[Andy Smith]

Hi everyone, my first actual post after two years. I need some advice! I travel regularly to NYC on business from London but have never taken the sticks. I want my trip in early May to be different. Of the various public courses I would invite contributions on best courses to play eg Bethpage Red/Black, (Ferry Point? Is it worth giving the Donald money?)[size=78%], but also would invite views on semi-accessible private courses in the region? Nearly all the best courses seem to require me to be with a member eg Shinnecock, Friar's [/size][/size][size=78%]Head, Winged Foot, Oak Hill etc . Any tips on those which are great courses and are a bit more flex like they are in the UK?! I just emailed St George's Hill and am playing in a month as a visitor... same with Swinley Forest last year. Any tips on brilliant accessible courses within 90mins of NY? Or must I get very friendly with my NY colleagues over next few weeks?! Andy[/size]

[Michael Felton]

Hi Andy,


As far as public courses go, Bethpage Black is obviously one to go for if you can get on it. If you're on your own, you shouldn't have too much trouble. It's closed on Mondays - I think that's the only thing to really look out for. The Red is also very good. It suffers from being in the shadow of the Black, but is good fun and has a lot of interesting holes on it. Ferry Point is pretty good, but it's expensive and I'm not sure it's worth the money (or the tariff on your soul).


As far as the privates go, they are private, like Queenwood or the Wisley. Basically all of them. You might be able to get lucky if you write some letters asking them for access. If you explain that you're from the UK and are visiting, you might find someone willing to let you go. Could well be worth asking the pro at your club if they could write a letter asking for courtesy. I'd say that's your best bet. Or get friendly with your colleagues!


Good luck!

[Joe Schackman]

Ya unfortunately clubs in the US don't really operate like they do in the UK. Private clubs are quite exclusive.

Never hurts to ask but don't expect much.

[Matt Frey, PGA]

If you don't mind driving out a little farther on Long Island, I'd strongly recommend Tallgrass. It's a wonderful Gil Hanse design and I found it extremely fun. There has been recent threats to the course, as it may become a solar farm, so I'd definitely recommend seeing while it's still here!

[Lou Cutolo]

Unfortunately, Tallgrass has already closed

[Andy Smith]

Thanks everyone, some helpful responses. As I feared re private clubs (what a waste, so few getting to enjoy such beautiful designs, make me truly appreciate that Sunningdale, Dornoch, St George's Hill, Swinley, Royal St George's allow me to grace their turf!). I may polish off my English accent or get a quill pen and parchment out and try my luck with a few clubs... Any more ideas gratefully received re public options!

[BCowan]

Andy,

    Bethpage has 5 courses I think.  I hear they all are good.  Also don't forget Goat Hill, it's a fun 9 holer.  Montauk Downs i hear is a good track.  No need to play the best of the best. 

[Keith Phillips]

Many New York area privates are short of members with golf courses that are empty mid-week.  Access policies are informally flexed, especially at non-prime times and with full payment of the unaccompanied guest fee (say $150-$200 depending on the course).  If you were to write a dozen introductory notes to the GMs and/or golf pros at these clubs you'll probably have some success - not with the Balty's or Winged Foot's but there are literally dozens of fine courses worth playing within 20 miles of midtown so it's worth a try.  If you are a member of a club in London and/or have a credible handicap, you'll likely get lucky at one or more.  Many clubs will require you to take a caddie, but in my experience that is money well spent!


On the public side, while I haven't played it yet, I suspect Ferry Point is worth a visit.

[Andy Smith]

Thanks again. Any tips on clubs the level below the absolute top ones (the only ones I have heard of!) who might let me on gratefully received. Or websites that will help me work it out? I only have Confidential Guide v1 (UK) and must get v2 and v3 asap with all my US travel coming this year...

[Pete_Pittock]

Yale?

[B.Ross]

play the black before you play ferry point, and perhaps yale. it's much closer to nyc than yale is. bethpage black's fantastic. also check out boxgroove.com, elite tee & open rounds to see which private tracks post rounds directly to members of these sites. for example, you could play hollywood down the jersey shore through elite tee for i believe 250. open rounds would get you on mt. kisco, and the very sporty & old mahopac golf & beach can be had via boxgroove.

[Andy Smith]

Thanks again for the input. Yale has been suggested by several people on this thread and on private message so is now def firmly on my radar! Thanks for the suggestions re websites eg boxgroove etc, very helpful!


Looking also at top 100 in NY etc Whipoorwill (Donald Ross originally) seems semi accessible and well rated and Pound Ridge (Pete Dye) looks also possible as a visitor booking in advance. Philly has Tom Fazio's Ridge at BackBrook showing as a possibility for visitor in advance? Any comments well received on these and others! Thanks guys!

[Steve_ Shaffer]

If you drive south on the NJ Turnpike to Exit 8A you'll find Forsgate.  Take a look:


http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/forsgate-country-club/

[Ian Mackenzie]

If you drive south on the NJ Turnpike to Exit 8A you'll find Forsgate.  Take a look:


http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/forsgate-country-club/

Worth the drive.


And if you get down there (about a one hour drive), then play Springdale Golf Club in Princeton.
William Flynn design in a lovely university town that may also give access as students can also play it.

[B.Ross]

i believe forsgate is on boxgroove. i would be surprised if you could get onto whipporwhill. pound ridge isnt worth it, really difficult and a bit tricked up.

[Pete_Pittock]

Paramount?  AWT.

[Jerry Kluger]

Pound Ridge is public and a really tough Pete Dye course that is quite expensive although impressive the way they dealt with the rock formations.

[corey miller]

I suspect Bethpage is the best option.  A lot of the private's may have Trump supporters as members....why demean yourself?

[John Kavanaugh]

Knickerbocker is a great place to play with a nice view of Manhattan. Andy Smith is an interesting name in the golfing world. It may be nice if you told us something about yourself so we might know who we are sending out to a club.


If you are on Facebook, I'm not, contact Pat Mucci. He is a great ambassador for the NY area with a long history of obtaining access for lovers of the game.

[Andy Smith]

Thanks John K.


I live in Oxford now and work in London, but my first golf club was Oakdale Golf Club in Harrogate in North Yorkshire, an old Alister MacKenzie course before he hit it big in the US, when he was a doctor in Leeds. A good training ground for a young lad. I grew up on Faldo and Seve which speaks to both sides of my character! I was a member at Brocket Hall Golf Club in Hertfordshire (Donald Steel and Peter Allis courses) for a number of years before moving to Oxford (where I studied History a long time ago, I promise I won't let you down on English manners!) and joining Frilford Heath, a good 54 hole old school complex in the main, with 2 short but strategic, early 1900s courses - Green and Red, and a more modern but less character-ful Blue course. Playing off 15.6 but it's my short game that saves me. 20 handicap long game, 10 handicap short game!!


I work for a global headhunting firm Heidrick & Struggles and am on linkedin -


https://www.linkedin.com/in/andysmithasset/


Facebook:


https://www.facebook.com/andy.jp.smith?ref=bookmarks


Aged 44, wife, 2 boys aged 8 and 5 whom I am trying to wean on to the game.


Hope that does the job!! Thanks to everyone who has offered advice on this thread and privately. Greatly appreciated! I now feel like a member of the GCA community!


Kind regards
Andy

[John Kavanaugh]

Wow, handsome to boot. Just what you wrote above in a nice letter can get you on most any private in the US. Couple that with Oxford alumni and you should be eaton up courses in no time.

[Mark Chaplin]

Andy write to the secretary of the Oxford and Cambridge Golf Soceity, they will have NY based members who would no doubt host a fellow alumni. The problem with private US clubs is without a member it's very difficult to buy a drink, food, etc.


Corey - what a crass statement on politics.

[corey miller]

I am sorry Mark but Andy did not want to "give money to Trump" and Michael said it would be a "tariff on the soul".  We know what some think of Trump supporters so I was just alerting them to the composition of some of these clubs.


Do you want ME to remove "demean"?  Because of politics a lot of people are saying hateful things about others (based on their politics), it even happens from time to time on this website, I thought my comment would be instructive. 

[Andy Smith]

I started it with a mention on Trump, mea culpa! I must confess I do love the Donald's passion for the game though. If the President can play golf and work (as did Obama!), so can I...! I can't see Theresa May doing it! I promise not to start a thread on Brexit and golf..!


Thanks again for all recommendations and insights. I will send one out on Orlando (holiday in 2 weeks) and Chicago (company conference is there in late July!) imminently since this has been so helpful!! We Brits like to travel...

[BCowan]

Andy,

    Mt Prospect and Ravisloe when you are in Chicago. 

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