Golf on Long Island

Meet Mookie Wilson at ninth annual Last Chance Animal Rescue Golf Outing on July 31

Last Chance Animal Rescue will hold its ninth annual golf outing on Monday, July 31 at Stonebridge Golf Links in Smithtown.  All proceeds from the event benefit the non-profit organization's efforts to rescue animals from inhumane kill shelters and relocate them to safe facilities and foster homes. 

This year's main attraction is former New York Mets outfielder and World Series champion Mookie Wilson, who will be on hand at Stonebridge for a meet and greet.  The Last Chance outing will once again include a $10,000 hole-in-one contest.  Entry fee is $250 per player and includes golf, cart and range balls along with lunch, dinner and open bar.  Contests, prizes and raffles will be part of the festivities as well.  Format for the outing is team scramble, with shotgun start scheduled for 1:00 p.m. 

Registration info and sponsorship opportunities are detailed online at the outing website. 

To learn more about Last Chance Animal Rescue, including information on adoption, fostering and volunteering, visit the organization's website at www.lcarescue.org.  And for information on Stonebridge, check out the course flyover.

Spring aeration dates at Bethpage

The golf courses at Bethpage State Park are fully open for the 2023 season, but there are some upcoming spring aeration dates to be aware of before making plans for tee times.

Bethpage Yellow will be the first to close for maintenance next week on April 24 and 25.  The Black Course was already aerated prior to opening.

Here is the full aeration schedule for the park's non-Black courses:

• Yellow Course:  April 24-25
• Red Course:  April 26-27
• Blue Course:  May 1-2
• Green Course:  May 3-4

Be sure to call the Bethpage golf office at (516) 249-0700 for the latest info on course availability.

New in 2023: Bergen Point shortens #9, makes #18 a par-5

Rounds at Bergen Point Golf Course will have a different feel starting this season, especially as each nine comes to a close.

The Suffolk County municipal course in West Babylon made significant changes to two of its holes during the offseason, trimming its par-4 ninth hole to a mid-range par-3 and stretching its closing hole to play as a reachable par-5.  The modified ninth is using a temporary tee (pictured) while a new box grows in.

The changes at Bergen Point likely stem from safety concerns.  For years the ninth hole, a short and straight par-4 that tops out at just 356 yards, has been at the center of disputes between the golf course and its neighbors.  The tall netting that runs along the course boundary is no match for high hooks and slices from players trying to overpower the hole.  CBS ran a news feature several years ago about complaints from neighbors that golf balls were damaging their homes.

When complete, the new ninth will play in the range of 150 to 170 yards.  Currently the temporary tee is set up around 20 yards shorter.

Meanwhile #18 at Bergen Point no longer ranks among one of Long Island's most grueling public par-4s and demanding closing holes.  To balance the change at #9, the 18th added a slightly longer back tee, which transforms the hole from a daunting 461-yard par-4 (440 from the middle) to the course's shortest par-5.  Instead of hanging on for dear life at the end of the round, players now have a scoring opportunity on #18 and can try to reach the green for eagle if the wind allows.  The deep bunker in front and dramatic falloff over the back set the stage for closing-hole drama.

For more on Bergen Point and its interesting backstory along Great South Bay, check out the course flyover.