BY: RORY SPEARS
He’s back. Yes the fall road trip is now complete. Round trip it’s over 2,000 miles, it covered seven states. The golf side consisted of 12 golf courses, three of them were public and nine were private. They consisted of styles, modern and classic and built or restored by various architects.
The green fee’s are different and the initiation money to get in some of clubs ranged from under $20,000, to around seven figures. I saw all types.
SEBONACK THE 18TH HOLE.
As time goes on, here and in issues of Chicagoland Golf come 2015, my comparisons of New York to Chicago area golf will continue. I plan to answer the questions that hang over this golf market, and the why New York all the time. Bottom line is it’s different there.
You see things in New York don’t see here in Chicago, just look at the photo of my tee shot at Sebonack the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open course on Long Island. Yes that’s New York golf, not Hawaii and not the Caribean. You don’t find holes like that in Chicago.
When I left off, week one was in the books. Week two about to tee off. It started at the famous Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, now under watchful eye of superintendent Jonathon Jennings formerly of the Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton. Shinnecock is gearing up for another U.S. Open in 2018, where the winner will join the ranks of Raymond Floyd, Corey Pavin and Retief Goosen.
Shinnecock can play over 7,000 yards and with 8 new tee boxes will be longer by June of 2018. But with the winds the golfers face on any given day, the 6,300 plus yards tee’s can be more than enough. Need more, move back to over 6,700 yards. I hope you can hit it long into the wind. The greens are tricky, especially on some of the par 3’s.
The rolling links and colorful fescue lined fairways, bring a look not seen in too many places. The ocean winds from one side of the course, the winds of the bay from the other. The clubhouse is one of those special ones you don’t find just anywhere and it just oozes of history. What most people don’t know about the course, is that like Augusta National it has a par 3 course of it’s own. It’s called the Mini-Shiny and it’s sits to the right of the 10th hole.
Sebonack Golf Club Par 4, 2nd Hole
Another one of the Southampton courses is the Jack Nicklaus/Tom Doak designed Sebonack Golf Club. With several holes on the bay, the club sits in between both Shinnecock and National.
Between the two architects, they created some of the more interesting greens you will find in the area. As a result you will want to take a caddie here, they will know about breaks you can’t begin to imagine. Sometimes the best path to the cup, is not the straightest or shortest route to the hole. Good Luck on the greens.
Friar’s Head, Holes 1 & 9. With clubhouse in the rear.
Just to the north of Southampton and the run of top courses there, is Friar’s Head Golf Club in Riverhead. The courses was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Their work is again, amazing.
The property dictated that Crenshaw and Coore, incorporate different looks around the golf course. When you’re standing on some holes, it feels like you are playing the Donald Ross masterpiece Pinehurst No.2. A few of the other holes leave one feeling like they are walking the fairways of newly created Streamsong Red in Florida. Friar’s Head like Shinnecock and Augusta National has a Par 3 course. While the 15th and 16th holes don’t have greens or tee’s on the water, the walkway in between does. The elevated boardwalk is one of the most scenic walks in golf. It’s no wonder the course has moved quickly up the lists of several Top 100 lists in various golf publications.
St. Georges Golf Club. The Par 3, 15th hole.
St. Georges might not be a household name outside of the New York area, but the locals all know about it. It’s not long at just under 6,300 yards, but it packs a lot of fun golf into it’s design.
The architect is Devereux Emmet and the club dates back to 1917. Uphill or downhill, slippery greens or bunkers that reach up and grab you when you least expect it, St. Georges is a golf course that golfers of all skill levels can enjoy. The club is located on the North side of Long Island, near Stony Brook University and the hospital.
The short Par 3, 2nd hole at Sands Point GC in Sands Point NY.
Architect Keith Foster was recently called in to restore this 1927 A. W. Tillinghast design. Foster like he has done at several other historic old Tillinghast courses, has hit yet another home run.
A tree removal program has opened up the golf course, while the bunkers have been rebuilt to a style that fits well with the shape of the golf course.
The word is getting around about Sands Point, that is located closer to New York City. During our recent visit, the work was still continuing on the driving range. Pro Rob Gick says a few more trees will come out. The pictured 2nd hole is a jaw-dropper, and the course gets better from there.
New York golf, especially found out on Long Island is a world you don’t find anywhere else in America. When your chance comes along to go visit and play, make sure you do.
The Gog Blog is ready to roll now. Fall golf continues here in Chicago, get out and enjoy. The colors are changing, the leaves are falling. Cooler temps are in the air, our season is seeing the sand drain to the bottom of the hour glass. Go Play. It’s nice to be back in town, so much to say and I am just starting.