GolfingEsq

Tallgrass is scheduled to close for good in the "any day now" category. Upkeep shows it. I know its late in the season. To say they have lost the love is an understatement. Unless your paying next to nothing, save your money, and bid goodbye to another Suffolk County public course.

Pine Hills offers several benefits that other Suffolk County Courses do not: (1) An excellent practice range, with a great putting green and short-game practice area; and (2) Championship tees that can stretch the course to PGA-like length. It is also part of a condominium complex that for the folks who live there gives them golf, tennis, pool, restaurant and exercise room at a reasonable price.

The course itself plays to par 73. It always plays to a slow start as 1 has a difficult green and 2 is a reachable par 5. Pace of play usually opens after these holes. The course itself comes back to the clubhouse after 9. There are some challenging holes, but also a few that seem a bit redundant. I don't like the par 3s on the front but do on the back.
In general, I enjoy the back nine more than the front and think the back is far more interesting and challenging.

The owners have recently dumped a lot of money into improved drainage and sprinklers. Maintenance is always pretty good here and the staff is always very nice and friendly. They are clearly looking to establish themselves as the go-to golf course for the area.

Prices are reasonable for the area. The course is about 90-110 minutes from New York City off exit 70 on the Ling Island Expressway.

Stonebridge gets an A in location. It is easily accessed from the Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway. It gets a C for having very limited practice facilities [an abbreviated driving range where you don't hit real golf balls and a non-descript putting green]. The course itself is a B+. It is part of a condo complex and as such the course is really squeezed for real estate. There are a few holes where you are literally in the folks backyards. This makes for some tight fairways and a few doglegs. However, it does provide an interesting variety of holes, some relatively short [driveable] and very long par 4's, The par 3's a short with the exception of 7, an uphill shot that can play to well over 200 yards to a difficult green. The greens are challenging. The course could use for some better maintenance I think at times and pace of play is average. The best holes? 2 is a long uphill par 4 that often plays into the wind. 4 is tricky par 3 to a undulating green where water comes into play. 6 is a driveable downhill par 4 but will punish you mightily if the tee shot is errant. 16, 17 and 18 are nice finishing holes.

Golfing on Long Island for 35 years not sure how I missed this course. Probably more intimidating in summer with full trees and heavier rough. Lots of dog legs so small greens with a lot of slope [though not undulating]. Birdie opportunities but some penal out of bounds holes can make scoring tough.

Bethpage Red is clearly the second best track at this five-course layout. The tee times book fast and rounds are consistently 5 hours during busier times. The first hole is an intimidating par four but don't worry because 2-7 are very scoreable. The course toughens on holes 8-15, but eases up on 16-18 for chances to finish with some birdies. Well-bunkered especially in the fairways. No water. The rough can long in the summer. Trees come into play on 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 16 and 18. Not a bad walk but does have some hills. Bethpage is notorious for poor food and limited practice facilities but don't let that dissuade you. The greens are large for the most part but you can have challenging putts. Only two par fives on this par 70 layout, but both are reachable in two.

If it were by itself and private, this North Ford gem, The Woods at Cherry Creek, would command top dollar membership dues. Instead, it is the Cinderella to her more heavily played step-sister, The Links at Cherry Creek. But, like Cinderella, she is really the princess of the ball. This tight and challenging track demands driving accuracy, a well-tuned putter, and the ability to take advantage of birdie holes and to minimize the damage on its more challenging ones. The Woods name is deserving, and the reason I'm sure it doesn't get the play it deserves is that almost every hole brings thick tree rows, often on both sides of the fairway. where a miss leaves you little chance at anything but a punch-out. The Woods starts off rather unassumingly; a straight-forward par 4 opener that requires less than driver and a good chance at opening birdie. The second hole is a par three to a big green with water in front that usually does not come into play as much as the tree which guards the right side of the hole. Three is a lengthy and challenging par 5, with woods right and woods and OB left, along with well-placed fairway bunkers. 4 and 5 are short par fours that command accuracy, not length. 6 is an uphill par 3 to a large green. The course then really kicks in. 7, 8 and 9, par 4, 3 and 5 respectively, require expert ball striking and par is good on all of these holes. The shortish 10 and 11, both par 4's, require well placed drives, which will leave you a chance at birdie. 12 through 15 are extremely hard holes. 12 is the hardest par four on the course and an absolute beast in terms of length. Don't let the 18 handicap on 13 fool you on this long par 3 to a two-tiered green. 14 and 15 are each a lengthy par 4 and 5. 16 for the long hitters a driveable par 4 to a huge green that slopes upward. 17 is a great par 3 and a chance at birdie. 18 is a great finishing par 5, commanding length and accuracy to a back to front sloping green.

Although only 6500 or so yards from the back tees, it feels longer. The green undulate and three putts are everywhere. The greens tend to be fairly trapped, The course is always in excellent condition, although did suffer a burnout a few hot summers ago. There is a halfway house that serves basic fare. The price is very good as is the pace of play. The 19th hole is very nice, good drinks. friendly staff, good food, a nice patio [weather permitting] which offers nice happy hour and Friday specials worth the trip itself. The course has a putting green and well-hidden short game area; if you want to hit the range, you need to hop across the street to The Links. I think this course is really fun and I always enjoy its challenges.

Ok, in fairness, this is not so much a review as it is a homage. This is a New York State Park facility. This means egalitarian golf, folks. No stuffy rules about what you can wear. Golf in your jeans and an undershirt if you see fit. Not that it really happens, but you see plenty of folks in their untucked polos and cargo shorts. New York State residents get a substantial break on the cost to tee it up. $75 on weekends gets you on the course, less on weekdays and less during twilight. With a couple of exceptions, I have never been impressed by the caddies who work there. I don't use myself but I have seen them at work. They do save your energy, but if you are looking for insight and good stories, good luck on that. Reservations are only once per month and require you to pre-register, a fairly simple process but you must fax the office your ID to do that. No reservation? If you are a single, you'll have no problem getting out in just about every day. Just show up, but be prepared to wait, many hours if need be. You can't buy tickets for anyone but yourself at the window, and players get a wristband upon payment. You can show up at dawn, but as a single, I generally get there around 7-730 and figure I can get about noonish. If you are 2, 3 or 4, it is more challenging. You can still do it, but you may be battling the twilight. If you are committed to playing though, you probably won't get shut out. You have to figure five hours at a minimum. Most rounds come in between 4:50 and 5:45. There is very little you can do about that. The pace of play is not monitored. You will never see a ranger.

The course practice facilities leave a lot to be desired. The Black practice green sits behind the tee. There are others at the facility but use that one. No holes on the practice green so you'll have to use a tee or other marker. However, they run accurate and comparable to the speeds on the course. There is no chipping, pitching or sand practice area on the course. The driving range, such that it is, uses only mats and no woods on the driving range. If you have all day to kill, the best practice is to play 9 or 18 on one of the other courses [suggest you ride if you do], or to do your practice elsewhere and arrive at the course.

The pro shop is OK to browse around in. Prices are pretty good as is the selection of merchandise. The Clubhouse is nice to walk around for a bit, a few nice pictures and memorabilia. I haven't eaten there in years, and if I'm looking for a 19th hole, I prefer to jump into Bethpage town itself, a 7 minute car ride, where BK Sweeneys serves some nice grub and has plenty of TVs and drinks. But from what I can tell, it's pretty nice and there is an outdoor patio that kind of overlooks the 18th green but you really can't see the approaches.

OK, so now, after all of this, you're ready to play. You're time is announced. Your wrist band is cut. Take the obligatory photo of "The Sign" which warns players of the challenge ahead. Walk down the short brick path to the tee box. The starter will admonish you to leave your clubs there. There is only one tee box for the opener, a downhill dog leg right that will test the nerves. This singular tee box causes a lot of folks to start with the blue [Championship] tees. And here's my advice there: If you don't hit it at least 260 consistently [which mean that you hit it 280 and up quite a bit but you can have a controlled swing and hit it 260] please play the white tees. The course is a great track from the white tees - playable and challenging, but actually gives you a few scoring opportunities. There is nothing worse than seeing people play from the blues and watching their best drive go 240 or less. Playing from there is just plain dumb and will slow the pace down to a crawl. Even worse are the folks who ignore the tee markers and who just play it from the tippity-tips. Hey, if you're between scratch and two, have fun playing by yourself that way. Bethpage is in many ways about the comradery of the group as you battle the course. But just to SAY you played it from the tips if you are not always shooting 75 and under is just silly.

When you sit atop one, to your right is a tree line - to the right of that is the first hole of the Green Course, and actually the hole is playable from that opposite fairway provided you hit it far enough, but is leaves a wicked approach. To your left is the 18th green. Take note of the pin position because you won't see it from the 18th fairway. Ignore the people watching behind you. Put your nerves in check and try to hit it down the middle and reach the fairway. The first green, well, all of the greens, is well trapped, and shaped like a top-heavy figure eight, sloping back to front. Short is the miss if you can.

You cross the road for two through fourteen. Two is the shortest par four, and it still looks like you can play the back tees. Don't fall for the trick.

Many people treat the first few holes like they are playing the open, every shot painstakingly measured. Usually, by the time 15 to 18 roll around, those folks have lost focus and are just looking to survive. Hole two can swallow you up if you don't hit the fairway. Too far right and the trees block you out. Too far left and you won't hit the fairway. An uphill approach to a pin you can;t see awaits. Long is the only good miss, and the green in two is the fastest on the course. Three is a scoreable par three depending on the tee location. Long, long right and left are dead.

You walk down to the fourth tee for your second obligatory photo of the dramatic uphill par five. Technically reachable in two, it is really hard to get the second shot to hold the green. I've only done it into the wind. Downwind you have no chance of holding it. Hit it to the right for a nice entrance to the green for an up and down birdie. Five is one of the hardest tee shots on the course. Hit it long down the right hand side if you can for a reasonable approach. The left side is almost impossible. The left rough can lead to a triple bogey if you take on the approach from that side.

The halfway house is here, such that it is, as is the only official bathroom on the course, and your first water fountain. Gatorade, sandwiches, hot dogs [not recommended] granola bars and the like. The hard boiled eggs [2 for $2] are the best energy booster. You;ll pas it again as you come down the twelfth fairway.

Six is one of my favorite holes and gives you lost of options off the tee. I really like to try and boom it over the bunkers down the hill for a flip-wedge approach, but miss that drive and it;s double-bogey or worse. Another tough green to hold, and a pin on the right is very tricky.

Seven plays as a par four for the pros and a five for us mere mortals. The fairway is wider than it looks, but lots of folks put it in the trees to the right trying to fade it. Eight is the only water on the course, with a majestic tree guarding the right side of the green and grabbing balls coming in from right to left. A fade is needed for any pin placement from the center and right. Put your bags to the left and in front of the ninth tee so you don't have to schlep them up to the ninth tee. You will need driver on nine.

Nine is my favorite hole on the entire a course. A challenging tee shot. An extremely well guarded green.

Ten through thirteen represent. to me. the four hardest consecutive holes that I have ever played. Epic long, long, epic long and epic longest. Challenging greens. Ten and eleven run parallel to each other and share the same set of penal bunkers [to the left on ten and right on eleven]. These are death. Go over the eleventh green and you have almost zero chance of getting up and down. Twelve requires a bomb from the back tees to clear the traps. The second shot on thirteen is as hard of an approach as you can imagine and thirteen green is tiny, tiny. Fourteen is a birdieable par three unless the pin is up top. Keep it under the hole of you can.

You cross the road again for an epic finish. Fifteen climbs up and up and requires two long and solid shots. Leave your bag in the left rough and grab it when you come back down sixteen [you'll need your driver]. Sixteen is the hardest tee shot on the course. Optically confusing, and most folks are getting real, real tired. It can only be approached from the left side of the fairway. Approaches from the right are almost impossible.

Seventeen is an epic par three, intimidation city, with a shallow horizontal green, and massive bunkers all around. The climb to eighteen is exhausting, and although many don't view it as a great finishing hole, I think it is because if you need a birdie to win, or break eighty, it is out there with a good drive.

The greens on Black are fair. Breaks are subtle for the most part with few exceptions.

When the rough is long, it is penal. Smart players take their medicine and get it to the fairway and try to get up and down.

The course is undergoing some changes for 2016, which I have seen a bit of. The approach to the third green and the fourteenth green, par threes, are being changed a bit, but I haven't see the final product. The thirteenth green has been shortened and the fourteenth tee box has been completely rebuilt.

In sum, it deserves it reputation. Its a bucket list course. If you are coming to New York City, you can actually hope on the Long Island Railroad and get there fairly easily, with a short taxi ride from either the Farmingdale or Bethpage train stations. It is about a one hour ride from NYC without traffic.

WindWatch provides a nice location. Easy access to major highways, about 1 1/4 hours from New York City. For the Long Island business traveler, it is the only hotel/golf course facility I am aware of, so that is a big plus for those in that category. The course itself has some fun holes but there is a lot of repetition in some of the par fours, with an "up and down, back and forth" feel to them, leaving the player feeling like they played the same hole six times. The par threes are good. The green are challenging, but to me, the course is forgettable in many ways. Practice tee is just OK., Two practice greens are nice. The weekend green fee is a bit outrageous and represents the top price point for public golf on Long Island. Grab a GolfNow tee time or late afternoon, because $110 will leave you feeling like you did not get your money;s worth.