Golf on Long Island

Bethpage Black ranks #7 on Long Island-dominated Golf Digest course list

Golf Digest's measured rollout of its 2023-24 Best In State golf-course rankings made its way to New York last week, and Long Island -- "one of the world's most desirable pieces of golf terrain," according to the mag -- dominates the list.  The top three courses and seven of the top 10 are located right here in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Representing the public side of Long Island golf, Bethpage Black places #7, just ahead of vaunted Sebonack in Southampton and two spots in front of East End royalty at the Maidstone Club.  Golf Digest lists Shinnecock Hills, National Golf Links of America and Fishers Island as the three best courses in the state, followed at #5 by Friar's Head.

In all, 22 Long Island golf courses rank in New York's top 50 according to evaluations by Golf Digest panelists.

"What really sets the Empire State apart from almost everywhere else are the courses of Long Island," write Golf Digest's Derek Duncan and Stephen Hennessey.  "The combination of sand soils, proximity to the ocean and winds on both coasts, and early golf architecture heritage is unmatched in the United States."

The Black Course at Bethpage State Park also ranks #39 in the magazine's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses and #7 in America's 100 Greatest Public Courses.  In a separate state-vs.-state comparison, Golf Digest's "definitive ranking" puts New York at #2 for best overall golf selection, behind only California.

After hosting several U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship, Bethpage Black will be on the international stage in the fall of 2025 when it hosts the Ryder Cup.

For more on Bethpage Black, check out the Golf On Long Island flyover and Golf Digest's variety of rankings (linked above).

Tourette Association of America holding annual golf outing at Bethpage Red on August 23

The New York-based Tourette Association of America will hold its third annual Long Island Golf Outing on Wednesday, August 23 at Bethpage State Park's Red Course.  The annual golf event raises money to support those affected by Tourette Syndrome, Tic Disorders and co-occurring conditions.

Shotgun start is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., with a brunch held prior to tee time and a cocktail reception with food and raffles following the round.  Registration is $500 per golfer with discounts available for twosomes and foursomes.  There is also a reduced "young professional" rate of $275 for players under age 35. 

Visit the Tourette Association website for registration and sponsorship opportunities.

Bethpage's Red Course is widely considered one of the top public golf courses in New York State and one of the best municipal courses in the country.  For more on Bethpage Red and its 90-year history on Long Island, check out the course flyover.

Based in Bayside, Queens, Tourette Association of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorder communities and is dedicated to raising awareness and crucial funds for those affected.  To learn more about the organization, its mission and ways you can support those impacted by these disorders, visit the Tourette Association website.

Merrick Road Park GC discontinues reservation system until further notice

If it's been years since you called a designated park phone number to hear a pre-recorded message on the wait at the first tee, take a trip back in time.  Merrick Road Park Golf Course is going old-school as of today, July 1 -- temporarily, at least.

The Town of Hempstead municipal course has discontinued its online reservation system "until further notice," according to park staff.  The only way to play nine holes at Merrick is to walk up and get in line.  Merrick's wait-time phone number is (516) 868-4650.

Until a few years ago, Merrick had always been a course exclusively for walk-up golfers.  During the pandemic the town introduced a bare-bones reservation portal that received very tepid reviews from users.  No word yet on when a new system will be put in place at the course.

Merrick is one of several nine-hole municipal courses along the water on Nassau County's south shore.  Players can see Jones Beach and the Long Beach barrier island from the course, especially the par-3 second hole, which is elevated above the bay.  For more on Merrick, check out the course flyover.

Long Island Golf Junkies holding summer golf outing at The Vineyards in Riverhead

The Long Island Golf Junkies players group, one of the largest and most active groups in the region, will hold a summer golf outing next month at The Vineyards Golf Club in Riverhead.  Event date is Monday, July 10 with a shotgun start scheduled for 9:00 a.m.  The LIGJ outing is open to all players.

Entry fee is $220 per golfer.  Outing participants can arrive early for a pre-round breakfast followed by drinks on the course, lunch at the turn and then post-round dinner and open bar.  It is an individual stroke play event with contests for closest to the pin and longest drive, plus raffles and prizes.  Visit the LIGJ website to reserve spots for singles and groups and for full registration details.

The Vineyards is a private club and one of the newer additions to the Long Island golf scene.  Originally known as Olde Vine, the course is laid out on bucolic North Fork grounds bordered by the public Cherry Creek Woods golf course and stretches of agricultural land.  It is a par-70 that tops out at nearly 5,900 yards and features close to 100 sand traps.

LIGJ hosts several formal outings, casual rounds and social meet-ups each season at both public courses and private clubs.  Interested local golfers can become members via the Long Island Golf Junkies Facebook group.

Spy Ring Golf Club in Setauket working its way toward a soft opening this fall

Gone are the sounds of hammering construction and the roar of heavy machinery.  In their place, in a pristine golf and residential complex in Setauket, are the soft whispers of fairway sprinklers and quiet music drifting from an apartment terrace. 

Soon those sounds will be joined by the echoes of a purely struck iron and the cheers from a well-deserved par.

Spy Ring Golf Club, Long Island's newest public course and arguably the most ambitious public-golf project on the Island in a quarter century, is steadily progressing toward a soft opening this fall.  Designed by Tyler Rae, Spy Ring is a modern nine-hole course featuring big, uniquely contoured greens, hefty bunkers and a startling amount of elevation change.  The course plays around newly built Heatherwood residences on a property that for nearly 60 years was the site of Heatherwood Golf Club, an executive-length 18.

Jimmi Conway, the longtime golf director and now vice president of golf operations at both Spy Ring and Pine Hills in Manorville, says the Spy Ring team is taking the opening slow to make sure the grounds are fully prepared for the rigors of play.  Even though the course looks like a finished product, Conway and Heatherwood president Chris Capece say they have the luxury of time to let the course mature ahead of its unveiling to the public.

"We want to do this the right way," Conway says.  "We don't want the course to get beat up before it's ready."

Still, to the naked eye that sees nothing but smooth fairways, freshly cut rough and rippling greens, it's hard to put aside the urge to drop a few balls and give the course a test run.  The par-3 seventh is the looker, a 145-yard shot over a row of four surprisingly large sand traps.  Rae built "fun" greens with plenty of pinnable space, and here on #7, a front-right tongue and a rear plateau set up some very interesting pin positions. 

From #7 tee the entire back half of the course is in view -- the downhill par-3 fifth, the punchbowl-style green on #6, the elevated green on #8 and the down-then-up par-5 closer.  Many of the greens feature broad entrances that allow for running and bounding approaches, a rarity for Long Island publics.  And the sandy base will allow the course to play firm.

A small patio overlooks the first tee and a huge, sloped practice green.  A practice bunker is nearby as well.  Conway loves the intimacy of the pro-shop setup, where he's close enough to the first tee to applaud someone who opens their day with a perfect drive -- or razz someone who needs to take an early mulligan.  Inside, the pro shop offers a small collection of Spy Ring apparel and features a black-and-white mural depicting Heatherwood's original grand opening in the early 1960s.

As for the site's 2023 opening, growing conditions this summer and early fall will ultimately determine when the course sends its first groups out for limited play.  As of yet there is no determination on green fees.

For more on Spy Ring and its design, check out our GOLI feature from last May:
Coming Soon: Heritage Spy Ring GC, Long Island's first shot at the Sweetens Cove model

2023 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.

AHEPA Chapters of Long Island Golf Outing scheduled for May 22 at Middle Bay

The annual AHEPA Chapters of Long Island Golf Outing will be held on Monday, May 22 at The Golf Club at Middle Bay in Oceanside.  Proceeds from the event will support AHEPA's philanthropic and educational efforts in the region's Greek community and the broader Long Island community as a whole.

Entry fee is $175 per player and includes breakfast, hot lunch, beer and other beverages.  On Middle Bay's waterfront par-3 10th, players will have the opportunity to ace the hole for a $25,000 grand prize.  There will also be cash prizes for longest drive and closest to the pin.  Shotgun start is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. 

Registration info and sponsorship opportunities are detailed online at the outing website. 

To learn more about AHEPA and its philanthropic work across Long Island, visit the local chapter website.  For more information about Middle Bay, check out the course flyover.

Long Island Golf Junkies social outing to be held at Inwood CC on June 5

The Long Island Golf Junkies players group, one of the largest and most active groups in the region, will hold one of its social golf outings on Monday, June 5 at the private Inwood Country Club.  The event tees off at 12 noon and is open to all local players.

Entry fee is $250 per golfer.  All outing participants get breakfast, drinks and a BBQ lunch at the turn.  Spots can be reserved for singles and groups at the LIGJ website.  It is an individual stroke play event with contests for closest to the pin and longest drive.  Visit the LIGJ website for full registration details.

Inwood is a private club originally built in 1901 as a nine-hole course.  It's best known for hosting the 1923 U.S. Open in which amateur Bobby Jones prevailed in a Sunday playoff against professional Bobby Cruickshank.  Jones hit a second-shot 2-iron to eight feet on the 18th hole to secure the win.  Inwood also hosted the 1921 PGA Championship won by Walter Hagen.

LIGJ hosts several formal outings, casual rounds and social meet-ups each season at both public courses and private clubs.  Interested local golfers can become members via the Long Island Golf Junkies Facebook group.

Meet Mookie Wilson at ninth annual Last Chance Animal Rescue Golf Outing on July 31

Last Chance Animal Rescue will hold its ninth annual golf outing on Monday, July 31 at Stonebridge Golf Links in Smithtown.  All proceeds from the event benefit the non-profit organization's efforts to rescue animals from inhumane kill shelters and relocate them to safe facilities and foster homes. 

This year's main attraction is former New York Mets outfielder and World Series champion Mookie Wilson, who will be on hand at Stonebridge for a meet and greet.  The Last Chance outing will once again include a $10,000 hole-in-one contest.  Entry fee is $250 per player and includes golf, cart and range balls along with lunch, dinner and open bar.  Contests, prizes and raffles will be part of the festivities as well.  Format for the outing is team scramble, with shotgun start scheduled for 1:00 p.m. 

Registration info and sponsorship opportunities are detailed online at the outing website. 

To learn more about Last Chance Animal Rescue, including information on adoption, fostering and volunteering, visit the organization's website at www.lcarescue.org.  And for information on Stonebridge, check out the course flyover.

Spring aeration dates at Bethpage

The golf courses at Bethpage State Park are fully open for the 2023 season, but there are some upcoming spring aeration dates to be aware of before making plans for tee times.

Bethpage Yellow will be the first to close for maintenance next week on April 24 and 25.  The Black Course was already aerated prior to opening.

Here is the full aeration schedule for the park's non-Black courses:

• Yellow Course:  April 24-25
• Red Course:  April 26-27
• Blue Course:  May 1-2
• Green Course:  May 3-4

Be sure to call the Bethpage golf office at (516) 249-0700 for the latest info on course availability.