Long Island:
Big-Time Golf Just Beyond the City.
Long Island is one of the strongest public golf destinations in the country, with championship venues, tough parkland tests, and coastal wind all within reach of New York City. Bethpage anchors the scene in the center of the island, while drives east take you toward Montauk’s rugged “end of the world” feel and west–east corridors filled with water lined modern layouts. This is very much road trip golf: traffic and distances matter, but the payoff is a mix of U.S. Open pedigree, locals’ favorites, and weekends that can blend golf with beaches or wine country.
Featured Golf Courses
Bethpage State Park – Farmingdale, NY
Architect: A.W. Tillinghast (1935 - Black, Red, Blue; Green renovations), Alfred Tull (1958 - Yellow)
One of the most famous public golf destinations in the U.S., Bethpage is the beating heart of Long Island, featuring five courses spread across sandy, rolling terrain that feels closer to a private club complex than a state park. The Black Course is the headliner—a long, demanding Tillinghast design that has hosted U.S. Opens, a PGA Championship, and most recently the Ryder Cup. The Red, often called the “mini Black,” shares much of the same DNA in a more forgiving form, with bold par 4s and stout par 3s that many locals prefer day to day. The remaining courses are typically in strong condition for state-run facilities, and the early-morning parking lot lotteries, coffee in hand, are part of Bethpage’s enduring identity.
Montauk Downs State Park – Montauk, NY
Architect: Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1968); Rees Jones renovation
Montauk Downs sits at the far end of Long Island, with rolling terrain, steady wind, and a low key state park setting that feels a world away from the city. The design has classic RTJ DNA, with tightened landing areas, elevated greens, and bunkering that makes conservative lines a smart choice when the breeze is up. Conditioning is typically strong and the surrounding lighthouse, beaches, and town turn it into a full weekend destination rather than a casual day trip. The catch is the time commitment and The Hamptons lodging cost if you go in the summer, so most locals save it for when they are already out east.
Willow Creek Golf & Country Club – Mount Sinai, NY
Architect: Stephen Kay (2005)
Willow Creek brings a modern, almost Florida style to mid island golf, with lakes, streams, and sculpted bunkers in play on many holes. Fairways offer room, but water and angles into quick, well kept greens demand disciplined target golf rather than automatic driver. Regulars talk about the pace as much as the conditioning, since rounds tend to move while still feeling like a full test. Its central location also makes it a natural anchor if you want to mix golf with a run out to the North Fork wine trail.
Plan Your Next Trip the Right Way
Insider Notes:
At Bethpage, many locals view Red as the best balance of fun and punishment; if you only have one day and do not have a guaranteed Black time, Red plus a walk through the Black’s first tee area still gives you the Bethpage buzz without wrecking the trip.
For any itinerary that includes courses east of Bethpage, consider routing flights through Long Island MacArthur if you are connecting anyway; starting on the island can save a surprising amount of drive time compared with fighting LGA or JFK traffic on arrival.
Long Island public golf has a strong early morning culture; first wave tee times often mean better pace, firmer conditions, and less traffic on the roads, which matters as much here as slope rating.
Long Island has one of the strongest concentrations of elite private courses in the country; if you have any chance to join a friend at places like National, Shinnecock, or Friar’s Head, build the entire trip around that tee time and fill in the public rota around it.
Montauk Downs is ideal when you are already out east for a weekend; pair an early round with a stop at the lighthouse or Ditch Plains beach and plan your return around traffic rather than trying to force it as a quick day from the city.
Airport Access:
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Bethpage State Park: ~55 minutes
Montauk Downs State Park: ~2 hours 30 minutes
Willow Creek Golf & Country Club: ~1 hour 25 minutes
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Bethpage State Park: ~45 minutes
Montauk Downs State Park: ~2 hours 40 minutes
Willow Creek Golf & Country Club: ~1 hour 30 minutes
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
Bethpage State Park: ~35–40 minutes
Montauk Downs State Park: ~1 hour 50–2 hours
Willow Creek Golf & Country Club: ~30 minutes
Driving Times:
Bethpage State Park: ~1 hour 15 minutes
Montauk Downs State Park: ~2 hours 45 minutes
Willow Creek Golf & Country Club: ~1 hour 45 minutes
North Fork wine trail (around Riverhead): ~1 hour 50 minutes
Southampton: ~2 hours
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