Golf on Long Island

Free summer golf for kids at Spring Lake's Sandpiper Course

Spring Lake's junior golf special is back this summer, offering Long Island kids the opportunity to tag along with an adult for nine holes at no cost.

On Wednesdays and Thursdays in July and August, kids under the age of 14 play a free round with each paying adult.  The special covers nine holes on Spring Lake's Sandpiper Course, home to the facility's namesake lake and signature hole.

Book online at the Spring Lake website or call the course at (631) 924-5115 for additional info and reservations.  Cart fees are not included, proper attire is required.

For more information on Spring Lake's Sandpiper Course, check out the course flyover.

Spring Lake's junior golf special is back this summer, offering Long Island kids the opportunity to tag along with an adult for nine holes at no cost.

On Wednesdays and Thursdays in July and August, kids under the age of 14 play a free round with each paying adult.  The special covers nine holes on Spring Lake's Sandpiper Course, home to the facility's namesake lake and signature hole.

Book online at the Spring Lake website or call the course at (631) 924-5115 for additional info and reservations.  Cart fees are not included, proper attire is required.

For more information on Spring Lake's Sandpiper Course, check out the course flyover.

Street Names: The Ghosts of Long Island Golf's Past, Part 6 -- Mill Pond East

Street names can give clues about a community's past.  That's especially true with golf courses.  When Long Island streets are tagged with golf-related terms, it often means that buried beneath sidewalks and front lawns are the remains of a long-forgotten (or fondly remembered) course.

This series of posts will look back at courses that have been gone for decades, some close to a century, and whose presence is only marked by what developers scratched on road maps and signs.  To see other courses in the "Street Names: The Ghosts of Long Island Golf's Past" series, click the links at the bottom of the post.

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A tiny minority of Long Islanders have the rare ability to walk off their front porches onto a street boasting the name of a famed U.S. Open golf course, turn onto the home of The Masters and loop around to a cul-de-sac titled for another historic American golf club.  There are golf course views and access to pools, a spa, a rec center -- no, it's not a golf resort, but it's close.

The Meadowbrook Pointe Links and Spa retirement community in Medford is the next-door neighbor of Mill Pond Golf Course, and beyond its front gates weave residential streets like Augusta Drive, Pebble Beach Road and Cypress Pointe Court.  Many of the large, modern homes look out over Mill Pond's lengthy 12th and 18th fairways.

Not long ago, the land beneath those homes and roads shared a much more intimate relationship with Mill Pond, because it was Mill Pond -- its East Course, to be exact, the third nine of what for a brief time in the early 2000s was a 27-hole golf facility.

Today Mill Pond is a popular 18-hole destination, but when it opened in 1999, it featured three distinct nine-hole layouts.  The North, West and East courses were designed by Buddy Johnson and built over what was previously flat Medford farmland.  From that level ground emerged a links-style course complete with mounds and dales, tall rough and a heavy wind presence.  The complex featured six large ponds, three of which rippled peacefully on the East Course.

Like its sister courses, Mill Pond East dotted its fairways with small, round bunkers and protected its greens with larger traps and diagonal approaches.  Some holes flipped the script, pitting the fairways instead with big, irregular traps and carving pot bunkers near the greens.  Three holes required tee shots over or around the ponds, including the short par-3 seventh.

The East Course enjoyed only a fleeting moment along Mill Road, though.  While play on the other 18 holes carried on, by 2006 Mill Pond closed and abandoned the East.  For several seasons the fairways and greens deteriorated in plain sight, until builders finally broke ground in 2010 on the new Meadowbrook residences. 

In addition to Pebble, Cypress and Augusta, the community also honors more modern American golf meccas with streets named for Pacific Dunes and Sand Hills.

Fun fact: Early in Mill Pond East's short run, two residential streets were built near the southern end of the course-- Tee Box Court and Mulligan Drive.

[PICTURED: Mill Pond Golf ad, circa 2005.]

SEE OTHER STREET-NAME POSTS:
Part 1: Cedar Point/Meadowlawn/Westwood -- North Woodmere
Part 2: The Lido Club -- Lido Beach
Part 3: Valley Stream Country Club -- Valley Stream
Part 4: Sayville Golf Club -- Sayville
Part 5: Riverhead Country Club -- Riverhead

New owners preparing to reopen Great Rock Golf Club in Wading River

A new ownership group that includes a part-owner of two Riverhead-area golf clubs is preparing to resurrect the dormant Great Rock Golf Club in Wading River, according to an article published last week in the Riverhead News-Review.

The sale to Chris Vene and Anthony Lomangino was expected to close this past week on May 27, wrote the News-Review's Tim Gannon.  Vene has an ownership stake in the nearby Baiting Hollow Golf Club in Baiting Hollow and The Vineyards Golf Club in Riverhead, as well as a golf course maintenance company that would service Great Rock.

Vene told the News-Review that a priority of the reopened golf course would be providing a "member for the day" experience.

[Vene] said some people might not play that often or might not be able to afford membership costs at other clubs. 

“So you go to Great Rock and you’re a member for the day,” he said. “You have a great facility, and you have access to the locker room, the sauna, the showers, the driving range. You can hit as many balls as you want and then, hopefully, get a great meal at the restaurant.”

As for who will operate the restaurant, Mr. Vene said, “We’re working on it,” adding that he has interviewed “multiple local restaurateurs.” -- Tim Gannon, Riverhead News-Review, 5/18/2021

Great Rock abruptly closed in October 2019 amid rumors of a sale, some naming Vene as a potential buyer.  The closure capped an abbreviated season filled with player complaints about course conditions, lack of maintenance and limited facilities.  The course immediately began promoting its 2020 season, though the course never reopened.

Last month, Great Rock dropped vague clues of a potential return on its Facebook page.

Vene, who lives near the course, said he plans to meet with neighbors after the sale to discuss their concerns.  One long-standing issue has been noise from weddings and other events held in the club's temporary outdoor tent, though Great Rock was granted town approval last year to expand its clubhouse.

A golf course reopening date is not available at the moment.  Stay tuned to Golf On Long Island this spring and summer for updates on the course.

Harbor Links, Sunken Meadow to host 2021 Drive, Chip & Putt local qualifiers

Long Island junior golfers with an eye on competing at Augusta National can start the journey to Georgia today by registering for local qualifying rounds of the annual Drive, Chip & Putt Championship, to be held this summer at three area golf courses.

Qualifying rounds for the 2021-22 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship will be held in July at Harbor Links in Port Washington (July 7), Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park (July 19) and the private Colonial Springs Golf Club in Farmingdale (July 20).  The event, which is made possible by the United States Golf Association, the PGA of America and the Masters Tournament, is open to boys and girls from age 7 to 15.  It gives juniors in all 50 states the opportunity to qualify at local courses and compete for a chance to play in a televised championship at Augusta National on the eve of The Masters.

Top performers at the Long Island qualifiers will advance to the sub-regional round, scheduled for August 22 at the Town of Colonie Golf Course near Albany.  The eighty open spots at the Augusta championship -- 40 boys and 40 girls -- will then be determined at regional finals.

Participation in the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship is free.  Players accumulate points for performance in driving, chipping and putting challenges.  Complete competition rules, eligibility requirements and scoring outlines are available at the Drive, Chip & Putt website.

Nine & Dine Special this week at Pine Hills

With coronavirus restrictions loosening around the state, you can expect to see a return to outings, food-and-golf specials and more at area golf courses.  Pine Hills in Manorville is offering a Nine and Dine outing this Wednesday, May 19 with tee times scheduled between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.

Nine holes with cart followed by a chicken, filet mignon or skirt steak dinner is $70 per person.  Reservations can be made through the Pine Hills pro shop.  Call (631) 878-7103 or stop by the Manorville course.

Pine Hills is a driver-friendly course and one of a small handful of Long Island publics to measure more than 7,000 yards from the tips.  For more on Pine Hills, check out the course flyover.

2021 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.

What's become of Long Island's recently departed public golf courses

With signs that Great Rock Golf Club in Wading River might be returning to Long Island's public golf roster, it's worth taking a look back at other lost courses in the area.  Back when Golf On Long Island began covering the region's public golf scene in 2008, the list of local courses was a little bit longer.  Over the past decade-plus, the Island -- especially the East End -- has seen a couple of public courses lose out to development, privatization or other factors.

Here's a look at Long Island's recently lost golf courses and where they stand today, if at all:

CALVERTON LINKS

What it was:  A mix of parkland-style holes on the front nine and sprawling, rolling, wide-open terrain on the back.  Originally a nine-hole course, Calverton Links expanded to 18 in 1999 with new holes built on farmland.  Aside from its very distinct personalities, the course featured a variety of tiered greens -- including a massive slope on its par-5 15th -- and a generally low-key vibe.

What it is now:  Calverton's run on the East End came to a sudden close in fall 2013 with word that the owners were no longer interested in running it.  Eventually the property was leased to a nearby company operating paintball and other outdoor activities.  Passing motorists on Edwards Avenue in Calverton will find land that still resembles a golf course, though much of it is used for various sports and events.  The back extension of the course sits largely untouched, as seen on aerial imagery.

DIX HILLS GOLF CLUB

What it was:  A quaint nine-hole fixture in Dix Hills with a small, shaded cabin for a clubhouse and lots of old-fashioned charm.  It was a 2,600-yard par-35 with deep rough and a ravine that cut across two of its holes.

What it is now:  The course closed in 2012, and its gravel driveway and wooded cabin sat weedy and overgrown for more than a year.  Today, the property is the site of luxury housing.

GREAT ROCK

What it was:  In its prime, Great Rock offered as close to a private-club experience as any public course on the Island.  Off the course, staff members loaded your bag and cleaned your clubs, and a Zagat-rated steakhouse and bar (later a refurbished American bistro) hosted plenty of post-round cocktails.  The stories told over beer and burgers likely centered on Great Rock's fast greens and extremely hilly terrain, including its dead-uphill 10th and roller coaster-ish closing par-5.

What it is now:  A course that might be on its way back for a second time (it closed once for six months in 2014 during an ownership change).  Great Rock's latest run in Wading River came to a sorry end in 2019 -- the restaurant closed and the course was largely neglected, leading many players to voice their displeasure online about overgrown fairways, weedy bunkers and scorched greens.  Great Rock closed that October, hinted at improvements for 2020, and never reopened.  There have been whispers though that a new owner might resurrect the golf course sometime in 2021, though details are scarce to date.

HEATHERWOOD

What it was:  A rarity on Long Island -- an 18-hole executive course.  With a dozen par-3s and six par-4s, Heatherwood sported an easygoing par-60 with no frills.  It wasn't a total pushover though -- all but three of its par-3s stretched out between 150 and 200 yards.

What it is now:  An overgrown lot being used as a political football between a real estate developer and the Town of Brookhaven.  For the past few years it's been no secret that the course would be cut down to nine holes to make way for a senior housing complex, but late in the approval process the developer, Heatherwood Golf and Villas, told the town its project couldn't get off the ground without millions of dollars in tax breaks.  When Brookhaven swatted down several aid requests, the developer abandoned the course and let it grow into a very visible eyesore.  The standoff is ongoing.

JONES BEACH PITCH-AND-PUTT

What it was:  For almost as long as there's been a Jones Beach State Park, there's been a short golf course just to the southeast of its iconic tower.  The pitch-and-putt course was a simple, no-frills respite for beachgoers looking for fun in the sun while confining the sand to bunkers.  Fun fact -- one prominent mid-1900s golf writer credited the design of the course -- erroneously, most likely -- to Alister MacKenzie.

What it is now:  It turns out that beachfront golf courses and Long Island storms aren't a great match, and Jones Beach was repeatedly battered by the region's frequent nor'easters and hurricanes.  Flooding and saltwater damage were a seasonal nuisance.  In 2010, the opening was delayed until summer due to storm damage, and two years later, Hurricane Sandy shut the course for good.  The site is now a climbing and adventure park called WildPlay.

LINKS AT SHIRLEY

What it was:  A high-end public course known for a private-club feel and immaculate conditions.  Like many of the courses on this list, it arrived during the Tiger boom, and within a decade it was fending off pressure from developers.  It was a challenging course that the owner described as the "fulfillment of a dream."  Ultimately it was likely done in, at least in part, by some of the Island's highest green fees.  The course closed in 2010.

What it is now:  Part of the Links is now home to a luxury retirement community called The Colony Preserve.  More than ten years since they closed, some holes still exist on the back end of the development and, at some point, will be used as parkland.

LONG ISLAND NATIONAL

What it was:  A Robert Trent Jones Jr. course with as much rolling, wind-swept, links-style golf as one could find on Long Island's public side.  Wavy, fescue-bordered fairways led the way, in some spots, to double greens.  The contours of the course were all the more impressive given its prior life as a flat Riverhead potato farm.  According to the design company's website, Jones Jr. was so proud of the course that he hosted his 60th birthday there when it opened in 1999.

What it is now:  A private club.  New ownership took over in 2013 and made that the last season in which public golfers would be welcome.

MILL POND (EAST)

What it was:  The third nine of what for a short time was the 27-hole Mill Pond Golf Course in Medford.  The East course arrived with its 18 companion holes in 1999, but by 2006 it was taken out of the rotation and left to decay in plain sight for years next to the present-day 12th hole, until construction eventually began on a new development. 

What it is now:  The entire course was replaced by a Meadowbrook Pointe residential community.

TALLGRASS

What it was:  A Gil Hanse design that was consistently ranked among the best publicly accessible golf courses in New York State.  Unfortunately, it was also consistently trailed by rumors about development.  Like Jones Jr. at Long Island National, Hanse took a flat expanse of agricultural land and made it move, in this case by digging down and creating a berm with several holes playing around its rim.  Sandy waste areas and namesake fescue bolstered what was a relatively short par-71 (later a par-70).

What it is now:  Its final years were spent parrying the approach of a proposed solar farm.  Though the course held out longer than expected, in the end, the development won.  Today Tallgrass is covered head to toe in solar panels.  Don't look at Google Earth if you're squeamish.

Signs of life at recently closed Great Rock Golf Club?

Great Rock Golf Club is no stranger to bouncing back from a closure.  The Wading River facility already did it once a few years ago -- the course closed amid an ownership change during the 2013-14 offseason, then reopened that June.  Now there are some signs that the again-closed Great Rock is preparing to come back to life a second time.

Since the course's late-2019 closure, rumors have circulated around a potential sale of Great Rock, including whispers of the involvement of another East End golf course owner.  Last week some activity on Great Rock's long-dormant Facebook page drew the attention of area golfers.  Silent for nearly 16 months, the course's page suddenly posted a "Play the Rock!!!" message along with the upload of an old course photo.  Days later, the post was removed, though the photo remains up.  Some commenters have noted construction vehicles and maintenance activity on the property.

Meanwhile, no further information from the course has followed.  Great Rock's old phone number remains disconnected and e-mails to its listed address are unanswered.

Prior to Great Rock's closing in October 2019, players complained privately and on public forums like Golf Advisor about a deeply neglected course with crabgrass-covered fairways and bunkers, bare greens and unmowed rough.  Off the course, services were limited.  Once the course closed just before Halloween, it began a heavy "See You Next Year!" marketing campaign -- however, the only thing that arrived in 2020 was a locked gate and a sign saying Great Rock was out of business.

[PICTURED: Great Rock's #1 green.]

Heatherwood Golf Club remains closed amid real estate fight

A years-long battle over a proposed senior housing complex in Centereach that would cut the Heatherwood Golf Club from 18 holes to nine has instead reduced the entire course to overgrowth as the future of the development dims.  Heatherwood has been closed since early 2020, and it appears likely the course will stay closed for good.

Heatherwood slowly grew into an eyesore along busy Nesconset Highway during its abandoned 2020 season, Kyle Barr of TBR News wrote in October.  At one point a sign that read "What Should We Build?" was erected over the dormant golf course.

The deserted course and weedy lot are the culmination of a lengthy struggle pitting the Town of Brookhaven against a Commack-based real estate developer that wants millions of dollars in tax breaks to build 200 housing units for seniors on part of the golf course property.  Arguing that tax breaks would take revenue away from local school districts, the Brookhaven Town Industrial Development Agency rejected several requests in 2019 for economic-aid packages for the developer, Heatherwood Golf and Villas, ranging from $2 million to $7 million in exemptions.  Heatherwood contends that the project -- which would keep nine of the club's 18 holes -- is dependent on the tax breaks.

The developer was originally granted a zoning change for the project in 2014 and already has most of the approvals it needs to start construction of the housing complex, according to Newsday.   Local residents and civic associations spoke out against the development at the time, and after continued opposition, some feel that the abandonment of the golf course is a "vindictive" counter to the town's aid rejection, Barr reported.

As for Heatherwood Golf Club, part of the Long Island public-golf scene for more than 50 years, it filled a niche as the Island's only 18-hole executive-length course.  The 4,100-yard course featured six par-4s and a dozen par-3s, most of which played longer than 150 yards.  Its signature hole was the 148-yard ninth, where shots to a deep green needed to sail over a small pond.

Tee times will be a hot commodity again at local golf courses in 2021

On this first morning of spring, the season of new beginnings, opening day at Bethpage Green was slowed by a frost delay.  It was a fitting way to follow a winter season that was largely snowed out.

The cold thaw will do little to dampen local golf enthusiasm though, or the prospects for 2021.  The rush on tee times that became one of the main storylines in the pandemic-affected Long Island golf season of 2020 is likely to carry over through this year, Newsday golf writer Jeff Williams said in a St. Patrick's Day column, as more and more courses begin to shake off the winter freeze.  Harbor Links also reopened on Saturday, joining courses like Timber Point and Cherry Creek Woods that raised the curtain on 2021 last week.

And with sunny skies and temps projected in the 50s and 60s this week, expect a preview of this spring and summer's run on reservations.  Pent-up demand helped one Suffolk County course send out 150 players as far back as a sunny, freshly snow-thawed March 3.

"Tee sheets filled up in an instant, a week in advance or more," Williams said of 2020.  "And that trend isn't showing any signs of slowing down."

It's not just the push for golf itself that is driving demand for reservations.  "Tee times are like gold," Sunken Meadow head pro Judy Alvarez told Golf On Long Island in the fall, because most courses are still not allowing walk-up play amid the focus on pandemic safety.  Just about everyone needs a reservation to get onto any local first tee.  Players accustomed to dropping by a nearby course to join a group, or who might decide to sneak in nine holes one afternoon on a whim, are now at a severe disadvantage.  

Courses like the nine-hole Nassau County munis at North Woodmere, Bay Park, Cantiague and Christopher Morley are offering tee times for the first time ever, and without walk-up play, the difference is clear.  On a warm weekend last November, every tee time at North Woodmere was booked in advance from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon.  "Normally on a nice fall Saturday like this I'd come down here at 9:00 and get on after a little wait," said one Woodmere golfer.  "Today I can't get out."

As of noon today (Saturday), a search for Sunday tee times turns up almost nothing for twosomes at North Woodmere and Cantiague.  (The other two courses are still closed for winter.)  Singles can find three slots in total before 2 p.m.

At Cedars Golf Club in Cutchogue, the neighborhood nine-hole course transitioned in 2020 from a fully walk-up facility to prepaid tee times.  "We expect to keep the tee-time system going forward based on positive feedback from customers," said Cedars co-owner Tim McManus, who added indoor simulator play at Cedars was booked every weekend this winter.

The Golf Club at Middle Bay still has some time before the course opens on April 1, but the tee sheets are filling fast.  "We have a very limited number of tee times available for sale on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays," said golf director Ronnie Wright.

Once on the course though, golfers should find the experience well worth the fight for their spot on tee.  Pine Hills golf director Jimmy Conway told Newsday that faster rounds were one of the byproducts of pandemic-era golf in 2020.

"For the first time we saw four-hour rounds being played on weekends. That brought joy to a lot of people’s games," Conway said.  "A tee time on Saturday wasn’t so bad anymore."