The state of New York had long been circled on the RGV Tour calendar. It was undeniable that highlights and lowlights would occur. Here are the top 10 highlights from the 2nd best state for golf in America.
Bethpage State Park
When most golfers think of golf on Long Island, Bethpage immediately comes to mind. I am no different, for months the showdown at Bethpage had been circled on the calendar. We had a rowdy foursome lined up and the plan was to take all 5 courses down in 2 days. The interesting part about the 5 18 hole golf courses at Bethpage Park is that they are built in order of increasing difficulty. It’s a gradual slope, so if you are playing each course in order and aren’t aware of this, you just start to think that you suck at golf. Which is probably true anyways.
Yellow Course: Rating - 67.1
Green Course: Rating - 67.6
Blue: Course: Rating - 69.0
Red Course: Rating - 69.2
Black Course: Rating - 71.4
Our crew took down 54 holes on the first day to put us in prime position for the final day of 36. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate for our tango with the black and red courses. Lightning prevented us from teeing off until around noon which left us just 7.5 hours to walk both of Bethpage’s most difficult courses. We were gonna have to golf hard and fast. Once we were finally out of the gate, our foursome zipped around the courses and just as the sun disappeared so did our golf balls into the hole on the iconic 18th green at Bethpage Black.
Our group felt accomplished, it was a special feat that put the RGV Tour 5 courses closer to the world record. In the end, those 5 courses would account for less than 1% of the final total.
Shinnecock Hills
This little number was at the very top of my wish list for about 3 years. I started to wonder if it was even possible to get a tee time. Much less a tee time in July. Shinnecock Hills is the oldest incorporated golf club in America and was one of the five founding member clubs of the USGA. In its existence, the William Flynn masterpiece has hosted 5 US Opens. Would it host the RGV Tour?
As the New York planning began, fortune beamed down from the heavens and through a friend of a friend, a tee time was put on the books.
There was concern about how Shinnecock Hills would react to the RGV entering their parking lot. To alleviate any stress, we got creative and placed a call to the Southhampton Golf Range which is just 1.2 miles down the road. After explaining my world record mission, they offered us an overnight spot towards the back end of the driving range. It was then just a matter of a short Uber ride to the club in the morning. Not a discerning eyebrow was raised.
Not only is Shinnecock Hills one of the very best golf courses in America it is also one of the most challenging. I was hoping to bring my A game and set a course record, but my B- game showed up. I was grinding to stay in the mix and as I came to the 18th hole I needed a par to break 80. Game on!
My drive on 18 was the best of the entire day and my second shot was easily my worst. This left me a lengthy flop shot to a tucked back left pin. I had almost conceded the possibility of getting up and down to break 80 when my 56 degree moon ball left me with just 6 feet to convert an improbable par save.
I wanted to make this down hill slider real bad. In fact, I wanted it so badly that my chances of making the putt actually dropped from my usual 65% to less than 10%. I attempted to ignore the mental predicament I was in and rolled that curler right into the back of the cup. Glory had shined upon The RGV Tour once more. I highly recommend a visit to the Southhampton Golf Range and more specifically Shinnecock Hills.
The Roads
The highlights of New York don’t come without a price. That price is the never ending slamming of tires against potholes. The entire RGV shakes so hard that you become certain that the stove is gonna shake lose and spill out onto the highway. Will the propane tank catch fire from excessive friction? Yes. Will your teeth rattle right out of your head? Probably.
New York is by far the worst state in the entire country when it comes to roads and its not even close. The stakes are extra high as well. Not only will the highways shake the fillings out of your molars, but the parkways will attempt to chop off your head. With parkways designed specifically for leisure driving in the 1930’s, they all feature very low clearances. I like to call them RGV guillotines. One wrong turn and it’s game over. You might just not make it out of New York with the top 25% of your vehicle. Add in a shitload of traffic, throw in some rain and you have a perfect recipe for pure driving hell.
However, if you successfully survive your voyage, you will be rewarded handsomely with some of the best golf courses in the United States. I happily rolled the dice on the highway game and the gamble paid off in spades for the RGV Tour.
Smooth 36 at Bayonne Golf Club and Sunningdale
August 13th was the only multi state “double” to exist on the RGV Tour. The morning started off in New Jersey at Bayonne Golf Club. Built on top of an old garbage dump, the links style course is one of New Jersey’s finest. The tumbling fairways are reminiscent of the British Isles and If it wasn’t for the views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty you might think that you were in Ireland.
After a brief hang at Bayonne’s stunning clubhouse, I headed to New York in search of Sunningdale Country Club in Scarsdale. Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire England would have to wait for another day. However Sunningdale CC didn't let me down one bit. Originally designed by Seth Raynor, and subsequently modified by Walter Travis, A.W. Tillinghast, and others the course is filled with an abundance of classic design features. The course gets little recognition outside of those that play it often. Devries Design revitalized the course to its current state of excellence.
New Jersey Sidebar: Hollywood is the real deal.
When playing golf in New York, there is a strong temptation to bust on over to Jersey and enjoy some of the Jersey golf treats. In fact, they are just as delicious as the Empire state’s golf goodies. There are the notable hot spots like Baltusrol and Bayonne, but I was after the under the radar goodness. Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, NJ fits the bill.
Hollywood wasn’t always under the radar, in 1926, it was regarded my several prominent writers as the 2nd best golf course in the United States. I scoured the course with glee.
As you can tell in the photo below, the rain was coming in hot. Fortunately our group made it to the 18th tee box before the lightning horn sounded, we hustled down and and managed to hole out, just as the floodgates opened up. Course #362 was in the books.
New York Hidden Gems
To the experienced New York golfer, these courses are common knowledge. For the visiting golfer these courses fly under the radar. Here are my Hidden Gems from the state of New York.
Watchung Valley
This Seth Raynor gem has gotten a recent renovation to bring back some of it’s golden age features. The result is a fun and sharp looking spot to golf your ball.
Whippoorwill Country Club
Designed by Donald Ross and renovated by Charles Banks, Whippoorwill somehow manages to get drowned out by the big boys in New York. I have no idea how, this spot is awesome.
Leatherstocking Golf Club
You should visit Cooperstown, you should visit the Baseball Hall of Fame and you should certainly visit Leatherstocking Golf Club. This Devereux Emmet gem is open to the public as well. Since many of the classic treats in New York are hidden away from the general public, this one is on full display for everyone to join. Course #351 is in the books.
Siwanoy Country Club
In 1913, Donald Ross gifted us Siwanoy Country Club. Just 3 years later it hosted the very first PGA Championship. It would have to wait another 107 years to host The RGV Tour 2.0.
Metropolis Country Club
There are no metropolises at Metropolis, just 18 holes of high caliber golf. It should come as no surprise that Metropolis is considered one of the best clubs in the Metropolitan area.
Cherry Valley Club
When it comes to Garden City, NY, the ardent golfer will usually be drawn in by the temptations of Garden City Golf Club. While that is certainly a worthy endeavor, one should not steer their sights completely away from the nearby Cherry Valley Club. The golf course is classic and fun. and the logo is first rate.
Friars Head and the Counting Crows
The hidden gems are over and the heavy hitters have arrived. This Coore Crenshaw masterpiece is one of the finest in the country. We paired up the experience with one of the 1990’s finest pop rock bands, The Country Crows. For those counting.. that’s 4 C’s.
Coore
Crenshaw
Counting
Crows
Goodness at Garden City
I only circled 3 golf courses as must plays at the beginning of the RGV Tour. Shinnecock Hills, Sand Hills, and Garden City were all at the top of my list for one reason or another.
Garden City brings it home to round out the highlights of New York.
