Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation & Museums

The Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums provides a total of seven golf courses to accommodate players with a range of skills. In addition, there are three driving ranges, and for children and families two mini-golf courses, in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow and Cantiague Park in Hicksville

At Eisenhower Park, three of Long Island’s finest golf courses are open to the public, including the famed “Red” course. The Red course has a storied history, having been designed by prominent golf architect Devereux Emmet in 1914 and having hosted PGA championships as far back as 1926. These days, the Red course plays host to the PGA Tour’s Commerce Bank Championship (scheduled in 2008 from from June 23-29).

A second championship-level course, the White, was designed by Robert Trent Jones, a major 20th-century architect of American courses. Jones also designed the third 18-hole course at Eisenhower, the Blue.

Eisenhower Park has an excellent driving range with 60 bays and night hours in season. Two other County parks provide driving ranges: Cantiague Park, centrally located in Hicksville; and North Woodmere Park, located by the water in the southwest corner of the county.

In addition, there are four executive-level 9-hole golf courses that are perfect for a relaxing morning or afternoon of practice. These courses are conveniently spread around the County park system at the following parks:

Long Island Golfer Achieves Rare Feat on White Course

In Newsday's edition of Sunday, July 5, sports writer and columnist Mark Herrmann highlighted the unique accomplishment of Long Islander Darryl Garner, who scored a double-eagle 2 on the 18th hole of Eisenhower Park's White Course, which is 468 yards from the white tees and par 5.

According to the story, Garner holed out his second shot from 205 yards with a hybrid club, an achievement considered even more difficult than scoring a hole-in-one on a par 3. "In golf lingo, it is called an albatross because it is so rare," wrote Herrmann. As Garner told the reporter: "I saw it go on the green and said to myself, 'Oh, my God.' I didn't believe that."

The White course, one of three 18-hole golf courses at Eisenhower Park, was designed in 1950 by Robert Trent Jones, a major 20th-century architect of American courses. Born in England in 1906, Jones emigrated to the U.S. as a youngster and ultimately embarked on a career that saw him create or remodel some 500 golf courses throughout the U.S. over the span of seven decades.

The White course at Eisenhower measures 6,932 yards from the championship tees, 6,378 yards from the middle tees, and 5,357 yards from the forward tees. The course has elevated greens with 22 holes, as the par three’s have double identical holes. In recent years, 38 green side bunkers on the White course were renovated and 15 new tees constructed.

To read the story in Newsday, click here.

Nassau County Scheduled to Reopen Two Nine-Hole Golf Courses on March 13

Following a cold winter, the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums is scheduled to reopen two of its four nine-hole golf courses on Friday, March 13, weather permitting, announced Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi.

The two courses, in Bay Park in East Rockaway (516-571-7242) and Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn-North Hills (516-571-8120), have been closed since December; they will be open six days a week. The two other county nine-hole courses at Cantiague Park (516-571-7061) and North Woodmere Park (516-571-7814) have remained open during the winter, as weather allows. The initial hours for all four courses will be from approximately 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Each of the four nine-hole par-30 courses provides a slightly different playing experience. Christopher Morley, at 1,603 yards, is a small but hilly course surrounded by trees, and the only course located on the North Shore. The Bay Park course is located by the water and has two holes over 300 yards, with total yardage of 1,956. At 2,282 yards, North Woodmere’s course is the largest of the nine holes, with four holes over 300 yards, two of which approach 400 yards. Like Bay Park, the course is located on the South Shore by the water. Cantiague Park’s golf course is centrally located in Hicksville and offers a flat and easy-to-traverse property, with total yardage of 1,878.

At Eisenhower Park's golf facility, the 18-hole Blue and White courses are open seven days a week as weather allows. The championship Red course is scheduled to open later in March or early April. For information, call 516-572-0327/28.

Nine-hole course fees for a Nassau County resident with a Leisure Pass are $10 to $15; non-Leisure Pass holders and nonresident fees are $20 to $30. Motor cart rentals and caddy cart rentals are available.

Golf Digest Accords Eisenhower Park Red Course a Four-Star Rating

Golf Digest magazine has included the Red course at Eisenhower Park among its “Four Stars Best Places to Play 2008/2009,” recognition granted to a select number of courses throughout the U.S., announced Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi.

The monthly magazine’s four-star ranking is reserved for courses considered “outstanding” and worthy of “plan[ning] your next vacation around.” In its comments section, Golf Digest noted several of the course’s attributes, including “great price,” “great shape,” “phenomenal big greens” and “beautiful walk in the park.”

The Red, one of three 18-hole golf courses at Eisenhower Park, has a storied history. It was designed in 1914 by a prominent local golf course architect, Devereux Emmet, and was originally 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.

In 1926, the course hosted the PGA Championship and legendary golfer Walter Hagan, and in recent years PGA Tour golfers have gathered at the course for the Commerce Bank Championship. The par-72-course is 7,107 yards from the championship tees.

The two other 18-hole courses at Eisenhower Park, the White and Blue, were granted three stars (“very good”) by Golf Digest. In addition to the course, Eisenhower Park offers a driving range with 60 bays. For more information about golf at Eisenhower Park, call 516-572-0327/28.

The jewel of Nassau County’s park system and centrally located in East Meadow off Merrick Avenue between Hempstead Turnpike and Old Country Road, Eisenhower Park is 930 acres and offers a range of recreational activities.

Commerce Bank Championship Winner Praises Red Course as "Deal of the Century"

Loren Roberts, who won this year's Commerce Bank Championship at the Eisenhower Red golf course, told Newsday the Red is "the deal of the century" when he learned about the fees, which range from $22 (weekdays for senior citizens who are Nassau County residents) to $49 (non-residents on weekends).

The course, played at 7,082 yards for the tournament, came in for plenty of praise from the pros during the three-day tournament, which ended June 29 and drew thousands of spectators. Roberts described the Red as a deceptively tough course, telling Newsday "it's got plenty of length.You've got some wind out there and the greens are just flat enough that they're tricky." Defending champ Lonnie Nielsen, who finished third this year, ranked the Red as "one of the few favorites" among players on the Champions Tour.

Over the three rounds of golf on the par-71 course, Roberts finished 12 under, one stroke ahead of Nick Price and Lonnie Nielsen. Roberts collected $240,000 for his victory. Last year, Roberts was the recipient of the Charles Schwab Cup, given to the leading player on the Champions Tour.

The Red course as a storied history, having been designed by prominent golf architect Devereux Emmet in 1914 and having hosted PGA championships as far back as 1926. Newsday has ranked the Red course No. 4 among its top 10 public golf course on Long Island and the Long Island Press has included the larger Eisenhower Park golf facility among its “Best of Long Island” public courses.

The Eisenhower Park golf facility, which includes three 18-hole courses, is one of the busiest and finest public courses in the New York metropolitan area. A second championship-level course, the White, was designed by Robert Trent Jones, a major 20th-century architect of American courses. Jones also designed the third 18-hole course at Eisenhower, the Blue.

Long Island Press Names Eisenhower Golf "Best of Long Island" Course

The Long Island Press has included the Eisenhower Park golf course among its “Best of Long Island” public courses, in its January 10 issue. Each year, the weekly newspaper publishes a “Best of Long Island” issue in which it touts the best services and companies in a wide range of categories.

The Eisenhower Park golf facility, which includes three 18-hole courses, is one of the busiest and finest public courses in the New York metropolitan area. In 2007, Newsday named the Red course at Eisenhower No. 4 among its top-10 list of public courses on Long Island.

The Red course has a storied history, having been designed by prominent golf architect Devereux Emmet in 1914 and having hosted PGA championships as far back as 1926. These days, the Red course plays host to the PGA Tour’s Commerce Bank Championship (scheduled in 2008 from from June 23-29).

During the winter, the White and Blue courses are open seven days a week, as weather allows.

Newsday Ranks Eisenhower "Red" Among Top 10 Public Golf Courses on the Island

In May 2007, Newsday ranked the Eisenhower "Red" golf course at Eisenhower Park No. 4 among its top 10 public golf course on Long Island.

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. (The U.S. Golf Association did not accept the use of steel shafts until 1924.) Today, the course measures 7,030 yards from the championship tees, 6,784 yards from the middle tees, and 5,588 yards from the forward tees. Working with PGA Tour architects, the Parks Department’s experienced golf crew is continually enhancing the quality of this championship course.

The Red course’s history with championship golf goes back to 1926, when the course hosted the PGA Championship. In that contest, legendary golfer Walter Hagan won the third of four consecutive PGA titles, capturing an $11,100 purse in the process. These days, the Red course plays host to the PGA Tour’s Commerce Bank Championship. PGA golfer Lee Trevino has called Eisenhower Red “one of the better and one of the toughest courses we play.”

From June 29 - July 1, PGA Tour golfers will again gather at the Red course for the Commerce Bank Championship. This year’s much-anticipated event features some of the finest players on the senior tour in a spectator-friendly venue. Among those expected to compete are Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Gary Player and Jim Thorpe. The event also includes numerous family-friendly activities. For information, call (516) 802-GOLF or visit www.commercebankchampionship.com.