[Liquid]

Can anyone recommend a quality course not too far from Manhattan? I'm hoping to just show up at 7am during the week to play Bethpage Black, but if that doesn't work I'd like a backup. I'm not worried about price, I just want to play a nice track. We'll be there in July. Thanks in advance for any help.

[againstthegrain]

Well since you will already be there what about the other courses at Bethpage?

[sabram]

Bethpage is the obvious choice and if you can't get on the Black course try to play the Red which is similar to the Balck but less punishing.

If you want to head North of the City there are some good courses in Westchester and Rockland Counties. For Rockland take the George Washington Bridge to the Palisades Parkway North. Between 20 and 30 miles north of the Bridge you will find the following courses listed in order of proximity to the City and my ratings:

Blue Hill - Exit 6- C+
Spook Rock - 5 miles west of Exit 9 - B+
Rockland Lake - 5 miles east of exit 9 - B+ layout (but often not in great condition)
Philip Rotella - Exit 12 - B-
Patriot Hills - Exit 13 - A (but more expensive)

For Westchester take the Degan Expressway north through the Bronx where it becomes the NYS Thruway in Westchester County. There are several County owned courses: Sprain Lake, Saxon Woods, MapleMoor, Mohansic and Hudson Hills. Hudson Hills is the most upscale and the most expensive. The others are very inexpensive but difficult to get tee times. A little further north is Centenial which is an upsacle daily fee course with 27 holes, but that is an hour drive form the City

If you are looking for something close, try Van Cortland Park in the Bronx. It's only 10 minutes from Manhattan and I believe it is the oldest muni course in the US. It is a decent course and has been in good shape since renovations a couple years ago. It's pretty cool to play golf in the heart of the Bronx.

Here is a link to my photos of some of the Rockland County courses taken in Oct/Nov 2007.

Rockland NY golf courses

[Liquid]

Thanks for the great information. Patriot Hills looks very nice. I won't have a car, so getting to certain places could be difficult. I was planning on taking the subway really early in the morning as close to Bethpage as possible, then calling a cab. Does this sound reasonable?

[MOJO14]

The best way to get to Bethpage without a car is to take the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) from Penn Station-NYC to the Bethpage stop and get a cab from there. www.lirr.org

[sabram]

jwfreer, on Mar 18 2008, 11:48 AM, said:

The best way to get to Bethpage without a car is to take the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) from Penn Station-NYC to the Bethpage stop and get a cab from there. www.lirr.org

JWfreer is correct. LIRR from Penn Station is the best way to Bethpage.

You can take a subway to Van Cortland Park

You can take the Harlem or New Haven Line line of the Metro North Railway from Grand Central Station (42nd St between Lexington Av and Park Ave) to Westchester (the exact line and stop will depend on which course you are playing) and then take a cab to the course.

For Rockland you'll have to take a bus from the port authority station at 40th St and 8th Ave. For Patriot Hills or Rotella you can take the Red & Tan line bus route #45 to Pomona, NY

You might consider renting a car for a day.

[Giantbear]

If you can't get on the black, which you probably won't, try, in order, the red, blue, yellow and then green. They are all great courses with their own distinction. The red is the blacks younger brother, the blue has a lot of raised greens, the yellow is a great track, just a little short, and the green is a wide open grip it and rip it track.

If money is not object and you're in a car, their are some good pay to play courses all around the east island.

[Liquid]

Thanks for the info guys. It's strange, I've seen some threads where people say it's no problem getting on the black as a single, and posts like the one above that pretty much say I have no chance. I'm confused as usual.

[Giantbear]

its a hit or miss proposal. you will be tring to fit into a foursome so you are hoping for a cancellation. some days its easy, some days it tough

[soberguy16]

if youre going as a single youll get on the black, but if not then play the red...i havent played it yet since ive always gotten on the black, but from what i hear it is a wondeful course and hard as heck too...just a touch below the level of the black.

[Liquid]

Thanks again guys. I checked out LIRR and it looks perfect. I'm making the trip all the way out there, so I'll play the red if I can't get on the black.