Bethpage Black
It's not often you get to play a U.S. Open course, and it's even rarer to play a U.S. Open course at a municipal price. The Black Course, 30 miles outside the city at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y., only costs residents $60 on the weekends ($120 for non-residents), as of 2009. Still, that beats the $400 to $500 asking price of any other Open championship course, such as Pebble Beach or Whistling Straits. The 7,366-yard Black course is the longest in Open history, and its narrow, quick greens make for a putter's worst nightmare. It's a great test, though, and the thrill of playing where the pros play makes any score you shoot totally worth the trip.
99 Quaker Meeting House Road
Farmingdale, New York 11735-1847
(516) 249-0701
http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/golf-courses/11/course-information.aspx
Rock Hill
Located in Manorville on Long Island, Rock Hill plays exactly like its name. The 7,050-yard course is pretty simple, with 11 straight fairways and the rest intermediate doglegs. The fairways, though, are so sloped that a good shot on any other course could roll into the rough. The yardage may seem long, but because of the rocks underneath the course, the ball will roll for you. The greens play quicker than they look, particularly at the 390-yard, par-4 15th hole. Once you avoid the two bunkers in the landing area of the steepest dogleg left on the course, three more bunkers await you around the green. What the course lacks in design and flair, it makes up for with maintenance, and it's open year-round.
105 Clancey Road
Manorville, New York 11949
(516) 878-2250
www.rockhillgolf.com
"Wicked" on Broadway
Most golfers aren't known for their soft or artsy side, but most everyone has a Broadway side. Step under the big city lights and catch "Wicked." The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical is based on a subject everyone knows--the life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West. So if "Phantom of the Opera" is too girlie for you, or "Avenue Q" is too raunchy, spend the cash at the theater for "Wicked." The book it's based on is pretty deep and dark, but the musical is a bit lighter and plenty suitable for singles or families. As of October 2009, there is one evening show on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, two shows on Wednesdays and Saturdays and a matinee on Sundays.
Gershwin Theatre
222 W. 51st St.
New York, New York 10019
(212) 586-6510
http://www.wickedthemusical.com/
About The Author
Sean Quinn is a writer and editor based in New York City. He has spent the last decade covering major sporting events from the NFL playoffs to the U.S. Open. He has written for the Kansas City Star and ESPN, among others. He is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
