Golf on Long Island

Bethpage, Eisenhower, Crab Meadow honored by Long Island Press readers

The Long Island Press wrapped up its fourth annual "Best Of Long Island" poll last month.  Each year the newspaper invites readers to vote on its website for their favorite Long Island restaurants, pizzerias, museums, shops, parks --- pretty much their favorite Long Island anything.  The 2009 poll included more than 175 "Best Of" categories.

In the Public Golf Course category, Press readers voted Bethpage the best on the Island for the second consecutive year.  Eisenhower Park and Crab Meadow make up the rest of the Island's top three -- in reality a top nine when you include all five Bethpage and all three Eisenhower courses.  The Press calls Bethpage Black a "work of art." 

"Five [Bethpage] courses of prime fairways, bunkers and greens," says the Press, "and you could play them all and pay less than some other private clubs charge for one round."

The local praise for Eisenhower Park golf comes a few months after the Red Course received four stars in Golf Digest's 2008-09 Best Places To Play listing.  Crab Meadow's eighth hole, a short par-5 with a lake guarding the green, is part of Newsday's Dream 18.

Smithtown Landing a new GolfonLI fave

I got a call from Rob this afternoon asking for a suggestion on somewhere to play on his off day that didn't require an eastbound journey on the LIE.  I've been hearing and reading good things about Smithtown Landing and recommended that he check it out.

A few hours later Rob buzzed me with a text message...

"Hands down one of my favorite courses on the Island."

Looks like we'll be checking it out before the weather takes a turn toward frigid.

Reader Favorite: Timber Point Blue #5

AD of Valley Stream is a fan of the fifth hole at Timber Point's Blue course, another favored hole that is a member of Newsday's Dream 18.  The par-3, named "Gibraltar," is renowned for its treacherous wind conditions and view of the bay:

It overlooks Great South Bay and has bunkers in front on the left and the right.  Wind is a big factor here and is usually a one- to two-club change depending on the direction.  With water to the left and fescue to the right this hole is my favorite for the level of difficulty as well as the need for accuracy, which varies in my game from day to day.

Reader Favorite: Bethpage Red #1

Matt K. of NYC submits the opening hole at Bethpage Red as a personal favorite.  Matt is not alone -- widely considered one of the region's toughest first holes, #1 at the Red was chosen by Newsday readers for the Long Island Dream 18.  The downhill tee shot, sometimes with a half-dozen foursomes looking on as they wait their turn, kicks off one of the more intimidating holes around.

One of my favorite holes on Long Island has got to be the first at Bethpage Red.  Driving the ball from the elevated tee box into a ravine-like fairway gets the adrenaline flowing for the round.  After walking down the steep slope to your drive, you are then faced with one of the toughest shots the Red has to offer - a long approach shot that feels like it is 45 degrees uphill to the small green.  Get out of there with a bogey, and it feels like a birdie.