Spy Ring (Tyler Rae) on Long Island

[mark chalfant]

In May of 2024 an excellent nine-hole golf course will open near Stony Brook. This course is serious architecture with animated terrain, intriguing strategy, and exceptional greens. The first two holes feature quiet terrain that brings to mind the Golden Age courses that grace the suburbs of Chicago. The pulse quickens once the golfer reaches the third tee. This long vista reveals a gorgeous fairway with powerful undulating terrain. Along the 515 yard journey a few nicely shaped bunkers have depth and function as true hazards.


Tyler's par threes are both excellent. The 185 yard fifth is defended by one tough bunker on the right and an OB fence that pinches the left edge. The putting surface itself is large, narrow and at least 40yards deep. A precipice exacts a toll for those who over-club. The invigorating 360 yard sixth rewards drives that find the fairway's right flank. This area opens up the approach angle to the plateau green. This sensational putting surface is very fun to play. The 145 yard seventh calls for precision and distance control. These skills are essential to carry three deep bunkers that patrol the entrance. The shaping here and throughout the course is beautifully constructed. Indeed, many times the features at Spy Ring whisper the essence of either Harry Colt or Donald Ross. The stout 520 yard ninth features a twisting fairway that rises to a spacious green with attractive surrounds. Tyler Rae and his team have created an original, fun to play work of golf architecture that presents a different puzzle to solve on each of its 9 distinctive holes.

[mike_malone]

Yo Mark Chalfant,


  Will the animated terrain be done by AI?


  Great to hear from you.

[Cal Seifert]

I am very excited for this course to open. I’ve seen the work Tyler has done at clubs and courses on here and instagram so I am excited to see what he can do. I hope the housing development portion of the project does not impede too much onto the course.

[Nick Schreiber]

In the back half of this podcast on Fried Egg Golf, Tyler discusses Spy Ring a bit and references the housing. The conversation also covers some of his work at Lookout Mountain, the wildness of Wakonda, and an as-yet-unnamed project about 45 minutes from downtown Charleston.

[David_Tepper]

https://www.golfonlongisland.com/teebox/2022/05/coming-soon-heritage-spy-ring-gc-long-island-sweetens-cove.html

https://www.heritagespyring.com/

[Phil Carlucci]

https://www.golfonlongisland.com/teebox/2022/05/coming-soon-heritage-spy-ring-gc-long-island-sweetens-cove.html

https://www.heritagespyring.com/

David, thanks for linking to my preview from my initial course tour in May '22.  Here's a link to the updated preview done following another tour this past spring.

https://www.golfonlongisland.com/teebox/2023/05/spy-ring-golf-club-in-setauket-working-its-way-toward-a-soft-opening-this-fall.html

[MCirba]

Sounds like great fun, although we should probably have a moment of silence for the former Heatherwood GC, designed by brothers Charles and Fred Jurgens in 1965.   

[Phil Carlucci]

Sounds like great fun, although we should probably have a moment of silence for the former Heatherwood GC, designed by brothers Charles and Fred Jurgens in 1965.   

The pro shop at Spy Ring has a very cool B&W mural of the ribbon-cutting at Heatherwood in the 1960s.  There are still family ties connecting original and current ownership.

[Mike Hendren]

I give it an 8.

[mark chalfant]

Many holes at Spy Ring have greens open in front that encourage the ground game. Some greens hug the land and seem like extensions of the fairway. Be very careful approaching the second green. It is better to miss into the left greenside bunker. Because there is a sharp fall off that penalizes golfers who lose their shot offline to the right.


At Spy Ring the holes have exceptional variety. The course challenges but does not overwhelm. The sense of scale and the transitions from green to tee are masterful. If you don't want to play another nine holes after you experience the strech from 5-9 you should probably take a sabbatical!

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Spy Ring GC will open May 6 and reservations will be available starting in late April.:
https://www.golfonlongisland.com/

[Tim Martin]

It won’t hurt Spy Ring that they are so close to the Port Jefferson Ferry dock which is a little more than an hour ride across LI Sound leaving from Bridgeport, CT. Looking forward to making the trip.

[Phil Carlucci]

Spy Ring GC will open May 6 and reservations will be available starting in late April.:
https://www.golfonlongisland.com/

They just unveiled their new logo (linked on my site in Steve's post) and the course website will launch this week.

[Phil Carlucci]

Spy Ring opens up on Long Island one week from today.  I walked the course late last week to get some spring photos before its opening and it really is impressive what's been done on the site.  There are a few spots where it's almost impossible to imagine the site was recently a heavily wooded 18-hole executive course.

The course was covered with a great feature in the latest edition of The Met Golfer, with plenty of insight from Tyler Rae.

https://editions.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=819802&p=46&view=issueViewer


It will be interesting to see how the Long Island public embraces it.   Green fees are officially $50 on weekdays and $60 on weekends, plus $15 to ride, though it's a very walkable nine.  The local golfer is pretty dedicated to his/her 18-hole round (and then complaining about the pace, conditions, price, etc.), and the Long Islander in general is typically wary of anything innovative, so a nine-hole course at a high-end rate will definitely have its critics.  But the management team is committed to providing a fun, laid-back experience (12- to 15-minute tee-time intervals) and is confident the layout will bring people in and keep them coming back.