Golf on Long Island

Off-Course Destinations: The Back Nine, Lawrence

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.

Two years since opening, Long Beach Coffee & Tee abuzz with golf and espresso shots

Aside from the leaky cup of lukewarm snack-bar joe, golf and coffee rarely cross paths.  But down in Long Beach, behind big storefront windows and a dark awning, there is a lounge-chair-lined intersection where Mizunos meet macchiatos, where the pings of a driver meld with the familiar hiss of a steam wand.

Long Beach Coffee & Tee is about to celebrate its second anniversary on West Park Avenue, and judging by its packed weekend tee sheet, the attractive espresso bar/driving range has settled into a comfortable niche within Long Island's percolating indoor-golf scene.  The cafe features three golf simulators, a coffee counter and a cocktail bar.  An expansion into a vacant former gym last fall made additional room for two of those sims along with TV-topped lounge seating and event space.

Best of all, as the name suggests, the place is serious about both golf and coffee culture.  As a cafe, Long Beach Coffee & Tee pulls excellent renditions of coffeehouse standards — cappuccinos, cortados, and harder-to-find specialties like Vietnamese iced coffee.  An in-house baker turns out a variety of desserts, including some snacks that are well-suited for Instagram hype.  (See the recent video post on pastry-packed bread pudding.)

Its location just a block away from the Long Beach train station has made it a dependable stop for neighbors in need of a morning jolt.  "We have coffee customers who don't even know we have golf simulators in here," says Natalie Arnold, who owns Long Beach Coffee & Tee with her husband Richie and business partner Kevin Hanrahan. 

Customers who do pay attention to the golf end of the business will find two back-to-back simulators at the heart of the space, both lined with counter stools within easy reach of the bar.  In the back, a more private simulator room offers an environment on par with a stylish club lounge, with a leather couch, padded chairs and plaid wallpaper.  The Uneekor sims provide a wealth of swing data and feedback for the hard-core players; for those in a more competitive mood, GSPro software allows for rounds on the thousand-plus user-generated courses in its catalog.  There are also options to play target-style and kid-friendly games and challenges.

Arnold says one early customer was concerned the simulators weren't tracking his typical ball flight, and she assured him the technology was professionally calibrated and accurate.  "We pulled up the data and clubhead video, and he realized his swing was off," she says.  "He's been practicing here ever since."

LBC&T's devotion to golf runs deep.  Patterned throw rugs around the cafe and sim rooms are cut from old Southampton Golf Club carpets.  Recognizing the dearth of driver-friendly ranges in the area, Arnold offers a 15-minute, 15-dollar special for players who want to warm up — drivers, fairway woods and all — before a morning round at Lido, Bethpage and other nearby courses.  Appropriately titled "Morning Wood," the deal includes a cup of coffee as a bonus.  "People love it.  They really get a rise out of it," Arnold says with a laugh.  Standard rates are $65 per hour and $35 for 30 minutes, and local pro Mike Reilly is available on site for lessons.

For now, booking is done the old-fashioned way — with a pencil, pad and phone.  But that hasn't dampened the rush on tee times.  Arnold's hand-scrawled tee sheet is filled to the brim on weekends, and there is heavy interest in golf leagues that LBC&T is launching February 1.

The only drawback to all the buzz, Arnold says, is the decline in practice time for her and Richie.  "We used to have more downtime to hit balls," she says.  "Now we have more simulators but less time to practice."

Long Beach Coffee & Tee is located at 220 West Park Ave. in Long Beach.  Follow on Instagram at @longbeachcoffeeandtee and book times at (516) 608-9333.

Sandy Pond Links debuts new routing, state-of-the-art mini golf course

Two years into its rebrand in Riverhead, Sandy Pond Links continues to spruce up its nine holes on Roanoke Avenue all while it cuts the ribbon on a newer and much shorter 18 right next door.

The first of two planned attractions at Sandy Pond made its debut last week, a state-of-the-art miniature golf course complete with in-play waterworks, a snack bar and a locally brewed house beer.  Sandy Pond's new clubhouse, the second development in the works on the north end of the property, is tentatively scheduled for a 2026 grand opening.

On the course, crews remain busy installing new irrigation and refurbishing Sandy Pond's nine greens.  When new ownership took over during the 2022-23 offseason, much of their focus was on restoring the greens to their original size.  Time and maintenance changes had reduced the greens to small, circular targets, far from what co-owner Brian Stark recalled from his early days living near and working on the course.  "You can still see areas where the contours were lost, and how the greens have shrunk significantly over time," Stark told Golf On Long Island in 2023.  "They used to have more character and pin positions."

The most startling change at the moment is the rerouting of the course to accommodate the new starter's booth, currently housed at the mini-golf course until it's eventually relocated to the clubhouse.  Players now start on the former ninth hole, continue to the old opener and finish on what had long been #8.  Along the way they'll pass the landmark red shack, which will likely stay in place.  Players will also have access to a patio near the first tee that's lined with Adirondack chairs, yard games and even a mini version of the iconic Big Duck down the road in Flanders.  The snack bar is stocked with a house IPA from Riverhead's Long Ireland Brewery, and cupholders built into each mini-golf hole sign serve as handy beer caddies.

Co-owner Earl Truland says the mini-golf 18 will be a family-friendly destination that doubles as a community gathering spot and a vehicle for revenue to cover upgrades on the par-3 course.  The mini golf includes uphill and downhill holes and a series of waterfalls, one of which flows into an in-play stream that carries balls under a bridge and onto the tenth green. 

"We've had people tell us they'd love to play mini golf while they wait to tee off," Truland says.  "Now instead of passing by when we have leagues on Wednesday mornings, they can come in and spend time here before they play."

Plans for Sandy Pond's future clubhouse include a simulator room, a small bar and food service, Truland says.  The structure still needs approval form the Town of Riverhead, and ownership hopes to break ground by spring 2025.

For more on the planned changes at Sandy Pond Links, see this post from January 2023.

Winter Golf 2023-24: Mild, snow-free offseason forecasts to be tested with looming storm

It's been nothing but good news of late for Long Island's winter golfers — going back to the fall, forecasts for the 2023-24 offseason predicted milder temperatures and precipitation in the form of rain, not snow, thanks to an El Nino weather pattern.  And that's following a 2022-23 winter that was entirely snow-free.

But that prediction is facing a staunch test this weekend as a major storm heads toward the East Coast, with Long Island riding the edge between snow and heavy rain.  How the storm progresses will determine what kind of winter golf season local players can expect.

Winter golf on Long Island used to be for the rugged few.  Now, with milder weather and many more players, offseason golf is mainstream.  Courses stay busy and prime tee times remain hard to find.  

Here's the scoop on Long Island's golf season from January to March:

Until major snow hits and sticks on the ground for a prolonged period, conditions remain decent.  If you can tolerate sometimes bitterly cold temperatures, have at it.  There are plenty of courses open and waiting for you to come out and play.  Once significant snow finally arrives, stays a while and melts, winter golf turns soggy and sloppy until spring. 

Frost delays are common; temporary greens are not (though they used to be).  When there's a mild day above 50 degrees, expect a run on tee times.  

No matter the temperature, don't expect a break on green fees.  Winter rates are a thing of the past.  Courses keep their offseason rates much closer to peak prices than the $35-45 rounds with cart (and maybe lunch) from just a few years ago.

If you prefer to stay warm, Long Island now has a booming indoor golf scene, too.  Modern facilities like X-Golf in Commack and Westbury, Birdies in Patchogue, Simplay in Hauppauge and the semi-enclosed TopGolf in Holtsville are all comfortable options serving food, beer and cocktails.

Golf On Long Island posts relevant course information as necessary throughout the offseason.  Be sure to follow local courses on social media for the latest on weather closures, frost delays and more.

2023 Summer Golf Camps on Long Island

[Looking for this year's camp info?  See the Guide to 2025 Summer Golf Camps on Long Island.]

Golf participation remains at a high level following the Covid spike, meaning spots at local junior golf camps are still in elevated demand.  Junior golfers of all ages and skill levels have a wealth of options at Long Island's public golf courses for learning the fundamentals of the game, from swing to etiquette, and making a smooth entrance into the sport.

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, at 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 lifelong enjoyment on the course and as overall fans of golf.

The following is a general overview of 2023 summer golf camps offered at various public golf 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.)

Bergen Point (West Babylon):  Weekly sessions run from Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon, and are open to kids age 7 to 17.  Instruction includes short-game practice, driving range, on-course play and daily contests and competition.  Cost is $320 per session.  Sign-up forms are available on the Bergen Point website.

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 26.  Register for full-day ($775) and half-day ($500) sessions at the Bethpage / Golf Channel Academy website.

Cedars Golf Club (Cutchogue):  The Cutchogue course offers two separate month-long sessions with start dates of June 28 and July 31.  Campers age 5 to 13 meet Mondays and Wednesdays for four weeks.  All participants receive a Cedars camp shirt, a full-season Junior Pass and daily pizza lunch.  Cost is $700 per session.  Register in person or e-mail [email protected], and check the Cedars website or for full details.

Cherry Creek (Riverhead):  Cherry Creek camp programs will be available in July and August.  Specific 2023 program 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 8 to 12, and half-day camps for beginners and intermediates age 7 to 11.  There is also a special 90-minute session for "Wee Ones" age 6 to 8.  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 June 26, and discounts are available for Nassau County residents and First Tee participants.  Visit the PGA Junior Golf Camp site for full information on pricing, session dates and available discounts.

Glen Cove Golf Club (Glen Cove):  From the last week of June through the end of August, Glen Cove is offering ten weekly sessions designed for juniors age 8 to 16.  Camps run Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and cover all parts of the swing, plus rules and etiquette.  Cost is $425 per camper.  Sign up at the Glen Cove Golf Camps website.

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 26, 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.  A "Birdie Program" is also available for advanced juniors looking to improve for competition.  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, golf gear and on-course competition.  Camps are open to boys and girls of all skill levels between the ages of 7 and 16.  Week-long sessions run from late June through the end of August.  Each session ends with a five-hole scramble competition on Friday afternoon.  See the Indian Island website or call (631) 727-7776 for details.

Long Island Golf Camps / Mike Reilly Golf Academy (Massapequa, Deer Park, Hauppauge):  Long Island Golf Camps runs programs at three public courses -- Peninsula Golf Club (Massapequa), Heartland Golf Park (Deer Park) and Wind Watch Golf & Country Club (Hauppauge).  The Peninsula and Wind Watch camps are week-long, full-day programs (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.  The Deer Park camp sessions run Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  Instruction takes place on the course, at the driving range and in the short-game area.  Enrollment is $695 for Peninsula, $745 for Wind Watch and $369 for Heartland, with discounts available before May 1.  For schedules and registration, visit the Long Island Golf Camps website.

Middle Bay (Oceanside):  Six full-week sessions begin on July 10.  Campers meet Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m and receive instruction on the range and the course, with snack and lunch included.  Registration is $519 per week with discounts available for siblings and multiple sessions.  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 3.  The longer programs are designed for teen golfers age 12 to 16 and focus on all aspects of swing technique and fundamentals, plus course management, rules and etiquette.  Each session concludes with a Friday team competition held at the Rolling Oaks Golf Course in Miller Place.  Shorter programs meet Tuesday and Wednesday and are geared toward beginners age 6 to 11 with a focus on swing fundamentals.  Discounts for Town of Brookhaven residents are available.  Visit the Mill Pond website or call (631) 732-8249 for info on registration, pricing, schedules and program format.

Pine Hills (Manorville):  Pine Hills is offering two separate camp sessions that meet on Tuesday evenings in June and July.  Each session meets from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on three consecutive Tuesdays and covers the swing, etiquette, short-game skills and more.  The camp is open to juniors age 6 to 16 and includes pizza and snacks on the final day.  Sessions are $345 each or $595 for both.  Email [email protected] for details or registration.

Poxabogue Golf Center (Sagaponack):  A total of ten sessions run from the week of June 19 to the week of August 21.  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 $659 per session.  Visit the Poxabogue website for info and registration.

Smithtown Landing (Smithtown):  Smithwon Landing's 2023 camps will meet once a week for six consecutive weeks beginning at the end of June.  Campers meet for one hour at select times on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays.  Registration is $275 per session.  Visit the camp website or call (631) 979-6534 for 2022 information.

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 10 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 June 26.  Cost is $375 per half-day session and $550 for full-day.  Visit the PGA Junior Camps site for complete information.

Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course (Woodbury):  Oyster Bay's Lucas Golf Center offers full-day camp for juniors age 10 to 16 and half-day camps for boys and girls age 6 to 10.  Teaching pros cover the full swing, chipping, putting, rules and etiquette, and instruction takes place on and off the course.  Sessions run Tuesday to Friday beginning June 27.  Call (516) 364-3600 or visit TOB's Lucas Golf Center website for information and registration.

West Sayville Golf Course (West Sayville):  West Sayville offers five sessions that meet Monday to Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. during the weeks of June 26, July 10, July 17, July 24 and July 31.  Sessions are open to new and experienced juniors age 8 to 14.  Under lead instructor Sean McLaughlin, head golf coach at Sayville High School, campers learn all aspects of the swing, plus rules and etiquette, and practice on the golf course daily.  Visit the West Sayville junior camp page for info and registration.

After long delay, X-Golf Westbury preparing for possible February debut

[UPDATE: X-Golf Westbury is scheduled to open March 10.]

Nassau County is about to get its first taste of the modern golf and entertainment experience that recently has popped up farther east in places like Holtsville, Patchogue and Commack.  And it will arrive in a spot that's no stranger to the metallic echoes of drivers smashing golf balls and the thuds of tee shots crashing into screens.

X-Golf Westbury will open within weeks at Samanea New York, formerly the Mall at the Source, in part of the space once occupied by Golf Galaxy.  It will be Long Island's second X-Golf location, following the opening of X-Golf Commack in June 2022.  The California-based franchise is known for its combination of technologically advanced golf simulators, on-site instruction and events, and casual food and drink service.

Once the fire marshal signs off on the Westbury site, owner Chris Sciocchetti says the new facility will be ready to open within days.  The latest target date is February 27.  "I don't care what the actual date is," Sciocchetti says. "I just hope it has a February on it."

It's been a long road from conception and planning to finally preparing eight high-tech hitting bays and a TV-topped bar for use by local golfers.  X-Golf Westbury was initially slated to open in November 2021, but with Samanea's rapid resurrection from ghost mall to indoor shopping and immersive-experience destination, X-Golf found itself caught up in an unforeseen morass of municipal red tape.  First it was sorting out the allotment of parking spaces, then it was a nine-month wait for approval of a variance for the golf facility itself.

Sciocchetti is confident the pandemic-fueled enthusiasm for both regular golf and the indoor variety will make the long buildup worthwhile.  During the pandemic, Sciocchetti spent two or three days each week playing the courses at Eisenhower Park and Bethpage.  He had visions of opening an indoor facility somewhere near his Merrick home, and the pandemic only accelerated his plans. 

"I've wanted to do this for a really long time," he says.

Visitors at X-Golf Westbury will find a row of hitting bays along a wall to their left, steps away from a bar that will turn out draft beer and light bites from at least one area pizzeria.  Other bays, all of which include TVs and tables, are set up in corners and on the opposite side of the bar.  Separating the two sides is a wall decorated with colorful golf-course artwork, Bethpage included, that Sciocchetti's wife Kathryn found on Etsy.  Also featured are neon and turf-clad X-Golf Westbury signs well-suited for Instagram posts.

X-Golf facilities are known for their state-of-the-art simulators that feature more than 50 golf courses and advanced innovations like automatic ball retrieval, personalized tee heights and adjustable ground slope.  The short-game technology also elevates the level of play in X-Golf bays, allowing players to chip and putt on virtual greens with accuracy.  Westbury will offer local in-house leagues and a schedule of national and regional competitions that are part of the X-Golf network.  (The franchise has locations in 32 states.)  Sciocchetti is working out the specifics for instruction and fittings as well.

Hourly rates range from $55 on weekday mornings and early afternoons to $75 on weekends. A full 18-hole round takes about 45 minutes to an hour per player.

After Samanea does its own marketing push to promote its new sites, Sciocchetti says most of his own promotion will be done on social media, much like Commack, Topgolf in Holtsville, Birdies in Patchogue and Simplay in Hauppauge, all of which are active and highly visible on Instagram and Facebook.  The Westbury site has already developed a following even while building permits still cover the front door.

"I get calls here every day asking when we are going to open," Sciocchetti says.

Winter Golf On Long Island: 2022-23 Edition

Some people wake up a little groggy on New Year's Day and spend the morning in pajamas, clutching a cup of coffee.  Others wake up a little groggy, see the sun shining on a 45-degree day, and spend the rest of the morning on the golf course, clutching irons and hand warmers.

Golf on a January morning might seem like a bizarre concept to those in the pajama group, but for the ones scanning the 24-hour forecast on their weather apps as the ball gets set to drop on New Year's Eve, it's just another day in Long Island's winter golf season.

There's no official start date to winter golf season -- some might say Thanksgiving, others might argue it begins with the first frost delay.  By late December all of Long Island's seasonal golf courses are closed, leaving the year-round courses with Christmas through mid-March all to themselves.  From a player perspective, if you can handle cold, biting wind and ground conditions that get soggier and sloppier as the offseason progresses, there's no reason to stay home and let your golf clubs and new holiday-gift gear collect dust.

So far the 2022-23 winter has been OK despite the cold snap that temporarily froze everything shut.  We've seen blizzards wreck offseasons before Christmas, so a snow-free Long Island into the new year is always a win.

Some things have changed about winter golf in recent seasons.  Golf On Long Island used to post notable winter-rate specials that were available at local courses, but there's no longer any need.  The days of heavy discounts -- or even moderate price breaks -- appear to be gone.  Courses now keep their winter rates much closer to peak prices than the $35-45 rounds with cart (and sometimes a free breakfast or lunch) from just a few years ago.

Note that some courses are still offering trimmed-down pandemic-era amenities, so check in advance if you want your winter round to include food and drink options or access to the pro shop.

There's also more competition from modern indoor facilities like X-Golf in Commack, Birdies in Patchogue and the semi-enclosed TopGolf in Holtsville.  All offer enjoyable high-tech golf experiences combined with the social attraction (and warmth) of a sports bar and grill.  Another X-Golf is on the way this year in Westbury, and Simplay remains an indoor stalwart in Hauppauge.

Golf On Long Island posts relevant course information as necessary throughout the offseason.  Be sure to follow local courses on social media for the latest on weather closures, frost delays and more.

New York's first X-Golf indoor facility set to open in Commack next week

Last fall Geoffrey Schwartz led a tour through an empty, white-walled shell deep inside a Commack strip mall, pointing to where he planned to set up golf simulators, a full bar and a mezzanine for events.  Six months and a full transformation later, the space -- previously part of a closed Toys 'R' Us -- is filled with two rows of hitting bays, clusters of cozy lounge furniture and the high hopes of Long Island's latest cutting-edge addition to the local golf scene.  X-Golf Commack, the first New York location for the California-based franchise, will officially open to Long Island golfers next week.

Its arrival follows other combined-experience golf venues that have debuted on Long Island in the past year, most notably Topgolf in Holtsville last summer.  Birdies, a golf and cocktail bar in Patchogue, opened in February.  X-Golf's appeal is in its state-of-the-art simulator technology, which features advanced innovations like automated ball retrieval, personalized tee heights and adjustable ground slope.

The Commack location has nine bays, including one exclusively for lessons and two for private parties.  But what sets his venue apart, Schwartz says, is the VIP-style treatment players can expect when they step inside.

"We want everyone to feel welcome when they come in," Schwartz says.  "They'll check in at the pro shop, leave their bag and have a drink at the bar or sit and relax.  We'll set up their bags for them so they're ready to warm up and start playing."

Unlike in other simulators, players are free to admire their shots without having to chase their ball and re-tee for themselves or a playing partner.  X-Golf's retrieval system does the work -- balls funnel into a slot in front of the tee while a new one pops up at the kick of a button.  Tees automatically adjust to each player's preferred height, and when part of a league, player preferences and handicaps are maintained in the X-Golf system.

The biggest game-changer, Schwartz says, is X-Golf's superior short-game technology.  Sensors around the tee pick up ball path and speed and translate chips and putts onto the virtual green with unprecedented accuracy.  "Putting is usually an afterthought in most simulators," Schwartz says.  "But nobody playing in a league wants to just guess at how to putt and take gimmes from eight feet."

X-Golf's network of 50-plus locations around the country (and growing, including a Westbury venue due to open later this year) allows local players to participate in national and regional competitions and tournaments, in addition to in-house leagues.  Paige Spiranac is the company's most notable brand ambassador, though a hefty appearance fee might prevent a visit to Commack in the near future.  ("Maybe one day," Schwartz says.)

Phil Barnhart, previously the pro at Willow Creek in Mount Sinai, will be on site for lessons and instruction.

Outside the hitting bays, a U-shaped bar will turn out beer, cocktails and small bites like wings, wraps and chicken fingers.  A second-level mezzanine offers lounge space and a private room for corporate meetings and events.  To reach it all, visitors first walk down a lengthy corridor lined with photos of famous players and murals depicting courses from around the world.  Even before its official opening, the long hallway has drawn curious strip-mall shoppers given X-Golf's convenient location amid heavy foot traffic from the adjacent Whole Foods, Harbor Freight and Five Below.

Hourly rates range from $49 on weekday mornings and early afternoons to $69 on weekends. A full 18-hole round takes about 45 minutes to an hour per player.  The list of nearly 50 courses -- with more to come -- includes a selection of highly regarded American classics (yes, Bethpage Black is there) and several lesser-known Asian layouts.

Reservations can be made at the X-Golf Commack website.  Follow X-Golf's website and social media accounts for information about an official grand-opening date.

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.

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