[This flyover was updated on July 23, 2023.]
Nassau County lost its only beachfront pitch-and-putt layout in 2012 when Hurricane Sandy (and Irene the year before) pummeled the short course at Jones Beach, long a fixture beside the state park's iconic tower. Three years later, Nassau golfers got one back when the county cut the ribbon on a new pitch-and-putt a few miles to the west at Nickerson Beach.
The nine holes at Nickerson Beach -- officially Nickerson Dunes, according to signs and scorecard -- opened for play in 2015, an under-the-radar addition to the list of barrier-beach pitch-and-putts that also includes Cedar Beach and Robert Moses State Park in Suffolk. All but two of its holes measure 70 yards or less, and the longest tops out at 105. Golfers of all ages and skill levels can enjoy it on its own or as part of a full day at the beach, and surprisingly there are some elements in the design to catch the eye of the most golf-experienced players in each group.
LAYOUT:Unlike other pitch-and-putts delivering greens that are simply flat and functional, Nickerson offers legitimate putting surfaces, complete with moderate slopes and familiar fringe cuts that give way to taller rough. On #1, raised rough around the edges of the green creates a bowl-type target. An oval-shaped green on #2 flows toward the back. A series of small, grassy mounds line the path to the third green, while at #4, another series of small, round bunkers encircle a green that's only 54 yards away.
At #5, a boardwalk leads the way uphill to an elevated green that sits out of view. You'll go back down the hill at #6, the shortest hole on the course (46 yards), but one that requires a little touch when aiming for a wavy diagonal green (pictured below). (A longer alternate tee is under construction, as of summer 2023.) A ribbon of sand rings the green at #7, creating the effect of a dry moat to be breached by short pitches. Certainly the most unique hole on the course, and also the most daunting, is the 70-yard eighth, a desert-style site where a sandy waste area covers the entire length from tee to green. The tiny target is sandwiched between a retaining wall short and a berm long.
So remarkable is Nickerson's micro layout that The Fried Egg, the popular golf architecture and design website, featured the course in 2019, hailing it as a shining example of modern, "portable" entry-level golf.
"You could work a couple of Nickersons into just about any town -- nine holes on 10 acres, or four holes on five acres. At that size, golf courses cost far less to build and maintain, and could even fit into existing parks," wrote The Fried Egg's Shaun Smith.
CONDITIONS:
Tee shots are played off a raised box with mats and a rubber tee. By nature, the pitch-and-putt greens are prone to ball marks (signs throughout the course remind players to fix them) and, in some areas, small divots.
Some holes are separated by boardwalks. Watch your step -- some weathered boards have raised or twisted over time and could cause a fall.
If balls bounce into the dense native vegetation along and between most holes, do yourself a favor and chalk it up as a loss. There's at least one sign with a poison-ivy warning, not to mention whatever thorns, bugs, creatures and other hazards lurk beneath.
Sunscreen is a must-carry; bug spray is highly recommended as well.
Since Nickerson Beach Park is more of a summer-focused leisure destination than a three-season golf setting, the conditions of the par-3 course can be hit or miss outside of beach season, especially early in the spring. The course officially opens May 1, but don't arrive on a cool spring day expecting smooth greens and fluffy traps.
OTHER NOTES:
Green fees are a modest $12, but players first need to pay for access to the park ($15 per vehicle with Nassau County Leisure Pass).
Balls and clubs are available for rent.
NEARBY COURSES:
Lido Golf Club (2 miles)
Middle Bay (8 miles)
CONTACT:
880 Lido Blvd., Lido Beach 11561
(516) 561-7700
nassaucountyny.gov
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