Best golf experience within 45 min of Brooklyn in April.

[CaymanS]

I'll be there most of the month.  Looking for recommendations for some of the best public courses, preferably with and without club rentals.  Any advice is much appreciated.  Thank you.

[3PuttLefty]

You got Bethpage State park. Black and Red courses highly recommended. 

[PawSouth]

I’ll echo Bethpage. By mid-April all 5 courses there should be open. Assuming you are an out of state resident, prior tee times might be an issue but there typically is always a walk up for one of the courses. I’d also recommend Harbor Links, middle bay, lido in Nassau county (assuming open and depending on weather). As far as more local to Brooklyn, Marine Park and Dyker Beach are ok (haven’t been to either in some time though) same with Forest Park in Queens. 

[sabram]

Will you have a car? Another vote for Bethpage, but depending where you are in Brooklyn and time of day 45 minutes isn't likely. If you can't get on the Black or Red, give the Yellow a shot. Also think about Rock Spring in NJ. It's a Seth Raynor design and was a private club until about two years ago. It's probably close to an hour drive, although closer in miles to Brooklyn than  Bethpage. Rock Spring may also be easier to get a tee time (at least in comparison to the Black). Rock Spring is worth the drive. Also, Skyway is a nice 9 hole course in jersey City which is worth playing. Click on a photo for a photo tour.

 

Bethpage Black

 

Bethpage Red

 

Bethpage Yellow

 

Rock Spring

[MPAndreassi]

I’ll add another vote for the Bethpage courses. Black here all the hype, but the Red is nearly as good. 

[CaymanS]

Thanks for the recommendations, very helpful.  I'll be in Prospect Park South.  Most of the replies mention Bethpage, so that will be my first choice.  Yes, I'll have a car.  Because of it's reputation, the Black course would be a great first choice, but I think it is hard to get on there.  I play with the Torrey Pines Men's Club and the courses have become very tough to get on as well, especially after a U.S. was held on the South.  Every time I play there, I see tourist buses off-loading passengers just to take pictures.  Bad for the locals, but the city needs the money.

[Ty_Webb]

19 minutes ago, CaymanS said:

Thanks for the recommendations, very helpful.  I'll be in Prospect Park South.  Most of the replies mention Bethpage, so that will be my first choice.  Yes, I'll have a car.  Because of it's reputation, the Black course would be a great first choice, but I think it is hard to get on there.  I play with the Torrey Pines Men's Club and the courses have become very tough to get on as well, especially after a U.S. was held on the South.  Every time I play there, I see tourist buses off-loading passengers just to take pictures.  Bad for the locals, but the city needs the money.

Black is not too bad if you're a single. Most of the time you'll get a spot at some point as a walk up. I'm not sure what the COVID restrictions are going to be like in April. They may not be allowing people in the clubhouse. Just paying over the phone. It's worth registering on the website to book a time. You'll not be able to book it until I forget if it's 2 or 5 days before. Keep checking for cancelations the day or two before you're going to play. They pop up from time to time. It's virtually impossible to get a 4 ball, but singles are doable. 

 

Incidentally - Marine Park is close by and not bad for a city course. There's also La Tourette, which is in Staten Island. I enjoyed that place. Not too far away. Neither is as good as the courses at Bethpage though. 

[dmecca2]

Eisenhower Red course is a decent play as well in Nassau County. The white course is next in quality and I suggest not playing the blue. 

[Young Provolone]

Best “Experience” - Bethpage Black, Pound Ridge, Montauk Downs

 

Best Courses <45min - Trump Ferry Point, Skyway GC 

 

Others worth the drive - Architects, NeshanicValley, Crystal Springs (Ballyowen), Berkshire Valley, Centennial, Great River 

[LPSISCO]

I absolutely agree on Bethpage Black, and absolutely disagree on the Red. It might be a nice course, but Bethpage is so poorly managed it's unplayable for me. Twice had tee times around noon, twice delayed by at least 45 minutes on the first tee because play is so slow, twice had 5 1/2 hour rounds. Same for the Blue. Never again. 

 

Ballyowen in NJ is awesome, but it's more than 45 minutes from Brooklyn. Trump Ferry Point is nice, but not particularly memorable - the holes kinda blend together. The views of the city are great, though. 

[Seth Pistol]

 

On 2/28/2021 at 2:08 PM, CaymanS said:

I'll be there most of the month.  Looking for recommendations for some of the best public courses, preferably with and without club rentals.  Any advice is much appreciated.  Thank you.

 

covid has definitely made it harder to golf in the NYC area and public options are limited. 

 

LONG ISLAND

bethpage - a great option but not that as a non state resident, getting tee times will be basically impossible.  you can register for the system but you're getting the scraps of tee times.  you can try your chances as a single but you can also end up sitting around for a while. 

eisenhower - was mentioned and its a great track but if you dont have a leisure pass (which i dont think you can get as a non county resident)

harbor links - probably your best bet, but tee times still not easy to come by

 

NYC

marine park - in brooklyn.  flat and boring.  but hey, its golf.

dyker - also in brooklyn.  less flat but still not a good course

la tourette - on Staten Island.  best of the NYC munis (not thats saying much)

Ferry Point - solid course but will set you back $230ish per round

 

NJ

Skyway - great 9 holer next to marshlands where they bury bodies

Galloping Hills - solid muni but hard to get tee times

 

there are a ton of other good options in NJ, better than LI or NY, but now youre talking over an hour drive for you.  hope this helps.  PM me if you have more questions - been living in NYC for 9 years playing 70 rounds a year so know my way around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CaymanS]

18 minutes ago, Seth Pistol said:

 

 

covid has definitely made it harder to golf in the NYC area and public options are limited. 

 

LONG ISLAND

bethpage - a great option but not that as a non state resident, getting tee times will be basically impossible.  you can register for the system but you're getting the scraps of tee times.  you can try your chances as a single but you can also end up sitting around for a while. 

eisenhower - was mentioned and its a great track but if you dont have a leisure pass (which i dont think you can get as a non county resident)

harbor links - probably your best bet, but tee times still not easy to come by

 

NYC

marine park - in brooklyn.  flat and boring.  but hey, its golf.

dyker - also in brooklyn.  less flat but still not a good course

la tourette - on Staten Island.  best of the NYC munis (not thats saying much)

Ferry Point - solid course but will set you back $230ish per round

 

NJ

Skyway - great 9 holer next to marshlands where they bury bodies

Galloping Hills - solid muni but hard to get tee times

 

there are a ton of other good options in NJ, better than LI or NY, but now youre talking over an hour drive for you.  hope this helps.  PM me if you have more questions - been living in NYC for 9 years playing 70 rounds a year so know my way around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of great info here.  Thank you.  Covid has had a negative effect here (San Diego) as well with fewer times available and higher prices.