Off the Fringe, “Golf’s best short read.” The award winning newsletter, sent twice monthly, that provides an unconventional perspective on the golf world.
Paul Pearson
Brooklyn
2010-06-10
$16 (cart not included), played on Wednesday, May 2010 at 2pm
AGC has done a good job with this surprisingly lovely course only 10 minutes from downtown Brooklyn. The course is well maintained and drives in the fairways are rewarded by accessible approaches to the greens. Off line tee shots find strategic sand, varying rough, trees or marshland, but one correction stroke usually gets you back on track. There are no forced carries or water hazards.
Golfers I play with agree that Dyker Beach plays a little harder that its official slope rating indicates. The greens vary from small to mid-sized, each features wrinkles and tilts (a few are bi-level)and are generally well-guarded by decent bunkers, banks and longish rough. Depending on the mood of the groundskeeper, and whether a tournament is scheduled,a golfer can expect a mix of easy to hard pin placements. The landscape is varied and picturesque on most holes.
The fees are average for NYC courses and special annual golf card purchase gets early twighlight rates. This is public golf and as such one can expect to confront lots of unreplaced divots in the fairways, choppy, unraked sandtraps and lots of unrepaired ball marks on the greens. There is usually a starter, but few if any course marshals are on duty to police slow play and / or course etiquette. You can "reserve" a t-time online or by calling ahead for a small fee, but this means nothing in terms of a guaranteed time. Golfers on the weekends can expect up to an hour delay past their times and a round may take up to 5 hours or more to complete. Weekdays are a little better, but be sure to call ahead since Dyker management book frequent parties and private tournaments, or high school competitions or practices that take precedent over individuals and foursomes.
Beer, soft drinks, adequate dogs and burgers and substandard sandwiches are available on fair weather weekends outside or from the restaurant in the clubhouse which has an expanded menu and full bar. The small pro shop is nicely done with basic supplies and rental clubs. Though Dyker is not a venue to plan a vacation around, a dedicated golfer vacationing or visiting NYC/Brooklyn golfing friends might spend a happy morning or afternoon at Dyker on a lark. I've golfed at most NYC public courses and it is at the top in terms of beauty and design, in many ways as nice as some private courses I've played, though not quite as well maintained and equipped with amenities.
Other good NYC publics are Pelham/Split Rock, La Tourette and Clearview. Forest Park, Douglaston are in the second tier and the hilly, but diminutive Kissena course was in okay shape and really fun when I played there this month. Under new management, Marine Park in Brooklyn, is getting upgraded to its rightful place with the best.
Would travel: 10-20 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Better than average course for the area, Fair priced based on quality and competitive area pricing
Condition of Course, Layout, Price, Ambiance, Pro Shop
$16 (cart not included), played on Wednesday, May 2010 at 2pm
AGC has done a good job with this surprisingly lovely course only 10 minutes from downtown Brooklyn. The course is well maintained and drives in the fairways are rewarded by accessible approaches to the greens. Off line tee shots find strategic sand, varying rough, trees or marshland, but one correction stroke usually gets you back on track. There are no forced carries or water hazards.
Golfers I play with agree that Dyker Beach plays a little harder that its official slope rating indicates. The greens vary from small to mid-sized, each features wrinkles and tilts (a few are bi-level)and are generally well-guarded by decent bunkers, banks and longish rough. Depending on the mood of the groundskeeper, and whether a tournament is scheduled,a golfer can expect a mix of easy to hard pin placements. The landscape is varied and picturesque on most holes.
The fees are average for NYC courses and special annual golf card purchase gets early twighlight rates. This is public golf and as such one can expect to confront lots of unreplaced divots in the fairways, choppy, unraked sandtraps and lots of unrepaired ball marks on the greens. There is usually a starter, but few if any course marshals are on duty to police slow play and / or course etiquette. You can "reserve" a t-time online or by calling ahead for a small fee, but this means nothing in terms of a guaranteed time. Golfers on the weekends can expect up to an hour delay past their times and a round may take up to 5 hours or more to complete. Weekdays are a little better, but be sure to call ahead since Dyker management book frequent parties and private tournaments, or high school competitions or practices that take precedent over individuals and foursomes.
Beer, soft drinks, adequate dogs and burgers and substandard sandwiches are available on fair weather weekends outside or from the restaurant in the clubhouse which has an expanded menu and full bar. The small pro shop is nicely done with basic supplies and rental clubs. Though Dyker is not a venue to plan a vacation around, a dedicated golfer vacationing or visiting NYC/Brooklyn golfing friends might spend a happy morning or afternoon at Dyker on a lark. I've golfed at most NYC public courses and it is at the top in terms of beauty and design, in many ways as nice as some private courses I've played, though not quite as well maintained and equipped with amenities.
Other good NYC publics are Pelham/Split Rock, La Tourette and Clearview. Forest Park, Douglaston are in the second tier and the hilly, but diminutive Kissena course was in okay shape and really fun when I played there this month. Under new management, Marine Park in Brooklyn, is getting upgraded to its rightful place with the best.