If the Town of Oyster Bay’s elected officials’ ears were tingling on Wednesday evening, July 1, there was good reason. Author Phil Carlucci was talking at the Oyster Bay Historical Society about his newly released book Long Island Golf. He said Oyster Bay has been in the forefront of golf history.
Originally, Oyster Bay had one of the first 20 public golf courses in America, a nine-hole course located off Berry Hill Road and Cove Road, in what became part of the Schiff Estate. It ran from 1894 to 1903 and Theodore Roosevelt played there, though, according to Carlucci, “He did not like the sport.”
Oyster Bay repeated that leading role in 1989 when the town hired Tom Fazzio to design their new course at the Woodlands, the Bruce Estate on Jericho Turnpike and South Woods Road. It started a new trend of municipalities opening public golf courses.
When the TOB course opened, he said, there was a line of cars waiting to get it.
“That success led the modern era to build courses such as Harbor Links in North Hempstead, built on former sand mines,” he said.
He said it is not what would be called a “link” course by definition because its roughs are not rough enough. It is more of an Arizona course, he wrote in his blog.
Writing in his Internet blog, “Open Golf on Long Island,” is Carlucci’s way to let people know how many public golf courses exist on Long Island and how accessible they are. Take a moment to look at the website to see photos of the courses, and hints about playing on them. There is poetry in his descriptions that might make you interested in becoming a player.
At his lecture, Carlucci said TOB has a “signature hole” with a water hazard that is the most difficult. The lanes of the course are narrow and tree-lined. It is hilly and there are three levels in a putting green, adding challenge and complexity to the play. His blog gives tips on how to deal with that hilly location which adds to the challenges at each hole.
“It doesn’t get publicity,” he said, noting that it is geared to the resident player. Non-residents have to pay more. The course difficulty, he said, rates along with the blue and green courses at Bethpage, a New York State park in the Town of Oyster Bay.
Carlucci explained that Bethpage State Park was a relief project born in the depression. It hired 1,800 workers over time to build the clubhouse and four original courses, which has expanded and is now five. He said it is a beautiful wooded course and while playing, “you cannot imagine” that it is located right next to a parkway. It became clear that the aesthetics of the surroundings is part of the love of golf for Carlucci and others. [TOB historian John Hammond added recently that the town was involved in making the park a reality by helping with the bonding for the project.]
The next big step for golfing on Long Island came as an influx of people came to live here and as schools were built they realized there was a need for golf courses. Pine Hollow Country Club in East Norwich opened in 1955 and began a new trend: it was the first private course built since 1930.
Carlucci said it was fitting that this was the first of his speaking engagements since it was at the OBHS that he began his research, with the help of librarian Nicole Menchise, the society’s archivist. The book he created for Arcadia Publishing Company has almost 300 images of public courses, private clubs, long-gone layouts, tournament play and more, each with an interesting paragraph giving its history/relevance. The book talks about local golf figures dating back to the 1890s at Shinnecock Hills through the present day and has views of the original Lido Club, Montauk Downs and Meadow Brook clubs, as well as new courses such as Great Rock and Willow Creek.
The images were collected from local clubs, golf associations, libraries, historical societies, municipalities and personal archives.
There were a lot of places to gather material since he said there are more than 70 public courses on Long Island, which boasts 135 courses. Some are private and at the talk, a woman asked if he had played on many of them and he said, “One.” It would seem that after golfers read his book he will be asked to join many foursomes at private clubs, to share his knowledge and enthusiasm. FYI: He said his average score is in the low 90s.
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The OBHS continues to educate enchant and entertain the public. Their current exhibit, Hats Off is on view. They hosted two concerts during the Oyster Bay Music Festival the second week in July.
Executive director Philip Blocklyn said, “You cannot imagine what it is like when they are bringing in the piano. Steinway donates a Concert Grand for the performances. The students play, eat cookies and are on to the next event. They are really remarkable students.”
Blocklyn said he is enjoying giving his walking tours of Oyster Bay.
“They are very interesting to me since no two are alike. They are designed around the walkers. Some like to see cemeteries, some like houses, some are Ted-Heads (TR fans), and some are interested in the American Revolution,” said Blocklyn. “After watching Turn on TV, all the information they remember is wrong.”
The tours cost $15 per person and $5 for ages 12 to 17, with advance reservations required. Call 516-922-5032 for more information.
