New York Area Public Courses Compared

[LICC]

> @" bnr204" said:

> > @LICC said:

> > > @Chanceman said:

> > > I dont hear much about Montauk Downs. Where does it fit in the NY pantheon?

> >

> > Some consider it the best public course on Long Island that is not at Bethpage. It is in Montauk past the Hamptons and has the moniker of the Public Shinnecock. Not exactly, but it is a NY State Park course that was redesigned in the 1960s by Robert Trent Jones and sits on terrific terrain.

> > https://www.golfadvisor.com/galleries/montauk-downs-the-other-state-park-golf-course-on-long-island

> >

>

> the downs is also really far from manhattan with traffic, and there's almost never no traffic out to montauk. thus, you can get to Yale, not to mention courses in PA & South/Central Jersey (hominy hill & atlantic city cc immediately come to mind), in as much or less time.

 

For Manhattanites yes. For those going to the Hamptons every weekend, or who live in Long Island, it’s a good option.

[WillMK5]

I've basically played all of the courses on LI and around the city so I'm going to chime in. I lived in Manhattan for a numbers of years and public golf while living in Manhattan is awful. Ferry Point is pretty pricy and still hard to get to. I played Split Rock a lot, but it's nothing great. I actually preferred driving up to Patriot Hills when I lived in Manhattan. It's about 45 minutes from the city in Rockland County, but it was pretty affordable and fun.

 

I live on Long Island now so I have a different point of view than some other people. I can get to Bethpage within 20 minutes. Bethpage is a nightmare on the weekends after 8am. If I cant get a time before 8am, I don't play. I actually prefer to play my public golf during the week in the summer. Early rounds so I can be done by 11 or 11:30.

 

Harbor Links - Harbor Links is kind of expensive if you're not a resident of the Town of North Hempstead. It's a good layout that's usually in solid shape. Sometimes the rough can get out of control. They have a 9 hole executive course which is awesome.

 

Montauk Downs - I wouldn't consider this an NYC option as it's as far from NYC you can possibly get and still be on Long Island. I played it a for the first time last summer and it's a fantastic course. I'm playing it twice at the end of the month and I can't wait.

 

 

[BNGL]

Is Bayonne Golf Club still open to the public? I thought when it first opened they allowed rounds for residents?

[ButterCutter2]

> @BNGL said:

> Is Bayonne Golf Club still open to the public? I thought when it first opened they allowed rounds for residents?

 

bayonne was never open to the public. it's always been very private w/ 1 of the highest initiation fees on the eastern seaboard.

[mci711]

 

Deleted my comment.

[BNGL]

> @" bnr204" said:

> > @BNGL said:

> > Is Bayonne Golf Club still open to the public? I thought when it first opened they allowed rounds for residents?

>

> bayonne was never open to the public. it's always been very private w/ 1 of the highest initiation fees on the eastern seaboard.

 

I took the time to google it, according to The New York Times Mayor Doria of the New Jersey town Bayonne occupies was able to get 500 rounds per year for residents at half price from the developer.

[LICC]

> @WillMK5 said:

> I've basically played all of the courses on LI and around the city so I'm going to chime in. I lived in Manhattan for a numbers of years and public golf while living in Manhattan is awful. Ferry Point is pretty pricy and still hard to get to. I played Split Rock a lot, but it's nothing great. I actually preferred driving up to Patriot Hills when I lived in Manhattan. It's about 45 minutes from the city in Rockland County, but it was pretty affordable and fun.

>

> I live on Long Island now so I have a different point of view than some other people. I can get to Bethpage within 20 minutes. Bethpage is a nightmare on the weekends after 8am. If I cant get a time before 8am, I don't play. I actually prefer to play my public golf during the week in the summer. Early rounds so I can be done by 11 or 11:30.

>

> Harbor Links - Harbor Links is kind of expensive if you're not a resident of the Town of North Hempstead. It's a good layout that's usually in solid shape. Sometimes the rough can get out of control. They have a 9 hole executive course which is awesome.

>

> Montauk Downs - I wouldn't consider this an NYC option as it's as far from NYC you can possibly get and still be on Long Island. I played it a for the first time last summer and it's a fantastic course. I'm playing it twice at the end of the month and I can't wait.

>

>

 

Lots of NYCers go to the Hamptons every weekend during the summer. Montauk Downs is the public option for them.

[Caddykev]

 

> I took the time to google it, according to The New York Times Mayor Doria of the New Jersey town Bayonne occupies was able to get 500 rounds per year for residents at half price from the developer.

 

I believe that was only for the first few years, but was only like 200 rounds a year, ridiculous times, and so expensive and background checked so thoroughly that less than a handful have ever done it.

[jut111]

I couldn’t wait to move out of westchester for numerous reasons. Decent public golf was one of them. Mind you this was before pound ridge was pound ridge. It used to be a dumpy nine holer. I don’t care what was done to that property, no way that is worth what they’re charging now.

[BNGL]

> @Caddykev said:

>

> > I took the time to google it, according to The New York Times Mayor Doria of the New Jersey town Bayonne occupies was able to get 500 rounds per year for residents at half price from the developer.

>

> I believe that was only for the first few years, but was only like 200 rounds a year, ridiculous times, and so expensive and background checked so thoroughly that less than a handful have ever done it.

 

Gotcha! That is a shame, it looks like a really cool place! I remember hearing from a buddy at Rutgers that it had some residents only deal. Apparently there was plans for two courses at Bayonne a private one and a public one but the public one was axed.

[23golfnut]

NYC is not golf friendly because of traffic, but if you have your own car you can at least manage it a little bit. I typically drive from LIC to Bethpage around 6am and getting there only takes 35 mins. Coming back is obviously worse. I primarily play Bethpage Red and Black and once in a while Ferry Point, Ballyowen, Neshanic and other Sommerset County courses in NJ. There are a lot of great courses to play it's just they are not easy to get to.