Have you played Dyker Beach Golf Course?
Have you played Dyker Beach Golf Course? If so why not tell us about your favorite hole or the course and we will write your comments on this page.
Bill’s Favorite Hole: Number 7: Long 423-yard Par 4 to an uphill green which normally plays into the wind. Narrow second shot to a hilly green. Not only tough to hit the green in regulation and tough to get the ball up and down.
They made some good changes to the course and it is looking much better than a year ago, but the management still need to spread the groups out to make the day more enjoyable. 8 minutes between each play can make for 5-6 hour rounds of golf - Not great is it!!! And hard work when getting into a rhythm is whatt its all about.
3/10 for the course management and 8/10 for the course when you consider how many play each year.
Comment by Dan Broadley — February 18, 2007 @ 9:39 am
My favorite is the 493 yd par 5 #6 hole. The view from the elevated tee box is quite expansive and nice. It’s an enticing tee shot from here, with a few distinct options presented: lay up short of the fairway bunker or challenge it to the left, or if winds are favorable be aggressive and try to fly the bunker or even the huge tree that guards the dogleg right. If you do so successfully, you’ve got a mid-iron into the green and a good chance for eagle. If you miss right, you’re in the trees but usually still just a heroic shot away from finding the green in regulation.
Comment by Big J — April 14, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Here’s the thing about Dyker Beach Golf Course — it is the most likeable of all the city courses in the sense that the holes all have great visualization possibilities from the tee box. Second shots may be a little boring throughout the course, but let’s get real, we’re not on tour. The par threes’ demanding shots surely compensate. The par three fourth makes or breaks a round — not in the financial or personal self-esteem sense. There is always AT LEAST a two group wait, and Dyker does not attract always the youngest of crowds, but that is okay, this is golf and so it goes (RIP Kurt Vonnegut). With a wait, for the average golfer, momentum goes down, and the beautiful par four dogleg right third hole was usually the precise hole any momentum got kickin!!! Been there done that whatever. With a back pin, the fourth is as tough as any, and even with a front pin, this is a tough hole to endure the wait. It is like most city course holes, nice enough, and really the left tree coming close to encroaching the green is the spot to miss to. Being on this green would mean you’re getting too good…
Comment by George — April 20, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
I am writing to because after my father passed away John Rocco Raffaniello I found some articles about him winning the hearst championships 3 years in a row. In 1957 I wanted to know if there are an people there remember him or if ou know were his trophies are. He went to ft hamiton hs and was captain of the team and champion in the senior division. He was a awesome man . And I am so proud of him he did go on to California and was a pro golfer there he even gave tyger woods a few lessons. sincerely, Kimbra
Comment by Kimbra Raffaniello-Connor — May 4, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
you may e-mail me at raffsangel1@hotmail.com
Comment by Kimbra Raffaniello-Connor — May 4, 2007 @ 10:54 pm
Yet again Dyker Beach Golf Course fails in its course management, which is a great pity because the golf course it self is fantastic.
Today we had 7 minute tee off times which is only enough for the person in front of you to get half way down the fairway. This means you end up waiting around for a long time at each hole. Then if the group in front of you are complete hackers and insists on taking 2 shot each when they miss hit a ball it can get even worse. One young kid in jeans and flip flops was told to hurry up but gave back some abuse to this old dear and her husband. We ended up with a 6 hour round today.
Where are the managers out on the course to speed up play? Why do American Golf insist on such short tee off times. If only the they thought of the golfer and not there pockets we might have a better experience, which the course deserves.
I don’t think I will be back in the near future.
Comment by Dan Ratcliffe — May 25, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
The management has actually gotten WORSE over the years that I’ve been playing Dyker. The problem is that the course is not really run for golfers but for groups having “outings” — companies, firefighters, unions, etc. This is a shame because it makes an adult playground out of a very decent golf course. The condition has constantly improved for years, but it’s almost impossible to enjoy.
Comment by RS — June 19, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
My favorite city course but I haven’t played Split Rock. Can play very slow but that’s city golf. Good conditions. Pretty challenging. A good course to walk if you want a little exercise. Always seem to get paired up with nice golfers. Usually hit it at least once a month. The negative comment is that of the management can charge you for something extra instead of giving you the benefit, they’ll charge you. Case in point. A few months ago after the huge three day flood, the course was soaked. I was walking but there was a guy who came to hit his new clubs, the course was empty. He rented a cart, his girlfriend who didn’t golf was with him. They charged her full price for cart and golfing although it was obviouse she wasn’t golfing. A little greedy at the front office given the fact that two of the fairways were lakes and shoes got soaked, but that could be a reflection of American golf corp. Who knows, Dyker’s a nice course and always fun to hit.
Comment by Darren McCord — July 14, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
DYKER IS A GREAT COURSE. EVERYONE COMPLAINS ABOUT ROUNDS ARE TO LONG.
RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR ROUND. WHY RUSH !!!. I’VE PLAYED COURSES IN MYRTLE BEACH,FLORIDA ARIZONA & VEGAS AND ALL MY ROUNDS ARE AROUND 4-1/2 TO 5 HOURS
AND SHOT IN THE HIGH 80′S. SO RELAX ENJOY DYKER. HERE’S A TIP. IF YOU WANT TO PLAY
A 3 HOUR ROUND GET A 6:00 AM TEE TIME
Comment by C SAVAGE — July 16, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Just to answer the above comment - I think the reason we complain about it taking so long is because its great to get into a routine. Even Tiger upsets his opponents by taking things real slow! Having to wait around kicking your heels at every hole for 10 minutes is bloody frustrating. And as, if you are like me it takes a good few holes to warm up it kind of spoils the day.
As for the comment on starting at 6:00am for a 3 hour round - Tried it and it makes very little difference. American Golf start groups on the back nine a the same time as the front (until about 10:00 am when everyone starts on the front) so you catch up to those and start to slow down again.
If only American Golf would slow play down by only letting groups out when the one in front has finished the 1st green it would then make for a relaxing round.
Comment by Billy Mays — July 16, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
THE WORST RUN COURSE IN AMERICA! It defies logic to even attempt to describe the people who work at Dyker so I won’t waste your time. Odd thing is it’s a beautiful course but they rip you off, $57 to ride on a Friday at 4:00pm. They get away with it because so many people want to play hence, I just finished a 6 hour round on a Friday evening. They’re insane about resident vs. non-resident rates…it’s actually embarassing to watch, they sell you that idiot NYC card like it’s a life preserver. The people who work there are embarassing…stay away unless you enjoy wasting your money.
Comment by Jack — July 20, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Um, is there a more idiotic run course than Dyker? Great course, the par 3’s are intriguing yet I believe they hire the their staff from the mental institution across the street.
Comment by Foster Ball — July 20, 2007 @ 9:22 pm
In response to C Savage’s post…4.5 hours is par for a round with 4 golfers in a group, having played city courses for 4 years I can’t even begin to fathom what a 3 hr round would be like! I’d be happy with a 4.5 hr round at any NYC course, but the thing everyone is complaining about is the 5.5-6 hour round, ITS HORRIBLE!!!! And at Dyker, thats exactly what you face if you play on the weekends!!! 7-8 min between groups is an absolute joke, the management is greedy and thats the bottome line. They wont look out for the golfer until we stop showing up. PS: I’ve tried the 6am tee time, still played 5 hrs…had a 45 min “dew” delay and the course was so wet that it slowed the pace down for everyone.
Comment by Ken — August 29, 2007 @ 10:01 am
I caddied there and played the course heavily as a teen in the early 60’s. There were some really top notch golfers who developed there at the time, including John Raffaniello, Tom Strafaci (Senior and Junior), Johnny Delarocca, and many others. Raffaniello won about every local championship in the city and beyond and even played in the US Open at Winged Foot in Westchester. I caddied for Tom Strafaci Sr, then the club pro, on the day he set the course record with a 65 while playing a “friendly” round with at least a few bucks on the line as I recall. Back then the games and the stakes at Dyker were often big, Arnie’s Army was the rage, and I have really fond memories of working on the Sunday Times crossword puzzle with Tommy Strafaci Junior, who let me wait on customers in the pro shop. A hamburger and malt at the end of the front nine (bought by whomever’s bag I was carrying) was and remains memorable. I turned out to be not a bad golfer myself but I left the area and have not been to Dyker Beach since my early twenties. I can tell you that I learned more about how to play the game from watching the bad swings of the duffers I caddied for than I could ever learn from watching Tiger Woods. Glad I found this site. Evoked great memories. Thanks.
Comment by Steve Petti — October 17, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
I have played at Dyker only twice since I started playing golf. What a course to come to learn and develop. The first time I played at Dyker I was amazed at how the course is well manicured. The most challenging holke for me is # 6. From the tee you have to relax and build confidence on hitting over the trees slightly right or not to hook to far left. One must make an intelligent golfing decision and hit at least 200 yards over the trees blocking the flag. This is a great hole to really challenge the seasoned and the pro golfer as well as a beginner, check it out, try it and enjoy your round.
By Johnny Turner
Comment by Johnny Turner — October 23, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
I have played at Dyker only twice since I started playing golf. What a course to come to learn and develop. The first time I played at Dyker I was amazed at how the course is well manicured. The most challenging holke for me is # 6, par 5. From the tee you have to relax and build confidence on hitting over the trees slightly right or not to hook to far left. One must make an intelligent golfing decision and hit at least 200 yards over the trees blocking the flag. This is a great hole to really challenge the seasoned and the pro golfer as well as a beginner, check it out, try it and enjoy your round.
By Johnny Turner
Comment by Johnny Turner — October 23, 2007 @ 9:55 pm
After moving to the Big Apple from Arizona, where there’s a golf course everywhere you look, I found myself suffering some serious golf withdrawal. After a year of living in Manhattan and golfing a lot in the Bronx (Pelham, Split Rock, Van Cortland, Mosholu and Dunwoodie in Yonkers) I settled down in Brooklyn a few stops away on the R-line or B63 bus. Dyker Beach has become my “home course,” and I’ve played there often in the last 6 months.
Much of what is written in the above comments is true. The rounds are longer than anywhere else I’ve ever played. The staff does emit an attitude of nonchalance, knowing the course will be packed regardless of their prices or customer service. But at the root of it all is a simple truth any golfer should appreciate: This course is an awesome layout. Some easy holes, some hard holes. Doglegs. Uphill. Downhill. Good greens. On a beautiful day, there’s no better way to spend 6 hours than chumming with some fellow golfers. I’ve yet to meet an unpleasant golfer on the course - everyone has always been very friendly.
If you live in NYC, you should get a resident card. $6 for a year’s worth of discounted greens fees pays for itself in a heartbeat.
Comment by Matthew Davis — November 30, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
Good post. You make some great points that most people do not fully understand.
“Bill’s Favorite Hole: Number 7: Long 423-yard Par 4 to an uphill green which normally plays into the wind. Narrow second shot to a hilly green. Not only tough to hit the green in regulation and tough to get the ball up and down.”
I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks.
Comment by chiz — March 25, 2008 @ 10:08 am
We played Dyker Beach yesterday afternoon. Being a weekday, there were no crowds and I was really impressed with the conditions of the course especially so early into the season.
It was my first time out in 2 years but I had a truly memorable experience. I dropped a hole-in-one on the 4th hole!
One of the best feelings of my life. What a beauty that 4th hole is, elevated Tee, nice grouping of bunkers in the back. I am officially hooked and will be back to play Dyker Beach again really soon.
Comment by Robb Mitchell — April 3, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
I have been playing here for 4 years now and after the renovations for the last 2 years the course looks great. I have played some of the best course in the country and my brooklyn home course still to me is a great course. However, some problems exist with people walking all over the course looking for open holes to play on and then backing up play. They really need to manage this course a lot better, Im really tired of seeing new people in front of me when Im playing. Dyker please get your act together and stop this from occurring. Anyway, Im looking forward to playing again as soon as the weather warms up.
Comment by Harry the Hat — April 7, 2008 @ 9:47 am