JUNE 2018 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 45
GOLF GUIDE
LOCAL LINKS
MUST-TEE COURSES
By JOHN DUNDON
Whether aiming to try the same
greens as legends such as Tiger
Woods and Phil Mickelson have
in the past or play country clubquality
courses at an optimal value,
these public golf courses on Long
Island are must-plays this summer.
Bethpage State Park, Black
Course
“The Black” has hosted U.S. Opens
and PGA events. It’s the longest
public golf course on LI. Walking
only! 99 Quaker Meeting House Rd.,
Farmingdale, bethpagegolfcourse.
com.
Bethpage State Park, Red Course
The Red Course’s changing
elevations, thick cuts of rough, and
trees are akin to the challenges
posed by its big brother, the Black
Course. Precision is key. 99 Quaker
Meeting House Rd., Farmingdale,
bethpagegolfcourse.com.
Bergen Point Golf Course
Located on the Great South Bay,
the stiff winds and open layout
here allow golfers playability and
room to miss without penalties.
69 Bergen Ave., West Babylon,
bergenpointgolf.com.
Cherry Creek, Links Course
This behemoth trails only Bethpage
Black, playing at 7,187 yards. It’s
for long hitters who appreciate
playability. The fairways are wide
and forgiving, with hazards and
bunkers enclosing many of the
green layouts. 900 Reeves Ave.,
Riverhead, cherrycreeklinks.com
Crab Meadow Golf Course
This neatly kept course nestled
in the hills overlooking the Long
Island Sound has elevated tee
boxes and greens combined with
prickly placed hazards, making
for an aesthetically pleasing but
challenging 18 holes. 220 Waterside
Rd., Northport crabmeadow.com
Eisenhower Park, Red Course
This is not the premier public course
in the eyes of many golfers, but it’s
draped in history. The Red Course
has played host to PGA majors and
has been given prestigious honors
by golf publications for decades.
Stewart and Merrick avenues, East
Meadow, nassaucountyny.gov.
Harbor Links Golf Course
The Championship Course, playing
at just a shade under 7,000 yards,
is seated atop rolling hills and
long fescues that give the feel of
a country-club quality round. Its
well-manicured fairways and greens
serve players well. 1 Fairway Dr.,
Port Washington, harborlinks.com.
Heatherwood Golf Course
Looking for a warmup round, or
just a shorter course in general?
Heatherwood features 12 par 3’s
and comes it at a total par 60. Wellkept
facilities and greens make this
round worth it! 303 Arrowhead Ln.,
Centereach, heatherwoodgolfing.com.
Lido Golf Club
Lido is one of the toughest tracks on
the Island. The course is surrounded
by water, and that’s apparent while
playing the back nine. Between that
and the wind gusts, make sure to
bring lots of balls. 255 Lido Blvd.,
Long Beach, lidogolf.com.
Mill Pond
Looking for a wide-open track with
lots of room for erratic shots? Mill
Pond is perfect. There are very few
trees or natural obstructions from
fairway to fairway, making every
shot feel important. A scrambler’s
best friend. 300 Mill Rd., Medford,
golfatmillpond.com.
Rock Hill Golf and Country Club
Celebrating its 50th anniversary,
Rock Hill offers prime value
with green fees as low as $46 on
THE 5 HARDEST
PUBLIC GOLF
COURSES ON LI
5. Bethpage Red: This is a pure
straight hitters course that punishes
inaccurate drives like few other
courses do.
4. Rock Hill Golf Club: Even if all
clubs in the bag are working for
golfers, the putter can unravel the
entire round at Rock Hill.
3. Montauk Downs: Golfers will
be forced to play through windy
conditions to the greens where
they’ll then find some of the most
difficult putting greens on the
Island.
2. Lido Golf Club: The final five
holes at Lido could be the most
difficult stretch of public golf on the
Island.
1. Bethpage Black: The Black’s
thick rough, elevation changes,
and length will give even the best
golfers in the world fits.
weekdays. From the tips, Rock Hill’s
slope rating (136 at the end of last
year) is the third highest of the
Island’s public tracks. 105 Clancy
Rd., Manorville, rockhillgolf.com.
The Golf Club at Middle Bay
This private club became a public
course in 2014 and has been a top
South Shore course since. Golfers
need long irons and woods in the
bag for lengthy par 5’s that are
a distinct feature of Middle Bay.
3600 Skillman Ave., Oceanside,
thegolfclubatmiddlebay.com.
West Sayville Country Club
Another Suffolk-owned course, this
gem on the Great South Bay gives
golfers fits with wind gusts and
heavy dune out-of-bounds areas
lining many fairways. 200 Main St.,
Sayville, westsayvillegolf.com.
Tiger Woods hits a tee shot off the 17th hole at Bethpage Black during
the Barclays on August 22, 2012 in Farmingdale. (Shutterstock)