Golf on Long Island

X-Golf indoor simulator venue to open Westbury location in November

Topgolf is not the only national golf and entertainment chain planting its first flag on Long Island this season.

California-based X-Golf, an industry leader in golf simulator technology with more than 20 indoor golf centers nationwide, will open a Westbury location this November at Samanea New York, formerly known as the Mall at The Source, according to Newsday.  It will be the first X-Golf franchise in New York.

Its arrival will be followed in December by a second Long Island location slated to open in Commack.

X-Golf venues combine the company's state-of-the-art simulators with food and beverage service in a casual, beginner-friendly setting.  Many offer league play, professional instruction and lounge-style amenities.  X-Golf simulators feature advanced innovations like adjustable ground slope and automated ball retrieval.

The Westbury location will take over a 6,300-square-foot space previously occupied by David's Bridal in the Source Mall, a shopping center that has sat mostly empty for the past decade.  (Golf Galaxy closed its site at the mall in 2015.)  The center's renovation and rebranding as Samanea New York under new ownership includes attracting lifestyle- and experience-focused tenants.  Another entertainment venue called Empire Adventure Park is scheduled to open there in 2022, per Newsday.

It's official: Topgolf Long Island set to open this Friday, July 30

After years of rumors and government approvals followed by months of pandemic-related construction delays, an opening day for Topgolf Long Island is finally on the schedule.

Topgolf Holtsville, New York's first venue in the international golf, entertainment and nightlife chain, will open for business this Friday, July 30.  The new facility stands tall as a distinctive landmark beside the Long Island Expressway just west of Nicolls Road (exit 62), its entrance located along the westbound service road.

Details of this week's opening remain vague, but what's more clear are the features and amenities that Topgolf Long Island will offer -- 102 climate-controlled hitting bays directing players toward computerized targets, along with free WiFi, more than 200 TVs and a rooftop terrace.  A full-service restaurant and bar will turn out classic grill fare and comfort food (and kid-friendly options) to pair with seasonal cocktails and local beer (Great South Bay, Montauk, Blue Point and Long Ireland are listed among featured local breweries).  Private event space and meeting rooms are expected to attract groups and area businesses.

Unlike traditional driving ranges, Topgolf offers pricing by the hour, and the bays are designed to accommodate groups of up to six players.  Hourly prices range from $40 in the morning to $60 after 5:00 p.m., with all rates slashed by half on Tuesdays, and unlimited play available on weekday mornings.  Topgolf also offers additional discounts to healthcare workers, teachers, first responders and military personnel.

Players can reserve bays in advance on the Topgolf website or through the Topgolf app, though only a small number of times are available for advance purchase. 

Topgolf Long Island has been in the works since 2017, when Brookhaven Town approved zoning changes to a former Holtsville industrial site.  The years-long process of community hearings and planning board meetings led to an initial target opening date of early 2021, but the pandemic halted construction for much of 2020 and pushed the opening back until this summer.

Check back for details on this week's opening.

SEE ALSO:
Topgolf Long Island now hiring as summer grand opening approaches
Topgolf Long Island moving quickly toward possible August opening
Progress at Topgolf site ahead of projected summer 2021 opening
Topgolf Long Island opening now expected for summer 2021
Long Island Topgolf taking shape in Holtsville
A New Decade of Long Island Golf, Part 1 -- A Changed Landscape, On and Off the Course
Topgolf inches closer to to first Long Island location with latest board approval

Topgolf Long Island now hiring as summer grand opening approaches

The parking lot is paved with lines painted.  A new sign stands at the entrance, and a "Now Hiring" banner waves at the top of the three-story building's nearly finished exterior.  Topgolf Long Island -- New York's first in the international golf/entertainment chain -- is nearing its debut.

There is no official opening date just yet, but barring any surprise delays, Topgolf Long Island will open in mid-summer just west of Nicolls Road in Holtsville.  Brookhaven Town Councilman Kevin LaValle told Golf On Long Island this week that the company still projects a grand opening between late July and the first half of August.

"Turf is down, and the exterior is just about done," LaValle said.  "Things are moving along quickly."

On site, there is plenty of activity as construction workers, contractors and employees move in and out of the fully Topgolf-branded facility.  A look through the glass-paneled walls reveals ground-floor hitting bays with couches and TV screens, with bright-green turf and target flags in the distance.  Netting is complete and stands prominently over the Long Island Expressway at exit 62.

Behind the scenes Topgolf is currently hiring for food-service, cleaning and maintenance positions.  In its initial project announcement, Topgolf estimated it would bring 500 jobs to Suffolk County.

The triple-tiered Holtsville range will offer 102 climate-controlled hitting bays with TVs, food/drink service and WiFi, as well as live music, year-round events, golf instruction and dining, in addition to the innovative, arcade-style targets and gaming features that Topgolf facilities are known for.  It will also include private rooms for corporate events and parties. 

According to price information on the Topgolf website, hourly rates for each bay range from $40 to $60 depending on time of day, with half-price rates available on Tuesdays.  Bays are designed to accommodate up to six players.

SEE ALSO:
Topgolf Long Island moving quickly toward possible August opening
Progress at Topgolf site ahead of projected summer 2021 opening
Topgolf Long Island opening now expected for summer 2021
Long Island Topgolf taking shape in Holtsville
A New Decade of Long Island Golf, Part 1 -- A Changed Landscape, On and Off the Course
Topgolf inches closer to to first Long Island location with latest board approval

Topgolf Long Island moving quickly toward possible August opening

The nets are up at Topgolf Long Island, and the company's familiar graphics adorn the building's facade.  New York's first location of the nationwide golf and entertainment chain is starting to resemble the new-age driving range local golfers have been waiting for, looking down over the Long Island Expressway in Holtsville.

After years of speculation followed by Covid-era delays, Topgolf Long Island is entering the stretch run, and the finish line, according to Brookhaven Town Councilman Kevin LaValle, is a summer 2021 debut.  In recent weeks, construction crews put the range netting in place, prepped the ground for Topgolf's targets and gadgetry, and paved access roads and parking areas along the LIE's north service road.  LaValle says the company is likely shooting for an August opening, if not sooner given how quickly construction has progressed.

"There is so much excitement for this project," LaValle says.  "Every day I have people asking me about Topgolf."

The councilman is planning a walk-through of the facility in June once crews build out the interior of the building.  By then, LaValle expects Topgolf to begin filling the 500 jobs the company projected to bring to Suffolk County in its initial announcement.  "They'll need to begin hiring soon so that their employees are trained and prepared for an opening this summer," he says.

The triple-tiered Holtsville range will offer 102 climate-controlled hitting bays with TVs, food/drink service and WiFi, as well as live music, year-round events, golf instruction and dining, in addition to the innovative, arcade-style targets and gaming features that Topgolf facilities are known for.  It will also include private rooms for corporate events and parties.

SEE ALSO:
Progress at Topgolf site ahead of projected summer 2021 opening
Topgolf Long Island opening now expected for summer 2021
Long Island Topgolf taking shape in Holtsville
A New Decade of Long Island Golf, Part 1 -- A Changed Landscape, On and Off the Course
Topgolf inches closer to to first Long Island location with latest board approval

2021 Summer Golf Camps on Long Island

[Looking for this year's camp info?  See the Guide to 2022 Summer Golf Camps on Long Island.]

Golf participation at the junior level is up during the coronavirus era.  The sport's socially distanced nature led many new, young players onto the course in 2020, and according to many local course pros, the demand for structured camp programs for kids was greater than expected as well.

Now that more kids are on the course, the next step for many of them is learning the right way to swing and manage a round of golf.  Luckily teens and tweens (and younger) in our area have plenty of places close by to find a qualified teaching pro with the skills to help put the building blocks in place for a swing that could last a lifetime.

On Long Island, in addition to the many outlets the casual or advanced golfer can turn to for instruction, summer golf programs for junior players are designed to transform the youngster, whether new to the sport or experienced, into a skilled golfer.

Many public courses in Nassau and Suffolk feature summer camp programs that school young players in golf's key fundamentals, the various types of swings and strokes, as well as rules, etiquette and course safety.  Kids work closely with teaching pros on the course, in the range and around practice greens and bunkers; in some cases, the pros working with your young golfer have been recognized nationally for their work as junior instructors.  Campers leave each session with skills and knowledge in place for years of enjoyment on the course.

The following is a general overview of 2021 summer golf camps available and open for registration at various public courses around Long Island.  For more information, follow the links below to the course websites and junior camp pages. 

(Please note this list only includes camp programs hosted at public golf courses.  This does not include golf programs held at general summer camps or any type of private instruction.)

Bethpage State Park (Farmingdale):  Bethpage's Summer Junior Golf Program is open to players of all skill levels from age 6 to 17.  Half-day programs are geared toward younger players, while full-day camps are designed for intermediate and advanced players with on-course experience.  A monthly program with tournament play is also available for competitive juniors.  All programs feature a combination of skills development and performance-related training and fitness.  Sessions begin the week of June 28.  Register for full day ($775), half day ($500) and full-month sessions ($2,900) at the Bethpage / Golf Channel Academy website.

Cedars Golf Club (Cutchogue):  The Cutchogue course offers two separate month-long sessions with start dates of July 5 and August 2.  Campers meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with times varied by age group.  Juniors age 6 to 10 benefit from group instruction and on-course play, and also receive a ten-round Cedars Junior Pass.  Campers in the 11-to-15 group receive private instruction each week in addition to on-course play, group work and a full-season Junior Pass.  Cost is approximately $600 per four-week session.  Call (631) 734-6363 or e-mail ken@cedarsgolfclub.com to register or for full details.

Cherry Creek (Riverhead):  Cherry Creek camp programs will be available in July and August.  Specific details to follow.  Call (631) 506-0777 for the latest information.

Eisenhower Park (East Meadow): PGA Junior Golf operates a series of camps for all ability levels, including advanced camps for competitive juniors.  The program includes full-day camps for players age 11 to 17, modified full-day camps for experienced players age 10 to 13, and half-day camps for beginners and intermediates age 8 to 11.  There is also a special 90-minute session for "Wee Ones" age 6 and 7.  All regular camps include hours of hands-on instruction led by certified PGA professionals.  Full-day camps include on-course play and teaching.  Weekly sessions for all programs begin July 6.  Visit the PGA Junior Golf Camp site for full information on pricing, session dates and available discounts.

Harbor Links Golf Course (Port Washington):  Harbor Links offers a wide variety of programs led by teachers all named U.S. Kids Golf Certified Instructors.  Camps begin the week of June 28, with sessions available through August.  Weekly programs for kids age 6 to 9 run Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and include games and drills that help develop important skills and fundamentals, in addition to a skills competition and gift packet.  Separate programs for teens age 10 to 16 are split into four-hour AM and PM sessions and run Monday to Friday.  These cover the full swing, short game, course management, rules and etiquette, and conclude with a two-day "Junior Scramble" team tournament.  Rates vary based on age group and time of sign-up.  For all program information, schedules and registration forms, visit the Harbor Links website.

Indian Island Country Club (Riverhead):  Indian Island's annual golf camp consists of week-long sessions that include lessons, lunch, prizes, golf gear, skills contests and on-course competition.  Camps are open to boys and girls of all skill levels between the ages of 7 and 16.  Fees are $550 per week, per camper, with family, returnee and multi-week discounts available.  Week-long sessions begin June 28 and continue until Labor Day weekend.  See the Indian Island website for all details.

Long Island Golf Camps / Mike Reilly Golf Academy (Massapequa, Babylon, Hauppauge):  Long Island Golf Camps runs programs at three public courses -- Peninsula Golf Club (Massapequa), Sumpwams Creek/E. Donald Conroy Golf Course (Babylon) and Wind Watch Golf & Country Club (Hauppauge).  The Peninsula and Wind Watch camps are week-long, full-day programs (9:00/9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with sessions beginning in late June.  They include instruction on different aspects of the swing, on-course play and daily lunch.  Babylon camps run Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; afternoon sessions might be available based on demand.  Instruction takes place on the course and in the short-game area.  Enrollment is $645 for Peninsula and Wind Watch, and $289 for Babylon, with discounts available before May 1.  For schedules and registration, and for information on a fourth camp program held at the private Colonial Springs Golf Club in East Farmingdale, visit the Long Island Golf Camps website.

Middle Bay (Oceanside):  Six full-week sessions begin on July 12.  Campers meet Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Call (516) 766-1880 for pricing, program details and additional information.

Mill Pond (Medford):  Camps are available in 4-day and 2-day sessions beginning July 6.  The longer programs are designed for teen golfers age 12 to 16 and focus on all aspects of swing technique and fundamentals.  Each session includes a team competition on Friday held at Rolling Oaks in Miller Place.  Shorter programs are geared more toward beginners age 6 to 11 with a focus on swing fundamentals, rules and etiquette.  Discounts for Town of Brookhaven residents are offered.  Visit the Mill Pond website or call (631) 732-8249 for info on registration, pricing, schedules and program format.

Poxabogue Golf Center (Sagaponack):  A total of ten sessions run from the week of June 21 to the week of August 23.  Sessions are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and are open to boys and girls from age 7 to 16.  Campers will learn basics of the full swing, short game, course management, rules and etiquette, and will receive golf gear, snacks and giveaways.  Cost is $549 per session, with family and multi-week discounts available.  Visit the Poxabogue website for info and registration.

Stonebridge Golf Links (Hauppauge):  Starting in mid July, full- and half-day programs are available for beginners through intermediate players.  Half-day sessions (9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.) are geared to beginners age 6 to 10 and focus on fundamentals, rules, etiquette and course/club basics.  Full-day camps (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) help experienced players age 10 and up improve on skills and knowledge through on-course play and instruction.  Cost is $215 for half day and $385 for full day.  All campers receive a Puma string bag.  Discounts available for siblings and multiple sessions.  Call (631) 724-7500 or visit the Stonebridge website for session schedules and registration info.

Sunken Meadow (Kings Park):  PGA Junior Golf operates half-day camps for players of all skill levels from age 7 to 13, and modified full-day camps for juniors age 9 to 16.  In each camp, players are divided into groups based on experience and receive hands-on instruction led by certified PGA professionals.  Weekly sessions meet Tuesday through Friday beginning July 6.  Cost is $299 per half-day session and $425 for full-day.  Visit the Sunken Meadow site for full information.

Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course (Woodbury):  Full-day camps (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) for boys and girls age 10 to 16, and half-day camps (12 noon to 4 p.m.) for boys and girls age 6 to 10, are available starting June 29.  Camps meet Tuesday through Friday.  Teaching pros cover chipping, putting, rules and etiquette, and instruction takes place on and off the course.  Full-day camp is $650; half-day camp is $475.  Referral discounts are available.  Call (516) 364-3600 or visit TOB's Lucas Golf Center website for information and registration.

Progress at Topgolf site ahead of projected summer 2021 opening

There is activity at the future Holtsville home of New York's first Topgolf venue, which is on schedule to make its long-awaited debut this summer, Brookhaven Councilman Kevin LaValle told Golf On Long Island on Thursday.

LaValle confirmed that Topgolf Long Island remains on track to open "in the third quarter" of 2021, likely around August. 

When complete, the triple-tiered Topgolf complex -- located along the Long Island Expressway's north service road near exit 62 -- will feature 102 hitting bays along with professional instruction, live-music events and dining.  Construction crews have been working on the interior of the facility during the winter months.

"There's a lot of excitement about this project," said LaValle, who plans to take a tour of the facility sometime this spring.  "People are constantly coming up to me asking, 'What's going on with Topgolf?'"

That's been a popular question among local golfers over several years of rumors and government approvals, and the answer seemed to come just about a year ago when Topgolf announced an early 2021 opening for the Long Island venue.  Just weeks later, the coronavirus pandemic halted business and construction projects in New York State.  The skeletal structure completed to that point stood untouched for the rest of the year.  In October, LaValle told GOLI that construction would likely resume in early 2021 to line up with a pushed-back summer opening. 

Mixing elements of a high-energy sports bar and grill with a modern driving range, Topgolf facilities allow players to hit microchipped golf balls toward arcade-style target areas for computer-scored games and contests.  Climate-controlled hitting bays are rented by the hour and typically include televisions, WiFi and access to food and drinks. 

The Long Island facility will bring 500 jobs to central Suffolk County, according to a Topgolf press release.

SEE ALSO:
Topgolf Long Island opening now expected for summer 2021
Long Island Topgolf taking shape in Holtsville
A New Decade of Long Island Golf, Part 1 -- A Changed Landscape, On and Off the Course
Topgolf inches closer to to first Long Island location with latest board approval

Lido Golf Club, famed Macdonald masterpiece, to be recreated in Wisconsin

A replica of Long Island's very own Lido Golf Club is currently under construction with renowned designer Tom Doak at the helm, and will open to members and public guests sometime in 2023 near the Sand Valley Golf Resort in Wisconsin.

Why does the bustling Town of Hempstead municipal layout need a tribute course built halfway across the country, you ask?  Well, it doesn't.  The 1950s-era Robert Trent Jones course abutting Reynolds Channel that draws thousands of Long Islanders each year will remain unique to the barrier island and Lido Beach.

Doak's course near the Sand Valley resort will bring back to life the original Lido Club, the famed C.B. Macdonald course that was built from sandy scratch near the end of World War I, vanished in the early days of World War II, and now lives on in the hearts and minds of golf architecture and history enthusiasts. 

Old Lido -- whose only living remnant is the majestic Lido Towers condo complex that dominates the beach skyline -- has such a following among golf writers and historians that years of chatter about restoration somewhere, anywhere, have breathed the project into existence in central Wisconsin.  The Fried Egg covered the details of the project earlier this week, including a podcast with Doak on both the new course and the original.

So how did Lido jump from the pages of internet forum fodder, grainy photos and newspaper clippings onto the ground in a scenic spot next door to one of America's modern destination golf resorts?  It took more than the course's historical charm and romance.  First, Lido was considered by several writers of the early 1900s to be one of the finest American courses ever built, so its recreation, Doak says in the Fried Egg podcast, was worthy of consideration on its strategic merits. 

But much of the legwork and inspiration came from an unlikely source.  Peter Flory, a Chicago-area golfer with a deep interest in lost golf courses and a fluency in virtual-golf software, took those archived photos and clippings and got to work -- hundreds of hours worth.  Previously, Flory told Golf On Long Island in 2018, he had dabbled in recreating lost courses in his area at Olympia Fields and Mill Road Farm. 

Lido, though, offered a different challenge.  Over the course of the next two-plus years, Flory posted incredibly detailed renderings of all 18 Lido holes on the Golf Club Atlas forums, where golf historians and designers, including Doak, discussed and scrutinized his virtual fairways, hazards and greens.  Using aerials, models, ground-level snapshots and news descriptions, Flory was able to digitally resurrect Lido's slopes and undulations, in some cases using details like shadow lengths and angles in old photos to estimate the precise dimensions of mounds, bunkers and other features.

[PICTURED RIGHT: A 1933 Brooklyn Daily Eagle sketch of Macdonald's #4 "Channel" hole, one of the course's most notable designs -- and the inspiration for today's double-fairway 16th.]

Flory's work drew the attention of Michael and Chris Keiser of Sand Valley, who used the digital imagery to gauge interest from future members.  When it opens in 2023, The Lido -- renderings and descriptions available on its newly launched website -- will be open to members and resort guests.

Back here on Long Island, the Lido muni lives on just to the east of its famous predecessor.  The original Lido spread from channel to ocean on land that is now occupied by Long Beach High School and residential streets.  For more historical context, take a look at these past Golf On Long Island features:

• A brief look back at the original Lido Golf Club in its "centennial" season
• Street Names: The Ghosts of Long Island Golf's Past, Part 2 (Lido Club)
• Original Lido Club featured on Golf Channel, golf history podcast
• Newsday slideshow features 11 places that were formerly golf courses
• Closer Look: Lido Golf Club #16

The Lido Club is also prominently featured in the photo-history book "Images of America: Long Island Golf" by GOLI's Phil Carlucci.  Follow the preceding link for more info or click the book image at the top of the page.

Topgolf Long Island opening now expected for summer 2021

If you drove near exit 62 of the Long Island Expressway in June, you might have caught a quick glimpse of the shell of a new driving range -- New York's first Topgolf location -- along the north service road.

And if you made the same drive in September, you might have noticed -- well, you might have noticed the same exact shell.  No construction, no progress.

There's no cause for concern, however, according to Brookhaven Councilman Kevin LaValle, who told Golf On Long Island yesterday that the $25 million Topgolf facility in Holtsville is expected to open sometime during August or September 2021. 

LaValle said he recently spoke with Topgolf representatives and noted there are no issues with the project, despite the lack of activity at the site this summer.  (Topgolf has not responded to multiple inquiries by Golf On Long Island regarding location status.)

"With a project like this, you want to make sure you open at the right time," LaValle said of the planned summer debut.  Back in February, Topgolf announced an early 2021 opening, but that was just weeks before the coronavirus pandemic halted business and construction projects in New York State.  A summer 2021 completion pushes the timetable back for construction, marketing and other pre-opening work.

"You'll probably see construction pick up on the site in January and February," LaValle said.

Topgolf Long Island will offer 102 hitting bays on three tiers, as well as live-music events, year-round lessons and upscale dining, in addition to the arcade-style bells and whistles that its facilities are known for.  It will also bring 500 jobs to central Suffolk County, according to a company press release.

SEE ALSO:
Long Island Topgolf taking shape in Holtsville
A New Decade of Long Island Golf, Part 1 -- A Changed Landscape, On and Off the Course
Topgolf inches closer to to first Long Island location with latest board approval

Long Island's future Topgolf taking shape in Holtsville

Just weeks before the world was turned upside down by Covid-19, Topgolf quietly publicized specific details about its planned Long Island location.  Included in that announcement was a broad target opening date of early 2021.

Whether or not that exact timeline still stands (the company did not respond to requests for a schedule update), here in early summer 2020, after several years of rumors and governmental hurdles, there is a structure in Holtsville that's starting to resemble a Topgolf facility.  The shell of the main building and its three driving-range tiers have been erected about a 1/4 mile west of Nicolls Road.

Topgolf broke ground on its new Holtsville facility in January, and in mid-February a company press release offered golfers a glimpse of New York's first Topgolf venue -- 102 bays spread out on three tiers, live-music events, year-round lessons, upscale dining and more.  On the economic side, Topgolf expects to bring 500 jobs to central Suffolk County.

From the press release:

"Topgolf's mission centers around building and connecting communities and we have been working very hard with the Suffolk County community to design a custom venue that fits their needs including added vegetation, updated fencing and more," said Topgolf Chief Executive Officer Dolf Berle. "We're looking forward to not only entertaining Guests here, but also being a good neighbor to the community through volunteer projects, fundraising efforts and other events geared toward giving back to local organizations.  We truly can't wait to open our first venue here in the state of New York."

Topgolf also added Long Island to its list of "Coming Soon" locations, complete with photo renderings and other info.  Topgolf Holtsville will be located at 5231 Express Drive North, just off the Long Island Expressway near exit 62.

Coronavirus Update: Stonebridge open with precautions, Simplay closed

Add Stonebridge Golf Links to the list of Long Island golf courses taking extra non-contact precautions to keep players safe on and around the course.  According to head pro Iain Wilson, the course is implementing the following changes:

• Golf carts are being disinfected before a round and after
• Cups have been raised so no flag contact is needed; ball hits metal cup - considered in ("Good feedback" so far)
• Pro shop moved to open area and disinfected multiple times an hour
• Door left open for less contact

Not far away in Hauppauge, Simplay, the indoor multi-sport facility with golf simulators and leagues, has closed until further notice.

Timber Point Golf Course -- a Suffolk County muni -- is delaying its 2020 reopening until April 1.  The other three courses in the Suffolk Parks system are still on for their originally scheduled March 20 reopenings.