Golf on Long Island

Winter Golf On Long Island: 2018-19 Edition

The winter of 2018-19 has arrived with buckets of rain that will keep Long Island's offseason golfers away from the course for a saturated day or two, though it could always be worse.  Drop the temperature by 20 degrees or so and turn that rain into snow and you have a dreaded December blizzard potent enough to wipe a winter golf season right off the calendar. 

Scrutinizing the snow forecasts is as common to local winter golfers as frost delays, hand warmers and jamming tees (unsuccessfully) into frozen turf.  For those who can bear the brisk breezes, the wide-open fairways and green-fee discounts are worth the slight discomfort. 

Winter golf on Long Island isn't for everyone -- most Long Island golfers call it a season long before Thanksgiving -- but it's nothing to sneeze at (the sneezing might begin a day or two later, though).  Ground conditions usually hold up until the first prolonged snow cover, and the empty tee sheets mean you can play in peace or bring a newcomer to the course to get a first taste of live play with no pressure from trailing groups.  Rounds are cheaper, too.

The winter scene is slightly different this year.  With the PGA Championship coming up at Bethpage State Park in May, only one course -- the Blue -- will remain open full time over the winter.  The Yellow Course, typically Bethpage's other winter option, is undergoing PGA-related preparation that will keep it either closed or shortened to nine holes. 

See also: Winter Golf on Long Island overview

Elsewhere, the handful of seasonal golf courses have already closed or are preparing to shut down for the winter.  Most of them will reopen in March.  The rest keep the tees open year-round.  To keep winter golfers up to date on playing options around the area, Golf On Long Island will periodically post available discount rates and specials through the offseason.  At some courses, winter rates can be as low as two bucks a hole.  Some include lunch.  Check back for updated specials throughout the winter.

In addition, as Long Island golf courses very slowly begin to dip their toes in the social-media pool, a few have made life a little easier for winter customers.  Munis like Bethpage (@BethpageGolf on Twitter) and Sunken Meadow State Park (@TheMeadowsPGA on Facebook) regularly post updates on frost delays, opening times and course conditions.  Other public courses send rate updates and open tee times by e-mail blast.  

For a full primer on offseason golf, check out the Winter Golf on Long Island page, which will feature some of this season's special rates in addition to offers from previous years.

Harbor Links hosting annual Turkey Shoot outing on Thanksgiving morning

Harbor Links will host its 12th annual Turkey Shoot holiday outing on Thanksgiving morning, November 22.

Shotgun start is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. after registration and breakfast.  Cost 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 $70 on weekends, $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.

Golf and the "Long Island Express," 80 years ago this weekend

Fall arrived on Long Island this weekend carrying with it bright sunshine and comfortable temperatures -- ideal conditions for the start of autumn golf season.  Eighty years ago this weekend, however, in the first days of the new fall season, Long Islanders on the East End ventured outside not to play golf, but to survey the damage left behind by one of the most vicious storms in local history. 

On September 21, 1938, a storm so fast-moving that it would come to be known as the "Long Island Express" crashed ashore near Bellport as a category 3 hurricane.  Its uncommon speed left Long Island unprepared, weather forecasters flummoxed and areas east of the storm's eye in ruins.  In the days that followed, East End residents picked up the pieces of homes and businesses and first witnessed a newly changed landscape, as the Island's south shore geography changed in a flash.

The Express took its toll on the Long Island golf landscape as well, already struggling through the turmoil of the Depression era.  The Maidstone Club in East Hampton was "battered to pieces," wrote the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, with remnants of the club's cabanas strewn across the beach amid other damage.  The club's 36-hole layout, feared lost at first, was reduced to its current 27 due to storm damage.  A source described the state of the course for the Daily Eagle in the storm's aftermath:

The worst damage was done on the ninth.  There the wind tore through the big protective dunes, swept away the tee and carried on through the tenth.  The ninth fairway is under about three feet of water.  The 15th tee is gone and, freakishly, the waters knifed off the back of the 14th green.  Plenty of mud lies on the 17th, while the holes across the pond, the third and 16th, got a severe salt bath.  Both bridges were tossed almost across the road.

Westhampton, just east of the storm's landfall, was leveled by the storm.  More than two dozen people were killed in Westhampton alone.  At the Westhampton Country Club, the clubhouse was temporarily repurposed as a morgue.  On the course itself, debris littered the fairways, and a boat thrown ashore by the storm was left with its anchor resting in a bunker.

Just to the east in Quogue, two bridges connecting the beach to the mainland were destroyed.  The Quogue Field Club itself was spared in the short term, but the rerouting of an access road through the heart of the course to a new beach bridge eventually caused the club to downsize from 18 holes to nine.

Montauk Downs, like the rest of the Montauk area, was stranded at sea as the Atlantic surged over land and reached Napeague Bay, temporarily turning Montauk into an island.

Meanwhile, to the west, many of the Island's courses were spared lasting damage from what the Daily Eagle described as, at least in some areas, merely "one big rain."  The Lido Club suffered $100,000 in damage along the shoreline.  Stately trees fell at Rockville Links, Hempstead, Garden City and Wheatley Hills.  Fresh Meadow (then in Queens) flooded and lost several trees, though Ralph Trost of the Daily Eagle viewed it as a positive. 

"Two were meant to go," Trost wrote.  "They always cast too much shadow on the 14th green.  But until the wind did the job, no one had the heart to cut 'em down."

[Photos courtesy of East Hampton Library and Westhampton Beach Historical Society.]

Newsday: Long Island towns lowering fees, counting on promotions to attract golfers to muni courses

Two Long Island towns and one village have turned to reduced green fees and new or popular promotions to fill tee times at their municipal golf courses, according to Newsday's David Reich-Hale.

The Town of Huntington adjusted its green fees earlier this season at the municipal Crab Meadow Golf Course to make non-resident rates equal to discounted resident fees at off-peak playing times.  Huntington, which operates both Crab Meadow and the nine-hole Dix Hills Park course, cut non-resident rates by nearly 40% -- from $46 to $29 -- under what it calls a "demand-based pricing" schedule.  Fees at high-volume playing times like weekends and early mornings have not changed.

Huntington is trying to rebound from a decline in total rounds played in 2017, largely due to the brief lack of a golf-cart contract, per Newsday.

In a June press release, Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci said demand-based pricing is "one of several creative revenue-producing measures the Town is working on that will allow us to continue to provide new and existing services to our residents without increasing the tax burden.”

In the Town of North Hempstead, the Championship Course at Harbor Links, among Long Island's priciest golf destinations for local non-residents, last season had its highest total of rounds played since 2013, in addition to a slight increase over 2016 on the nine-hole Executive Course.  Harbor Links general manager James Viras told Newsday part of the success is due to the course's weekday Golf & Grub promotion, a staple at the course for several seasons.

"It's driven a lot of people to the course," Viras told Newsday.

Harbor Links, however, does not promote the special on its website or on social media, and asks interested golfers to call the course for details.

Newsday also points to Port Jefferson Village, where membership has declined in the past decade at its municipal course, the private Port Jefferson Country Club at Harbor Hills.  The village hopes attractive packages will help boost attendance as well as a partnership with local schools to introduce more kids to the sport at the club.

Harbor Links to host annual NYFAC Foundation Golf Outing on August 9

The eighth annual New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) Golf Outing will take place on Thursday, August 9 at Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington.  All proceeds will go toward NYFAC's mission to support autistic children and their families through various programs.

A 10:15 shotgun tee time will follow breakfast, registration and a morning putting contest.  On-course contests include longest drive, straightest drive and worst foursome.  Following the round, an awards dinner will feature an open bar, unlimited food and opportunities to win raffle prizes.  Soft drinks and beer will be available throughout the day. 

Entry fee is $450 for an individual golfer or $1,400 for a foursome.  To register as a player, foursome or sponsor, contact Alex or Mary at (347) 566-3122 x. 305/333 or register online.

NYFAC is a non-profit organization that assists children with developmental disabilities learn, develop and grow to their full potential, and brings together the best care for all individuals through comprehensive programs and services covering support, education, clinical services, recreation and advocacy.  Learn more at the NYFAC website.

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

Flyover: Nickerson Dunes Pitch & Putt

Nassau County lost its only beachfront pitch-and-putt layout in 2012 when Hurricane Sandy (and Irene the year before) pummeled the short course, long a fixture beside the iconic tower at Jones Beach.  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 create 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 ribbon of sand rings the green at #7, creating somewhat of a moat effect.  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.

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 recommended as well.

OTHER NOTES:
Green fees are a modest $7 for adults and $5 for kids and seniors, but players first need to pay for access to the park ($13 per vehicle with Nassau County Leisure Pass).

Balls and clubs are available for rent at $1 each.

NEARBY COURSES:
Lido Golf Club (2 miles)
Middle Bay (8 miles)

CONTACT:
880 Lido Blvd., Lido Beach 11561
(516) 561-7700
nassaucountyny.gov

Have thoughts and opinions on Nickerson Dunes?  Share them with other Golf On Long Island readers by posting in the comments section below.

Nine courses participating in Golfing Magazine's 2018 Free Golf Program

Another May, another batch of Free Golf Program certificates set to hit mailboxes all across Nassau and Suffolk, courtesy of Golfing Magazine. 

The Hicksville-based publication announced the list of participating courses in its annual Free Golf Program on Tuesday, and the 2018 roster covers almost every corner of Long Island.  Nine golf courses are offering free green fees to program subscribers this season, six of which are full-length 18s. 

Players who've already signed up with an Early Bird discount, or those still interested in the $49 subscription, can score heavily discounted golf at Brentwood Country Club, The Woods Course at Cherry Creek in Riverhead, Gull Haven Golf Course in Central Islip, Holbrook Country Club, Island's End Golf & Country Club in Greenport and The Golf Club at Middle Bay in Oceanside, all six of which return to the program from 2017.  Added this year are the Harbor Links Exceutive Course, Rolling Oaks in Miller Place and Mill Pond in Medford.

Subscribers will soon receive their Free Golf certificate in the mail.  Taking advantage of the promotion is simple -- bring the certificate with you to the course and all you pay is a cart fee (and reservation fee, in some instances).  The certificate is honored only once at each course, at designated times during the week and on Sundays.  Availability varies by course.  (Specific terms for each course are listed on the certificate and can be viewed at the Golfing Magazine website.)  Be sure to double-check all terms and conditions when reserving your round.  Tee times must be made in advance.

As an added bonus for those who travel across the Northeast, certificates are also valid at dozens of golf courses across upstate New York and New England. 

Players can subscribe throughout the season for only $49.  Certificates are valid until December 31, 2018.  To subscribe, contact Golfing Magazine at (516) 822-5446 or visit online at www.GolfingMagLI.com.  And for descriptions of the participating Long Island courses, click the links above to read the course flyovers.

Peninsula Golf Club rolls out new website, tee times and revamped cafe for 2018

Nestled inside a quiet residential Massapequa community, the nine-hole Peninsula Golf Club is as close to a neighborhood golf course as you'll find on Long Island.  For every handful of shots that land safely on a green in regulation, one misguided attempt might settle inside someone's front lawn.  And while the course remains the same quaint throwback it's been for decades, this year Peninsula is taking several strides into the 21st century.

Peninsula launched a new website earlier this spring, complete with an online booking system and updated information about the par-37 course.  Long a spot for cash-carrying walk-ups only, Peninsula now allows players to reserve tee times online up to three weeks in advance.  The check-in desk is equipped to take credit cards, as well.  Reservations are an additional $3 for nine holes ($23 total) and $5 for 18 holes ($40 total) over the base 2018 walk-up rates.

Inside the clubhouse, The Peninsula Cafe is under new management with a unique dual setup.  From morning until early afternoon, the Cafe turns out a familiar selection of breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers and wraps.  At 3 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday, local chef Anthony Marengo transforms the kitchen into The Sizzlin' Griddle Supper Club, with a menu of modern, made-from-scratch American and global fare like beer-simmered sausage and peppers and cold sesame noodles.  Rotating specials include wing nights and discounts for first responders.  Sundays are reservation-only family dinners for six or more.  As a bonus for both golfers and hungry neighbors, Marengo also offers text ordering and curbside pickup (call/text 516-325-6452).

And to keep Massapequa golfers aware of what's happening on the course and in the grill room, Peninsula has put a newfound focus on social media.  The course and both versions of the restaurant have been actively promoting the facility on Facebook this winter and spring, even including a little touch of nostalgia.  Photos and documents detailing Peninsula's evolution from players' club to actual golf course were posted earlier this month.  Starting in the 1920s, the original Peninsula Golf Club members -- all caddies at Inwood Country Club -- held their competitions on courses around the Rockaway peninsula (hence the name).  In 1946, the Peninsula members purchased their own course at the abandoned Nassau Shores Country Club in Massapequa, where it remains today.

For more on Peninsula, check out the course flyover.

Proposed Nassau County fee hikes would affect golf-cart rentals, range balls

Fee increases proposed by new Nassau County Executive Laura Curran would impact golfers renting golf carts and buying range tokens at the county's municipal courses, according to Newsday's analysis of the administration's latest budget proposal.

Curran, citing the need to address Nassau's dire fiscal situation, plans to increase both cart rentals and buckets of range balls by $1, in addition to fee hikes in other areas like traffic violations, home-improvement licensing, beach cabanas and more.  Green fees will not be raised, according to Newsday.

Nassau County operates the three 18-hole golf courses at Eisenhower Park and nine-hole courses at Bay Park, Cantiague Park, Christopher Morley Park and North Woodmere Park.  Eisenhower, Cantiague and Woodmere also include driving ranges.

GOLI Visitors' Guide to Long Island Golf updated for 2018 and US Open attendees

Golf On Long Island's Visitors' Guide to Long Island Golf is now updated for 2018, including information on which area courses are catering to out-of-town golfers who are looking to play while here for the U.S. Open in June.  Also featured is the latest information on the new NYS Parks online tee-time system.

That's in addition to general info on Long Island, how to get around, how to find the nearest public courses, and more.  Be sure to check the Visitors' Guide through the spring for updates on course offerings related to the U.S. Open.