For a so called ‘Forgotten Borough’, Staten Island has some unforgettable public golf courses. While when thinking of this borough, many may think about Staten Island’s pizza shops and its bowling alleys, the fact is golf is now a sport enjoyed by all and the residents of Staten Island have three very affordable and well kept public golf courses to consider their own. While New Jersey golf courses are not far away for residents of Staten Island, there is little need to travel there given what is available right on Staten Island proper. The following are the three best public golf courses on Staten Island.
LaTourette Golf Course
1001 Richmond Hill Road
Staten Island, New York
(718) 351-1889
LaTourette may be not only the finest public golf course in all of New York City, but one of the finest I’ve played anywhere. It is simply a breathtaking place, by any standard. The amenities are first class (it offers a full driving range, for example), the facilities historic yet modern, and the championship caliber layout outstanding. Even their rental clubs are all close to new. Located in the historic Richmond Town section of Staten Island, this place has character, charm and value. The clubhouse here is a renovated manor house and is gorgeous.
LaTourette hosts charity golf tournaments (the March of Dimes hosts a big tournament here) and even celebrities and the well to do enjoy playing this impeccable public course. BUT, it is still a public course, complete with very reasonable greens fees and discounts for New York City residents.
If there is any nitpick I could offer about LaTourette is that play CAN be a bit slow, particularly in the spring and early summer months, but that annoyance is dulled a bit by the terrific layout and scenery. LaTourette is a challenging course, measuring just about 6700 yards from the back tees and is a par 72. Golf carts are available and I would recommend them, particularly if this is your first time at the course.
Silver Lake Golf Course
915 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, New York
(718) 447-5686
Silver Lake has had some problems in the past with conditions, but recent renovation has brought about vast improvement. The course is a very fair one, not too difficult and not too easy, and with sensibly laid out holes that reward intelligent play. The course IS a bit short, measuring just over 6100 yards, but that shorter distance is mostly mitigated by well placed trees and hazards.
On that note, however, Silver Lake has removed some of the ‘unfair’ hazards (I had never seen a ‘blind’ par three until playing there) and it now plays as a fun, fair and increasingly well conditioned course.
New York City residents enjoy substantial discounts, and the crowd here is almost all native Staten Islanders.
South Shore Golf Club
200 Huguenot Avenue
Staten Island, New York
(718) 984-0101
The South Shore Golf Club feels at times like a private club. The setting and facilities are beautiful and well maintained, the staff gracious and the course design well thought out. In fact, the setup is ideal for a public course as the fairways are very forgiving, though long, and yet the greens themselves relatively small and challenging. While there may be more three and four putts here then at other places, lost balls are not as much of an issue and the pace of play tends to be quicker as a result.
The greens fees are still very competitive, and in line with other municipal golf courses in Staten Island and New York City.
Measuring 6300 yards from the back tees, South Shore is a par 72. The scenery is beautiful and out of towners will never guess that they are actually playing golf in New York City. Residents might forget as well, though their approximately 20% discounted greens fees will remind them. There is no driving range, though there is a practice green for working on your pitching and putting.
