Long Island and the Ryder Cup – A Journey Through Exceptional Golf Courses
- golf
by Susanne Kemper
The Island of Contrasts
Long Island is more than just a name—it is a mosaic: endless beaches, vineyards blazing in autumn, ancient lighthouses like Montauk Point (1796), and the aristocratic estates of the Gold Coast that recall Gatsby’s era. Oheka Castle (1919), perched atop the island’s highest point, stands as its icon—a castle-hotel where history blends seamlessly with dreams.
For golfers, however, Long Island is above all synonymous with golf courses. For over a century, New Yorkers have crossed bridges and highways to escape the frenzy of Manhattan, finding here fairways swept by the wind, greens bordered by roughs, and a golfing culture among the richest in the United States.
The Private Sanctuaries
Long Island is home to some of the most revered private clubs in the world. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, founded in 1891, is one of the five founding members of the USGA. This Links-style course, built on sandy soil and exposed to the wind, is one of the most authentic in America. It will once again host the U.S. Open in 2026, a testament to its timeless status.
Directly across lies National Golf Links of America, designed by C.B. Macdonald in 1911—a true architectural manifesto and a living tribute to the great British and Scottish Links.
More discreet, yet celebrating its centenary in 2025, Southampton Golf Club embodies the understated elegance of the Hamptons. Here, golf is lived as a privilege, passed down through generations.
To remember: Shinnecock Hills GC – National Golf Links of America – Southampton GC
Nassau, Richness and Variety
Nassau County is the beating heart of American public golf. Bethpage State Park, with its five courses, illustrates this generosity. At the center of attention is the legendary Bethpage Black Course, host of the future Ryder Cup and of multiple major championships. Its entrance sign remains iconic: “The Black Course is an extremely difficult course.” Yet the other layouts—Blue, Red, Yellow, Green—complete this outstanding offering.
In East Meadow, Eisenhower Park presents three 18-hole layouts. The Red Course, originally designed by Devereux Emmet in 1914 and later remodeled by Robert Trent Jones Sr., hosted the 1926 PGA Championship and still holds the stature of a championship course. The White and Blue courses, added later, allow for variety in rhythm and style.
In Port Washington, Harbor Links Golf Course, designed by Michael Hurdzan in 1998 on a former quarry, offers a demanding Championship layout complemented by a shorter Executive course, ideal for a quicker round.
In Oceanside, The Golf Club at Middle Bay, once private and now public, charms with its welcoming atmosphere and open fairways. Further north, Oyster Bay Golf Course, designed by Tom Fazio, reflects his signature style: dramatic bunkering, finely defended greens, and an exacting design.
To remember: Bethpage Black (+ Blue & Green) – Eisenhower Park (Red, White, Blue) – Harbor Links – Middle Bay – Oyster Bay (Fazio)
Suffolk, Golf by the Bays
Further east, Suffolk County reveals a landscape of contrasts. In West Babylon, Bergen Point stretches along the Great South Bay: exposed fairways, marine breezes, and an almost Scottish ambiance.
To the north, Crab Meadow Golf Course overlooks Long Island Sound, offering postcard panoramas.
Inland, Spring Lake Golf Club in Middle Island features 27 wooded holes, varied and welcoming. Nearby, Timber Point, dating back to the 1920s, also offers 27 holes overlooking the Connetquot River and the bay—a historic course full of natural charm.
Finally, at the island’s eastern tip, Montauk Downs State Park embodies Long Island’s ultimate golfing pilgrimage. Originally opened in 1927, it was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1968 and later refined by Rees Jones. Consistently ranked among America’s best public courses, this Links-style layout is played to the rhythm of the wind and the Atlantic Ocean.
To remember: Bergen Point – Crab Meadow – Spring Lake (27) – Timber Point (27) – Montauk Downs (RTJ Sr. & Rees Jones)
Long Island and the Ryder Cup
Long Island has established itself as an essential stop on the world map of golf. By hosting the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, the island joins the lineage of the game’s greatest stages. Playing here means feeling the roar of the crowd, the demands of the course, and the weight of history.
A course that is stern, with unforgiving roughs and relentless greens—yet one that guarantees a golfing experience like no other.
More about the Ryder Cup
Susanne Kemper
Susanne Kemper has covered the US PGA Tour’s West Coast swing and key events, DP European Tour’s events, Ryder Cup since Valderrama, WCG, British Open, US Open, plus South African, Latin American, and Australian Major tournaments for 20+ years and numerous LPGA, LET and Solheim Cups.