half-day camps for boys and girls age 6 to 10, are available starting the week of June 28. Camps meet Tuesday through Friday. Teaching pros cover chipping, putting, rules and etiquette, and instruction takes place on and off the course. Full-day camp is $600; half-day camp is $425. Multi-week discounts are available. Call (516) 364-3600 or e-mail [email protected] for information and registration.
West Sayville Golf Course (West Sayville): A total of six week-long programs (Tuesday to Saturday, four hours per day) will be offered beginning on July 11. Campers receive instruction on and off the course, with lessons concentrating on all aspects of the swing, including grip, stance and alignment. The Saturday session consists of nine-hole play, an awards ceremony and pizza party. The $425 fee also includes shirt, hat and rule book. Multi-week discounts are available. Visit the course website and download the camp registration form for more information.
Shoreham's Tallgrass Golf Course is closed for good, ending a nearly two-decade run as not only one of New York State's most highly regarded public courses, but also as one consistently stalked by outside plans for development. The course will be converted into a 127-acre solar farm called Shoreham Solar Commons in the near future. (UPDATE: The solar farm is scheduled to break ground in April, per Newsday.)
Tallgrass persevered through years of development rumors, declaring it's "here to stay" as far back as 2008, and lingered for an unexpected 2016 season as plans for the solar farm took shape. Last fall, the course was operating on a "month-to-month basis."
Gil Hanse completed Tallgrass in 2000 in the midst of Long Island's most recent golf-course boom that also introduced new courses like Long Island National (now private), The Links at Shirley (closed), Stonebridge Golf Links and Great Rock, among others. Hanse, whose recent work includes the 2016 Olympic course in Brazil, designed the course on a former sod farm. Golfweek ranked Tallgrass as one of the "Best Courses You Can Play" in New York State every year since 2009.
For a review of the twists and turns in the two-year saga between Tallgrass and the Shoreham solar development that ultimately led to the course's closure, look back at this spring 2016 post.
The "Suffolk 18" is a collection of some of the county's best public golf holes by hole number, organized as a fantasy golf course with a typical par-71 to par-73 layout. Suffolk has so many great holes to offer that we put together a second course. You can review the first 18, as well as the general guidelines used to come up with the layouts, by clicking on the links below:
Golf On Long Island's "Suffolk 18" - Front Nine
Golf On Long Island's "Suffolk 18" - Back Nine
Now, the front nine of the "Suffolk 18", No. 2 Course:
1) SPRING LAKE, SANDPIPER COURSE -- par-5, 464/414/400 yards
It's hard to find many courses that begin with a double-water-carry par-5, and it's even harder to come across such an opener on a nine-hole course. But #1 at Spring Lake Golf Club's Sandpiper Course is a rare exception, especially since the 27 holes at Spring Lake are known more for their narrow, tree-ringed corridors than for expansive water hazards. The tee directs opening shots over the course's namesake lake to a fairway that leads golfers up and over a second smaller pond. At a mere 414 yards from the middle tees, this par-5 is reachable in two for many players, which makes up for the daunting nature of the first shot and the fact that, yes, a third pond is lurking beyond and right of the green.
2) STONEBRIDGE -- par-4, 442/432/299 yards
Stonebridge's uphill second is a nod to the "Alps" par-4 frequently used by C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor in some of their classic designs. At Stonebridge, #2 begins with an intimidating tee shot recessed behind a pond and facing out toward a narrow uphill chute. What makes this an Alps-style hole is the approach shot to a deep, partially blind green surrounded by punchbowl mounds. Macdonald's and Raynor's menacing cross-bunkering -- typically hidden in front of the surface -- is not present, but the claustrophobic feel, especially off the tee, offers a mental hazard.
3) SPRING LAKE, THUNDERBIRD COURSE -- par-3, 207/180/160 yards
Two bunkers -- one short left, the other long right -- defend the diagonal green on Spring Lake Thunderbird's first and toughest par-3. More than 40 yards deep, the green is a large target, but its edges fall off down steep, rough-riddled slopes, complicating greenside pitches and chips. Also, when chasing a left-side pin, shots must go over the front trap, but mounding behind the bunker rolls into the surface and can make it tricky to stop balls close to the hole.
4) MONTAUK DOWNS -- par-4, 427/411/391 yards
Montauk's fourth is a simple, no-frills par-4 that asks only for accurate work with middle to long irons. Without it, the hole doesn't give away many pars. A single bunker in the left fairway is all that disrupts the straight path from tee to green, and after a strong drive that steers clear of the sand, it's time to test the 5- or 6-iron. The target is a wind-whipped flag pushed up behind two big bunkers. Around the green is...not much. Outside the small surface and the slopes that tumble down off its sides, there is a scarcity of flat ground for redeeming poor iron work.
5) ROCK HILL -- par-4, 420/360/275 yards
Players with a tendency to lose their ball to the right have a rough 400 yards to traverse at Rock Hill's par-4 fifth. When a hole is tilted in one direction and spills off down a slope, a fairway pond in the drive zone just throws salt in the wounds, but that's what awaits those who flirt with #5's right side. Driving toward the wooded left is a better bet. It takes a well-struck uphill approach to reach the elevated green and some precision to avoid plummeting downhill toward the #2 fairway on the right.
6) STONEBRIDGE -- par-4, 278/269/205 yards
The sixth at Stonebridge is one of C.B Macdonald's "Principal's Nose" holes and one of the shortest par-4s on Long Island. The namesake schnozz, a grassy bulge protruding from the center of the fairway, sits about 50 yards short of the green. Three small bunkers surround the hump. The idea is to complicate conservative shots or merely serve as an unusual distraction. Whatever the intent, sand and snout put together, the Nose complex takes up a large part of the far fairway, and combined with a more traditional greenfront trap, it can frustrate many shots left short of the green. The temptation might be to just grip-and-rip off the elevated tee to cover the driver-length yardage, but there's OB left, and the green is severely tilted in that direction as well.
7) MIDDLE ISLAND CC, SPRUCE COURSE -- par-4, 425/405/385 yards
A decade ago, Middle Island CC transformed what had been a fairly mundane par-4 with a tree-shaded putting surface and opened it up into a more interesting hole with an "island" green. Adding a pond across the front of the green and two more deep jacked up the difficulty level and, combined with a now-watery par-3 eighth, gave the Spruce Course a more memorable finish to its nine-hole run -- so memorable, perhaps, that Middle Island's website still touts the renovations as "the highlight of 2008." A drive between two fairway bunkers leaves a middle iron into the green, and while it's not a true island, only part of the left side offers dry footing for wayward approaches. If you go into the bunkers or settle in rough near the treeline, you have a dilemma on your hands.
8) WILLOW CREEK -- par-4, 402/377/350 yards
A risk-reward tee shot heightens the excitement on Willow Creek's eighth, where a tee-to-green pond steals the spotlight as a diagonal hazard that forces players to decide how much of the fairway they want to bite off with their drives. Outside of a lone fairway bunker, the dry side of the fairway is roomy, but clever mounding short and left of the green hides the flag from many left-side approaches. Attacking the far end of the fairway requires challenging more of the lake. Succeed and you can have just a wedge in; misfire and you're digging deep for a new ball.
9) GREAT ROCK -- par-3, 180/173/133 yards
The elevated stack of tees at Great Rock's ninth hole provides a long view over the treeline and toward the horizon. Refocus on the green below and try to figure out which club will work best to navigate the downhill drop and the unpredictable winds that make the conclusion of the Rock's front nine trickier than it appears at first glance. Over-clubbing brings two backside bunkers into play, but an accurate strike sets up makeable birdie putts on one of the course's flatter greens.
OUT: Par-35 - 3,245/3,021/2,598 yards
IN THE HUNT
The following holes were tough to leave out of the Suffolk 18 courses (you can only have so many par-3s and par-5s, even on a fake golf course), but they still deserve some cred:
Tallgrass #1, par-5: Rounds at Tallgrass start with a great-looking approach shot to a green isolated behind 30 yards of rumpled rough.
Middle Island - Oak #1, par-5: A double dogleg with water in front of the green, all closely surrounded by Oak's namesake trees.
Timber Point - Blue #2, par-3: Like "Gibraltar" just ahead at #5, the "Harbor" par-3 (pictured), with its raised tee and thumb of a green surrounded by water, is a leftover from the course's original 1920s design.
Indian Island #5, par-3: The course's signature hole is propped up where the Peconic River meets Flanders Bay, and the back tee brings much of the water into play.
Montauk Downs #7, par-5: The full water carry to a tiered green is definitely cool, but awkward yardage makes it brutal for shorter players.
Timber Point - Red #7, par-5: A long, left-bending par-5 with a partially blind tee shot and an intrusive water hazard hidden behind reeds.
Tallgrass #8, par-3: On a course with lots of variation between its par-3s, the reverse-redan eighth (pictured) is arguably its toughest. The bunker in front is massive -- aim away from the sand to the left and try to use the slope to run balls toward the cup.
Wind Watch #8, par-3: Diagonal par-3 demanding bold shots over both water and sand to reach back pins.
Crab Meadow #8, par-5: Out-of-bounds marshland all the way up the left side makes Crab Meadow's signature hole feel like walking a tightrope, and that's before you consider the pond in front of a tiny green with little room for error.
Middle Island - Dogwood #9, par-4: The Dogwood nine ends with a downhill approach shot to a dramatically sloped green.
NEXT WEEK: The Back Nine
Disagree with any of our selections? Let us know in the comments section below, or become a fan on Facebook and let us know over there.
[UPDATE: This event has been canceled.]
St. Patrick's Day may be on a Friday this year, but Timber Point Golf Course is set to extend the holiday cheer through the weekend with its annual holiday scramble and dinner.
The Great River course will host its St. Patrick's Day event on Sunday, March 19, with festivities beginning on the fairways and ending in nearby Oakdale with corned beef, cabbage and drink specials. The nine-hole outing will include its typical Irish theme -- a shillelagh putting challenge warms everyone up before the 11 a.m. shotgun start, and leprechaun-related contests continue on the course.
Format is four-person team scramble. The $55 entry fee covers all contests and also includes cart and unlimited range balls. Winners of the contests will receive gift cards valid in the Timber Point pro shop.
At the conclusion of the scramble, the outing continues across the river in Oakdale with Irish food, beer and live music at the Snapper Inn (food and drinks not included in the entry fee). All players will receive a few dollars back in tickets for redemption at the restaurant.
Sign up at the Timber Point pro shop, call (631) 581-2401 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Players can also register on the day of play. Groups with less than four players will be teamed with others. For full information about the St. Patrick's Day outing, visit the Timber Point website.
The "Golf Trifecta" special posted earlier this week isn't the only way for Riverhead-area golfers to play nearby courses at a steep discount.
The Riverhead Chamber of Commerce is once again offering its seasonal Golf Tour Cards, good for eight rounds total at two participating courses. Like last year, the 2017 Golf Tour Card is available for $230, or less than $30 per round.
This year's participating courses are Middle Island Country Club in Middle Island -- home of the Spruce, Dogwood and Oak nines -- and Rock Hill Golf & Country Club in Manorville. The prepaid offer is valid for up to four rounds at each course, with cart included. Restrictions apply at each course.
Golfers can purchase Tour Cards online at the Chamber of Commerce website, or buy them in person at several Riverhead businesses. Refer to the Chamber website for information on where the cards are available for pickup.
For more information, call the Riverhead Chamber office at (631) 727-7600. And for more information on this year's participating courses, click on the above links.
Eastern Suffolk golfers can save a few bucks this spring by taking advantage of another "Golf Trifecta" special offered by Riverhead's Cherry Creek courses and Pine Ridge Golf Club in Coram
The Spring Trifecta special includes a single round at each course -- Cherry Creek's lengthy, driver-friendly Links Course; the tree-lined Woods Course across the street and the challenging layout at Pine Ridge -- for just $99. The discount rate includes motor cart and is valid on weekday rounds played between April 3 and May 19.
To take advantage of the spring offer, purchase a Trifecta card at the Links, Woods and Pine Ridge pro shops.
For more on Pine Ridge, the par-6 18th at Cherry Creek Links or the Woods Course (pictured, in early spring) across the street, check out the course flyovers at the above links.
