The long-rumored reopening of Great Rock Golf Club in Wading River is delayed until later this summer, possibly around the July 4 holiday. Great Rock has been closed since late 2019 and was sold to a new local ownership group in spring 2021.
This latest projection follows earlier indications that the course was on track to reopen by Memorial Day. But the holiday came and passed, and the facility is still not prepared to welcome golfers back to play the hilly par-71, best known for its fast greens. The course itself appears to be ready for play, though the driving range remains in disrepair, and other work around the clubhouse is still ongoing.
One sign of progress is the announcement of a dining partner at the facility. Pulcinella's of Massapequa will open Pulcinella's On the Green in the space previously occupied by Blackwells and Pure North Fork. A restaurant staffer said they hope to open by mid-July.
There are also rumors that the course will be renamed The Rock, though this has not been confirmed. The course was originally named for the giant boulder unearthed during construction, which now sits next to #10 green.
Great Rock abruptly closed in fall 2019, capping a season in which players complained of deteriorating course conditions and signs of neglect. Local owners Chris Vene and Anthony Lomangino purchased the course in May 2021, according to the Riverhead News-Review. Vene has an ownership stake in the nearby Baiting Hollow Golf Club in Baiting Hollow and The Vineyards Golf Club in Riverhead, as well as a golf course maintenance company. He told the News-Review that one of his goals is to provide Great Rock's players with a "member for the day" experience.
[Pictured: Great Rock clubhouse in June 2022.]
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