From Left to Right County Executive Suozzi, two-time Commerce Bank Championship winner Jim Thorpe, and Tournament Chairman Edward Travaglianti enjoy some shade at the recent Commerce Bank Championship Media Day

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi was joined by two-time Commerce Bank Championship winner Jim Thorpe; Tournament Director Brian Kemp; President and CEO of North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System Michael J. Dowling; and Tournament Chairman Edward Travaglianti, for the 2005 Commerce Bank Championship.  The tournament, which is now in its third year will be held June 27 to July 3 at the Red Course at Eisenhower Park, and benefits Schneider Children’s Hospital. 

The Red Course, one of three 18-hole golf courses at Eisenhower Park, has a storied history. Originally, it was part of the exclusive Salisbury Golf Club, begun by wealthy Long Islanders such as A.T. Stewart, a 19th-century retailer and property magnate who founded the Village of Garden City. The Red was designed in 1914 by a prominent local golf course architect, Devereux Emmet, who was married to one of Stewart’s nieces. Emmet was also a descendant of Thomas Addison Emmet, a founder of New York City’s Tammany Hall political machine.

Most of Emmet’s courses were designed during the era of hickory-shafted clubs and were short by current standards, at around 6,000 yards. Today, the course measures 7,003 yards from the championship tees, 6,407 yards from the middle tees, and 5,588 yards from the forward tees. Working with PGA Tour architects, the Nassau County Parks Department’s experienced golf crew is continually enhancing the quality of this championship course. In 2005, three new tee boxes and four new fairway bunkers were completed, while the 3rd and 12th holes were redesigned and upgraded.

During golf events, the Red Course is considered friendly both for golfers and spectators, with relatively flat and short distances between greens and tees. The course also has many crosswalks that allow fans to get around easily and see the players. For more information, tee times and fee schedules you can contact: 516-572-0327 or 0328.