I would get murdered if I tried to play but I’m sure there’s some that are either willing to play or try to help get you a tee time in advance (I’ll ask the group in Discord)
With that said, if you do walk up as a solo on Mother’s Day I think 5:30-6 makes sense. You just walk into the pro shop area (left hand side of the clubhouse… you can’t miss it) and there are screens for each course with available times. As a single, you should have little issue getting on Black before10ish (it’s walking only and hard so it’s not as popular with the locals).
Hi everyone
A few buddies and I are making the trek out to Long Island from Cincinnati for the classic Bethpage Black camp out experience, and are looking for course recommendations in the area.
A couple of us made the trip last year, but we headed north right after our rounds on the Black and Red to play Sullivan County and Inness. This year we’re trying to stay closer to the NYC area, but are flexible, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
If you wanted to a stay on LI our group loves Timber Point and Middle Bay.
Around the city, Bally Links (formerly (shithead) Trump Links) is a good course, great views of the city and Whitestone bridge but expensive.
Westchester (north of the city) you have a Pete Dye course called Pound Ridge (also expensive)
In NJ you have a few options but many are county courses that are impossible to get on. Your best bet is Rock Spring. It’s the only public Raynor that def needs some TLC back to Raynor’s roots but it’s a solid course (expensive but not as bad as the above ones)
If you wanted to make a trek (like Inness)I personally HIGHLY recommend the Links at Unionvale in the Hudson Valley(hour+ north of the city). IMO, the best non-Bethpage public course value in the area
I’ll also add Sterling Farms in Stamford since it’s 10 mins from Pound Ridge and more affordable. It’s got a lot of nice elevation changes while still being walkable and they’ve done some solid work with tree removal and eliminating overly penal bunkers.
Bethpage Black question for those that have been recently:
What’s the chance of getting on, mid week, mid day as a single walking up?
I used to do this all the time as there were consistently open spots even when no availability online…just haven’t done it in a while and wanted to see if things have changed before making the long commute out there.
Apologies for the late reply. Mid-week as a single you should have no issues. Weekdays are busy but never slammed. I’d say at most you’ll usually wait a couple hours from when you arrive at the most if you come in the morning.
New to Westchester, as I moved here back in December. I’m slowly integrating into the muni community up here. My core group of golf buddies live in eastern LI and one close friend is 45 minutes up the Hutch/Merrit in CT but he recently pulled a C-suite move and joined a private club. So this leaves me scrounging for acquaintances to play with.
Thus far of the local muni’s, I’ve played Pelham Bay/Split Rock, Dunwoody, and Maple Moor. Plopped down the $90 for a park pass to get cheaper greens fees and access to better times. If anyone else is in the same situation where they are looking for a partner or someone to fill out a group let me know!
Sidebar, also play Montauk Downs a bunch in the summer on weekends when I’m at my inlaws.
Going up to NYC from AZ September 5. Gonna have the day before my freinds get there in the evening? Bethpage is obviously bucketlist. Is it worth it to go over there from JFK when I land and try to get on as a single on a friday morning? Thank you!
Singles usually have pretty good luck, especially during the week. If you dont have a car the train runs from jfk (Jamica station) very close to bethpage (farmingdale or bethpage stations) and is faster/easier then driving!
Non-golf question, but if anyone has not-to-miss restaurant recommendations in LES, Villiage, or SOHO, give a shout. Celebrating my anniversary with a trip up to see Odesza this weekend. Thinking more cool vibes than white table cloth.
My wife and I checked out Roscioli’s tasting menu for her birthday last month. If you like Italian food and wine, can’t go wrong with that option, I really enjoyed it. Reservations can be somewhat tricky to get, and if you can’t get the tasting menu you can do a la carte upstairs, but I thought it was really great.
What is the better course, Bethpage Red or Montauk Downs?
Edit for context. Will be out there in September. Hoping to get in rounds at the Black, maybe some other spots. Curious about driving out to Montauk, driving past Shinny and NGLA just for fun. Not sure if the course out there is worth the drive when the Red is 15 minutes from where I’ll be staying.
I don’t know about can’t miss but if you’re out late and looking for good, quick bite, go to Prince St. Pizza in SoHo.
I ate Korean Fried Chicken at Boka in St. Marks in the East Village all the time, then you can go grab a pint or two at McSorley’s, the oldest pub in NYC.
Bethpage Red is a fantastic course. The Black is a kick in the dick, many prefer the Red and if it got the TLC the Black did I think it would be a better course (best back 9 on property)
Montauk Downs is very good. Ive only played once but it’s a REAL bitch to get to. Literally at the end of the island and probably 90ish mins from where you are maybe worse if people are still making their way to the Hamptons. Red 9 out of 10 times for that reason alone
Red is a better course from a design perspective. Montauk can be a more fun day when the wind is whipping and it gets baked out in the summer if you’re into that kinda thing.
I guess depends what you’re looking for. Montauk could be part of a larger weekend trip while Red sounds like it would be quicker and easier.
I figured probably 2 hours. Staying in Garden City, I believe. But not sure when I’m going to get back to LI and think it would be cool just to drive out to the end of the island and see the famous clubs out that way. But I want to have some golf incentive to make that long of a drive.
Appreciate the feedback from both of you. I have always heard good things about the Red.
Let me just throw this open. 4 rounds in the NY/NJ area public access only what would be your itinerary?
Will have a car. Been looking at Bethpage Black and Red, Montauk, Rock Spring, and Ferry Point (really not sure how I feel about this). But the list beyond that is long.