Visit New York

I am going on a week long holiday with my fiance to New York (11th to 17th Nov). As part of the planning process I looked into the possibility of getting in a round of golf.

The obvious answer seems to be bethpage park - which has 5 courses.

I would like some local knowledge on whether this is a runner.

I know if someone asked a question like this on visiting Dublin (or anywhere in Ireland) I could easily point them in the right direction - numerous brilliant options.

The factors for me are
1. I'll need to rent clubs
2. Play on my own, my fiance might "caddy" for me.
3. Will it be too cold?
4. Getting there by train
5. I'm a beginner (breaking 100, but not breaking 90 "yet"), will that be okay.

So I'm looking for a fairly relaxed type of set up that would be friendly and not too serious. I'm getting addicted to the game and I believe this would be a serious high for me to play on a course in a foreign country. I'v only played about 5 courses in Ireland so far (I'm only at it a few months)

Maybe some of you USA guys may have some good suggestion for me.

Thanks.

I live 5 minutes from there. I would rate the courses at Bethpage as

1- Black
2- Red
3- Green
4- Blue - front nine very difficult
5- Yellow

I would call in advance as they are aerating greens this time of year and close courses periodically. 516 249 0707.
The clubrental is going to be a problem I think, but you can call the pro shop (on the grounds but not affilitated with the state). If not, there is a place on route 110 in Farmingdale or called the Golf Stop that may be able to you rent clubs. You can take a train to Farmingdale or Bethpage from Penn station and then take a cab to the course. Unfortunately, I don't think they let non players on the course, even if caddying. There is not much else to do in Farmingdale or Bethpage. The wait time at that time of year should not be a problem, obviously worse on the weekends. They close the courses quickly in bad weather.

If you are a beginner, stay away from blue and black, yellow is he easiest, then green is slightly harder and then red. The red is such a nice course though, I would try for that.

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.

I don't mind the cold, so as long as its dry I'll try and get out there. I'll ring them when I get there and clarify the club rental/caddy(if my fiance knew she was being refrred to as a caddy, I'd be killed) and any other issues.

Is this the best option for me or is there a "more" public course/courses around New York?

Thanks.

There are other courses, but they are out east on Long Island near Riverhead but woud require a car. you can reserve times. Long island national is one of them. check out this website. I have played dyker, latourette is supposed to be very nice. clearview is close to the city.

http://www.golfinnyc.com/DykerBeachGC.htm

You can also get to Van Cortlandt, which is America's oldest public golf course. Pretty neat. It is accessible by subway from Mannhattan..

http://www.golfinnyc.com/VancortlandtGC.htm