New York City Golf

**MrSandman** · April 25, 2008

So I am in NYC, but I am not from NYC. A couple of my friends are at private courses, so I do get out at some private courses a bit, but I'm looking for courses that are accessible to the public.

- Accessibility (public transportation)?
- Pace of play?
- Course condition?
- Tips for getting out at good times?

The places I am most familiar with that are open to the public:

Silver Lake, Staten Island:
- This one is the easiest for me to get to. I live downtown, take the SI Ferry across the giant water hazard with the great view of the Statue of Liberty, always a fun ride. 61 or 62 bus will take you right down Victory Blvd about 6 stops to the Silver Lake entrance.
- Pace of play is hit or miss. One slow group will back that place up real bad. But without the one slow group, it can cruise. I've arrived on weekdays at 4:30 and played 27 holes, being home by 8:30. I've also arrived at 4 and been unable to finish my round.
- Course condition. If you view it with a public course view, it is acceptable. If this were your private course that you paid thousands of dollars in dues, you would be furious. But the fairways are green, they have a cut of rough, the greens are real slow but they do roll.
- Sunday afternoon, place is usually empty. I've usually had good luck on weekday afternoons, but I have had a few brutal pace of play rounds. I have heard early in the AM flows nicely there.
- Lots of beginners at this place. You have to realize when it is time to play through a group. Not unusual at all to see a group of 3 or 4 kids who have never played before taking 20-30 minutes per hole. I've played through groups on the 3rd or 4th hole before, and then seen them on 11 as I finish 18.

Lido, Long Beach, Long Island:
- Take the Long Island Railroad to Long Beach. Takes about an hour. Short cab from there.
- Layout is fantastic. Alister McKenzie was original designer, with a Robert Trent Jones re-design. The course would be real nice if it were run for golfer's pleasure and not for profit, but unfortunately the profit is not put back into the course and it can be pretty run down.
- Pace of play is brutal. I play here a lot in the winter, and it is fine then, but in the summer through fall you are looking at a 5+ hour round, and don't be surprised to see a 6+ hour round. Bethpage pace of play, but not Bethpage quality course.

I have also played Eisenhour (on Long Island) and Spook Rock (not even sure where that is), but not enough to write a review on it. I am looking forward to checking out Van Cortland (Bronx) and Latourette (SI) this summer.

**nevets88** · April 25, 2008

I think Centennial in Westchester is accessible by Metro North, but it's a trek and the green fee is in the $100 range. Ditto for Hudson Hills, although it's closer to the city.

Take a look at zipcar.

If you have access to a car, try the Links at Union Vale. Reasonable rates, walking allowed, great track and if you have a thing for the Irish brogue, this is the place to be.

Ditto for Neshanic in NJ, minus the brogue.

Both have grass ranges (not now, probably in a few weeks) as does Centennial.

I've played LaTourette and I like the layout. It looks close on the map, but takes longer to get to then you think, by car or public transportation.

**sabram** · April 26, 2008

Van Cortlandt Park is a cool place to play. It's a bit of the country in the middle of the Bronx. You can take a cab or public transportation. It's not a fantstic course, but it's definitely worth the price and a lot of fun. If you play on a weekday afternoon the pace of play is not too bad.

How about Bethpage? You can take the LIRR to Bethpage and then a cab.

Spook Rock is in Rockland County. It's about 45 minutes North the GW Bridge or an hour by bus from the port authority. Not sure you'd want to take your clubs on the bus though. Another great course in Rockland County that you can get to by bus is Patriot Hills. I love that course.

Here is a link to my photos of Spook Rock, Patriot Hills and Rockland Lake

http://sports.webshots.com/album/561338364Tmyiqp

Blue Hill is only 20 minutes North of the GW Bridge.

Centennial is a long drive form the City. I think Patriot Hills is as nice as centennial and a much shorter trip.

**golf_junkie27** · April 26, 2008

You can take the IRT, I believe it's the 4 or 6, to Orchard Beach and play either Pelham or Split Rock. If you like target golf, play Split Rock. If you like it nice and wide, play Pelham. It's $30 for a NYC resident. Once the round is over, head to City Island. The last two seafood places have outdoor seating. You can purchase either a whole, fried Red Snapper/Shrimps/Scallops and fries for about $12.

In Queens, you can play Clearview.

Take the 1 or 9 to Van Cortland Park and walk about 1/2 mile to the Golf Course. They have seven new greens which should make it a lot better. Hardly anyone there Monday through Thursday. (At least my experience)

Someone mentioned Zipcar, it's a good idea if you're coming up to Westchester. You can play Sprain Lake, Maple Moor, Dunwoodie, Saxon Woods and Mohansic. They are all $24 for residents. About $10 more for non. Hudson Hills is $85 during the week for non-residents, including GPS cart. The course is always in pristine condition and plays a little more than 7000 yards from the tips.

**pjsnyc** · April 28, 2008

...If you like target golf, play Split Rock. If you like it nice and wide, play Pelham...In Queens, you can play Clearview...Take the 1 or 9 to Van Cortland Park and walk about 1/2 mile to the Golf Course. They have seven new greens which should make it a lot better. Hardly anyone there Monday through Thursday...

Split Rock is a really challenging course, as is Van Cortlandt (my home course and really the only convenient course for me since I live in upper Manhattan - 35 mins from door to tee) - are you sure the new greens are open to the public yet? Last I checked, they were still roped off. Since I play Vannie the most, I'd have to say that it gets extremely backed up when the weather is nice (5 hr round anyone?). Though, I'm hoping that the masses wont be back for a while for fear that the greens arent ready yet.

Another somewhat accessible course for me is Mosholu...basically on the other side of Van Cortlandt Park (accessible by the 4 train). It's a 9 hole course, but they at least have a dinky driving range (those lumpy balls that travel only 50% distance) and a pretty good chipping + putting area. Great course for working on short game (no par 5s). Also CHEAP!!! If you like straight as an arrow golf, Clearview is your choice - I don't think there's one dogleg on that course!

**MrSandman** · April 28, 2008

Thanks for the info.

Anybody else hit up Chelsea Piers as their range? I'm there at least 3 times a week. I used to be an after sunset visitor (can't go as sun is setting, it is too bright off the water), but I've been doing it in the morning. Balls are half price, you can do the early bird special if you want ($25 all you can hit from 6-9:30 am), and the crowd is pretty thin at that time (no wait for a stall). I have a membership, so I can reserve stalls, but I don't even bother that early in the morning.

**1UnderU** · April 28, 2008

I played yesterday at Forst Park Golf Coures in Queens, I drove out, exit 19 off the LIE, should only be about a 30 min cab ride. Course is in OK condition, for a public which probably gets played too much. Short but interesting holes, somewhat of a challange, maybe 3 par 5's and about 6 par 3's.

Also have played Rock Hill out in eastern L.I., very basic not much of a challange, has some length in it.

Next week I'm either playing Eisenhower or Bethpage Red, I will let you know how either of those turn out.

snoodlelvr · April 28, 2008

I'm a big fan of Douglaston for the city golf courses. It's pretty short- about 5400 yds with seven par 3s and one par 5 each on the front and back 9. The course is in pretty good condition, and has some fun holes. Lots of hills which lead to many blind shots. Hole #10 has a great view of the city skyline. Hole #11 is a 250yd par 4, but one of the toughest holes on the course, unless you can drive the green (which means driving it over many a tall tree.)

As with all the city courses, it can get pretty crowded, and pace of play can vary. That being said, due to all the par 3s, it can move pretty quickly for a crowded course. I played this past Saturday morning in a foursome and got a round in 4.5 hours. I've never gotten there during the week, so I don't know if it eases up though I suspect it does. Besides driving you can get there by taking the LIRR to Little Neck, and then a cab ride is less than 10 minutes.

**flap** · April 28, 2008

I have to disagree with you about Rock Hill.2 compleatly different nines and allways in great shape.It also has a 130 slope from the whites so I would not call it easy by any means.There is not a city course that compares to it.By the way which private courses do you play with your buddies?

**MrSandman** · April 28, 2008

For private courses I play Hempstead a lot and another golf friend is at Baltusrol. Baltusrol is obviously great, but he works more so it is more of a treat to play there. The friend at Hempstead doesn't work, he just beats balls all day at the range.

**nevets88** · April 29, 2008

Thanks for the info.

I used to use Chelsea alot, but it's a bit too far for me. Randall's Island is closer and cheaper, but closed for now. And I also remember the sun being too bright around sunset, the nifty ball machine and people watching you and commenting. Maybe I'm just worn out practicing, but I don't practice as much unless I can get out to a range with real grass which means heading up towards the Hudson Valley.

Has Chelsea started using that fake real grass (kind of like plastic rough) for mats yet?

**MrSandman** · April 29, 2008

Chelsea's matts are pretty nice. Not sure what type you are talking about. I used to hate hitting off matts, but I've come to accept that hitting off matts is the only way I am going to be able to play, so I have to deal with it.

I usually wear headphones to block out all the circus nonsense going on there. Listen to tunes and stay in my own little realm of focus.

You really cannot go there during sunset. Balls are too expensive to work on chipping, and you cannot see any shot further than 50 yards.

The morning is definitely the time to go. Balls are cheap (hit 300 today for $25), no sun issues, no wait for a stall, and no circus atmosphere (people hitting balls at 7 am are usually more serious than people trying out golf for the first time in the evening).

**1UnderU** · April 29, 2008

Don't get me wrong, Rock Hill is far better than courses in the City, it was just too wide open for me, you could play your ball anywhere with no O.B. Didn't require a lot of shot making. Hazard on one whole, that was it. I shot an 84, so its not like I'm saying I tore the course up, although it was the first round of the season.

**JYB** · April 29, 2008

we should have a sandtrap.com NYC golf outing!

**MrSandman** · April 29, 2008

we should have a sandtrap.com NYC golf outing!

I'm down for that. Who can get us all on Due Process for the round?

**JYB** · April 30, 2008

it seems that we're all around the same handicap with the lowest being 11.4 (looks like we're all in the teens) so it could def. work to get together and play.

**golf_junkie27** · April 30, 2008

Split Rock is a really challenging course, as is Van Cortlandt (my home course and really the only convenient course for me since I live in upper Manhattan - 35 mins from door to tee) - are you sure the new greens are open to the public yet? Last I checked, they were still roped off.

I read that they will be open in May. I don't know if that's still on target.

As for those guys that want to have a Sandtrap.com outing, count me in. It seems as though everyone is close to the subway. I volunteer to pick up three golfers and head over to Split Rock.

**1UnderU** · April 30, 2008

Count me in.

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