Golf on Long Island

Holiday menu filled with Long Island golf outings this Thanksgiving season

Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family and friends while picking away at a hearty spread of goodies, but only the winter golfer is aware that Thanksgiving is also known for spending time with family and friends while hacking away at frosty fairways in one of many holiday golf outings. 

Turkey Day is essentially "last call" for Long Island golf before the offseason of lengthy frost delays, icy tee boxes and spiked hot chocolates kicks in.  Golf comes with all the trimmings on Thanksgiving -- tournaments, prizes, open bars and sometimes an actual turkey.   

The 2019 Thanksgiving slate is another holiday buffet.  All outings are designed to get you home to the family with enough time to sneak appetizers.  Listed below are many of this year's outings, presented in alphabetical order (all outings are on Thanksgiving unless otherwise noted):

Brentwood Country Club is a typically early riser on Thanksgiving.  Shotgun tee time is scheduled for 7:30 a.m.  Rates are $42 for 18 holes and cart.  Complimentary roll and coffee included.  Call (631) 436-6060 to reserve a spot.

Cherry Creek Links is offering golf, cart, range balls and hot breakfast for $55.  Shotgun start is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, with raffles and contests as part of the festivities.  Call (631) 369-6500 to reserve a spot.

Harbor Links will host its 13th annual holiday Turkey Shoot.  Registration and breakfast begin at 8:00 a.m., followed by a 9:00 shotgun tee time.  Golf, cart and breakfast are $65 for Town of North Hempstead residents; $75 for non-residents.  Call (516) 767-4816.

Mill Pond (pictured above) will host its 13th annual Thanksgiving Turkey Shootout at 8:00 a.m.  The event almost always sells out fast.  Click the preceding link for full info

Pine Hills Golf & Country Club saves its annual holiday outing for Black Friday, November 29.  Shotgun tee time is 9:30 a.m.  The $65 entry fee includes cart, range, raffles, contests and a sleeve of golf balls.  Call (631) 878-7103 to sign up.

Spring Lake Golf Club will again host its annual holiday scramble, which includes hot breakfast and 18 holes.  Cost is $56 per player.  Call (631) 924-5115 for a spot.

Pine Hills preparing for annual Black Friday Turkey Shoot golf outing

Pine Hills Golf & Country Club wants you on the fairways come Black Friday, not in the malls or shopping online. 

The Manorville course is holding its fifth annual Black Friday Turkey Shoot on Friday, November 29, with shotgun start scheduled for 9:30 a.m.  The outing includes cart, warm-up on the range, and a sleeve of balls, plus a shot at raffle prizes and scoring contests.  Rate is $65 per player ($15 deposit required).  Check-in begins at 8:30.  Sign up in the Pine Hills pro shop or call (631) 878-7103.

Winter rates are currently in effect at Pine Hills.  For more on the course, check out the Pine Hills flyover.

Thanksgiving Turkey Shootout on the schedule at Cherry Creek Links

The Links Course at Cherry Creek in Riverhead will hold its annual holiday outing on Thanksgiving morning, November 28.  Shotgun tee time is 8:00 a.m.

The outing includes cart, range balls and a hot breakfast before play.  Entry fee is $55 with potential prizes for raffles and contests.  Visit the pro shop to register or call (631) 369-6500.

For more on Cherry Creek Links, home of Long Island's only par-6, check out the course flyover.

Annual Turkey Shoot golf outing tees off at Harbor Links on Thanksgiving

Harbor Links will host its 13th annual Turkey Shoot holiday outing on Thanksgiving morning, November 28.

Shotgun start is scheduled for 9:00 a.m.  Entry fee for Town of North Hempstead residents is $65 with cart and breakfast included; $75 for non-residents.  Call (516) 767-4816 to sign up.

Winter rates are now in effect on the Harbor Links Championship Course.  Resident rates are $75 on weekend mornings, $65 on weekdays and $32 for twilight rounds (after 12 noon).  Add $10 to all rates for non-residents.

For more on Harbor Links, check out the Championship Course and Executive Course flyovers.

Pine Ridge hosting "Friendsgiving" golf and dinner party on November 16

Pine Ridge Golf Club has created a Thanksgiving golf tradition all its own in recent years -- well, pre-Thanksgiving tradition, that is.

The Coram course's annual "Friendsgiving" golf outing returns this Saturday, November 16, bringing players together for 18 holes and a festive party.  The $65 entry fee covers an 11:00 a.m. shotgun start with cart and pre-round range balls, followed by dinner with beer, wine and live music.  Raffles and prizes will be offered as well. 

Reservations can be booked at the Pine Ridge website.  (Party-only guests can attend for $35.)

For more on Pine Ridge, check out the course flyover.

Mill Pond set to host 13th annual Thanksgiving Turkey Shootout

After last year's event was canceled due to inclement weather, Mill Pond Golf Course in Medford is prepping once again for its 13th annual Turkey Shootout on Thanksgiving Day, November 28.  Tee time is set for a bright and early 8:00 a.m. 

The often sold-out Thanksgiving tradition is a four-person team scramble this year, with a continental breakfast, in-round beer/soda, contests and raffles included on top of cart and range balls.  Entry fee is $74 per player (payment is due at registration).  Sign up at the Mill Pond pro shop or call (631) 732-8249. 

For more on Mill Pond, check out the course flyover.

Veterans Day perks at Pine Ridge, Bergen Point, Wind Watch

Veterans and active military members can golf for free on Veterans Day -- this Monday, November 11 -- at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Coram.  Book tee times online or call the pro shop at (631) 331-7930.

Bergen Point Golf Course in West Babylon is offering free carts to veterans and active military members on Veterans Day.  Proof of veteran or military status required.

From Veterans Day through the end of November, Wind Watch Golf & Country Club in Hauppauge is waiving green fees for all veterans on weekday rounds (excluding Thanksgiving).  Veterans will pay cart fee only.

For more Veterans Day specials, see our previous post on offers at Mill Pond, Brentwood and Holbrook.

Mill Pond, Brentwood and Holbrook offering Veterans Day promotions and discounts

Mill Pond Golf Course's annual "Comeback Coupon" will be available again this Veterans Day, and the Town of Islip is thanking veterans with steep discounts at its two 18-hole golf courses.

On Monday, November 11, any golfer who pays for a round at Mill Pond in Medford will receive a "Comeback Coupon" good for a free follow-up greens fee.  The coupon can be used for any weekday round of equal or lesser value through April 17, 2020.  Cart and reservation fees are not included.  (Golfers must also be on Mill Pond's e-mail list to receive the coupon.)

Over at Holbrook Country Club, all veterans will pay just $22 for their round, with cart and reservation fees included.  Brentwood Country Club, which is closed Mondays, will offer the same deal on Tuesday, November 12.

Mill Pond and Brentwood are also offering Thanksgiving events.  Check back over the next few days for details.

Great Rock closing for the season today

Great Rock Golf Club will end its season this afternoon, closing the book on a tumultuous 2019 littered with widespread reports of horrendous course conditions and rumors about the future of the Wading River facility.

Typically praised for its fast greens and overall excellent conditions, Great Rock fell into disrepair this year, with many Long Island players taking to various online platforms to post reviews and photos portraying a seemingly abandoned course with fairways overrun by crabgrass, bare greens, unmowed rough and weed-filled bunkers.  The restaurant, Pure North Fork, has been closed.  As the season progressed, the course answered player complaints with canned responses about future improvements.

Meanwhile, there are rumors that a sale of the course is in the works, so Great Rock's status for the 2020 season is currently unknown. 

As seen nearby at the former Calverton Links, the track record of golf courses that abruptly close in October amid sale rumors is not great.

Check back through the offseason for updates and additional information.

Long Island Press announces nominees for "Best Golf Course" in 2020 survey

Bethpage State Park rarely loses any kind of Long Island golf popularity contest -- in fact, it's won nothing but gold in the "Best of Long Island" reader survey conducted each year by the Long Island Press.  Still, this fall, more than a dozen public courses and private clubs have an opportunity to knock Bethpage off its perch in the 2020 "Best Golf Course" category, which is officially open for online voting.  Also open for voting are "Best Driving Range" and "Best Golf Store."

The 2020 nominees for "Best Golf Course" -- as determined by Press readers -- include 12 public courses and five private clubs.  Voting is open at the Long Island Press website until December 15.

This year's public-course nominees are:

• Bethpage State Park
• Brentwood Country Club
• Eisenhower Park
• Harbor Links
• Lido GC
• Middle Bay
• Rock Hill
• Stonebridge Golf Links
• Swan Lake
• Timber Point
• Town of Oyster Bay GC
• Willow Creek

In the "Best Golf Store" category, Babylon's Unique Golf Shop has been just as dominant as Bethpage, sweeping the contest since its inception.  This year it will compete with 14 other stores around the Island, including independent shops, national retailers and even one -- Golfsmith -- that's out of business.  (The Press has been notoriously slow in vetting its list of potential nominees.)  Country Fair in Medford is vying for a three-peat in the "Best Driving Range" survey, though it will need to beat out former champions Heartland Golf Park and Eisenhower Park, among nine others.

Winners of the 2020 survey will be announced in January.