So one of my other projects for 2008 is to start playing golf again. I used to play when I was younger, roughly from 10 yo to around 17 yo, that’s when I went to college. I had reached a 12 handicap, mostly from 10 to 16, after that I am not sure but I think I was not really motivated anymore.

After I entered college, I played a couple of times a year and until I got in the States, where I play about 1 time per year. Since golf is about training and confidence… Well anyway. I have now decided I will go down to a 5 handicap by the end of the year. I am playing the qualifying round of a national women amateur competition in May in NJ so I need to practice, hence this post and what I’ve found.

I actually cannot believe I have been living in NYC for about 3 years and the only place I had played was the Dyker Beach golf course located in south Brooklyn, not too far from Brighton beach.

Below, I will review what can be accessed by subway. We all can rent a car but if you are looking to play a couple of times per week, it can get expensive.

One thing you should know is you can get a New York resident ID that will allow you to play cheaper in most golfs of NY State. The card costs $6 and you can get it at any golf (bring a proof of address and an ID/or picture).

Manhattan (driving ranges)

I often wish I am given the project to dedicate and develop a part Central Park to a golf eden.

Chelsea Piers:

PROS:

• You can get good deals on the balls if you come off-peak hours. Good if you are a student or like to get up early.
• You can buy $ cards for balls and use them whenever you want (for instance: $50 for 323 off-peak balls and 197 peak time balls).
• Hours: open from 6:30 AM till 12 AM

CONS:

• Quite annoying to get there: located on the Piers (West manhattan), between 18th and 19th Streets.
• It gets busy and you usually have to wait to play, even if you come at 11pm (they give you a number and you wait till it’s you turn).
• The driving cages are on 3 different floors so don’t be scared of heights…

Randall’s Island: Currently closed, management has changed and they are waiting for the City’s green light. Will update when open.

So for Randall’s, it is hard to give a judgment as we only went there once and the place was closed. Actually we went twice and the first time we could sneak in when the second time, they had closed the open gate. Once this opens, I will go and update the below pros and cons.

PROS:

• Awesome view of the Triboro bridge, try to go when the sun is going down
• Although it was free for us, it seems the prices were cheap (from the board we could see)
• easy to get there from the Upper East Side / East Harlem neighborhoods

CONS:

• TBD

Bronx

Mosholu Golf Course

They only have a nine hole, which is very small (par 34). There is no par 5 throughout the course. The greens are very slow and easy to deal with. The course us pretty flat. The green fee is quite cheap, $15 for 9 holes (with the NY resident card) and the carts are also $15 (per person). But the course us is so small that you really don’t need a cart. Most golfers carry their bag. It is also easy to get there. Take the 6 train to the last stop, then there is a short 5 min walk to the golf. Ask directions at the MTA station if you are not sure once you get there.

Below, me at Mosholu! :)

Brooklyn

Dyker Beach Golf Course

I played this one about 2/3 years ago, with some people I had met through work. I barely remember it. I will have to go there again to re-explore. The quality of the course might also have changed since then so I will not comment on it. To get there, take the R train to 86th street stop.

For more golf courses around the city, go here. I will add more to this post as I explore more.

To be continued… Feel free to share your experience on these courses or others.