A round of golf in the Five Towns area usually means a tee time at a private club like Seawane, Inwood or Rockaway Hunt, but this season it could also mean 18 on the opposite coast — say, Pebble Beach. The Back Nine, one of Long Island's newest indoor golf venues, set up shop in Lawrence last fall with two Full Swing simulators and more than 50 nationwide courses available for play.
The Five Towns branch of the national Back Nine franchise is located beside the driving range of the Lawrence Village Country Club, giving members there the option to hit balls the traditional way or step inside to test their swing on a sim. The indoor facility is open to the public and offers membership options, and like all Back Nine locations, it is available for use 24 hours a day. Guests receive an access code when they book a tee time on the Back Nine app and can use the facility whenever their schedule allows.
"We have a few members who work night shifts and stop in after midnight before they head home," says owner Dovi Bloom. "And others who take a 7:00 train to work in the morning — they come in at 5:00, play and go."
No matter what time players get their swings in, they have access to two hitting bays, each one outfitted with a TV and seating. Guests can fill up on snacks and drinks, payable via the honor system. During the day, those in the mood for burgers, sandwiches and other fast-food bites can place a delivery order from MG Craft Kitchen across the street. PGA professionals are available for private lessons.
Bloom, who started playing golf in 2023 at area courses like North Woodmere Park and Middle Bay, initially planned to open The Back Nine in Hewlett, but the deal fell through due to concerns over the 24/7 operating schedule. So he turned his attention to other locations within the Five Towns area and found an ideal opportunity next to the Lawrence golf course. The club had already built a simulator room for its members, Bloom says, but it wound up sitting unused at the range because of equipment and staffing issues.
"I approached the club and said I'll take it over and pay rent," he says. By early 2024, Bloom was pitching his idea in front of the club, village board members and the mayor, and in October his branch of The Back Nine, newly renovated and modernized, opened to the public. Players at the facility are a mix of Lawrence Village members, some within walking distance, and others who travel from around the south shore and even Brooklyn to come practice.
The Back Nine has more than 60 golf centers across the country. Franchise-wide tournaments pit all locations against each other, and Bloom says there could live events in the future where locations compete in real time. Membership benefits include unlimited tee times without per-visit costs, free play for guests and access to any Back Nine site.
The Back Nine is located at 101 Causeway in Lawrence, at the driving range of Lawrence Village Country Club. Follow on Instagram at @b9golffivetowns and learn more at The Back Nine Five Towns website.