Golf In New York City Blog

After years of operation by California-based American Golf Corp., Silver Lake Golf Course is now in the hands of a pair of Staten Islanders. And there is no doubt the “The Lake” is responding well under its new hometown caretakers.
It’s been just over six weeks that Doug Johnstone and Eve Taranto moved took control and the improvements are both subtle and sublime.
From the time you sign in and pick up the newly designed scorecard — featuring a Tom Flannagan watercolor of the clubhouse and its red brick veranda — and arrive at the first tee (and its newly redirected tee box) you can feel the positive vibes.

There is no better indication of how sincere and serious they are about turning things around then when you make the turn.
After unclogging and repairing drainage lines, the stream that cuts across the 10th fairway now runs the way it was supposed to run. And, if you find yourself short of the green you can actually walk to your ball without fear of being sucked into the netherworld underground.
And then you arrive at the (146-yard) Par 3, 11th Hole. The change is stunning!
All the overgrown vegetation that had turned what is supposed to be the signature hole into a blind Par 3 has been removed and you can actually see the flag from the tee.
“There is something not right about a blind par 3. This is a beautiful golf hole and all it took was man hours,” explained Johnstone. While putting in those hours the groundskeepers uncovered a forward tee box. Along with the new forward tee, Johnstone has added a new championship tee on the other side of the stream stretching the hole to 168-yards.
In addition to these improvements, damaged and downed trees have been cleared and removed and permits were obtained to cut down others; the course has been re-measured and new distance markers have installed; the greens are being expanded and the collars re-done.
“Did you know that John Van Kleek’s original design called for nearly all the greens to be 33-paces deep? You would never know that by the way they look now. We are going to restore them to that original design,” said Johnstone.
While their agreement with the city is for 20 years, Johnstone and Taranto who also operate the Staten Island Practice Center near the Bloomfield tanks, have a five-year plan and bigger changes on tap for the Silver Lake.
Golf course architect Stephen Kay has been tapped to make those changes. Among the ideas being planned are new bunkers. Currently there are only 13 bunkers on the 107-acre course; and, extending the (397-yard) Par 4 9th Hole into a long Par 5.
“We’re just getting started,” said Johnstone, 52. “Right now we want to get things to where the conditions should be for people to enjoy their round. If we do that I know people will come out and play.”
And those who do will not be disappointed.

–Bill Farrell

If you play golf, you create divots — it’s part of the game. However,
if you create divots, you should also repair them — that’s part of the etiquette of the
game. Repairing your divots ensures that the golfers who follow you have the same level
playing surface you had when you started your round.

A number of different methods are used to repair divots, and each of
them is designed to make sure that the type of grass growing around the divot fills in as
quickly as possible.

Some courses ask that you simply replace your divot. In this case, you
should replace it in the same direction that it came out and firmly tamp it down.

On courses whose tees and fairways feature actively growing
Bermuda grass, you will often be asked not to replace the divot, but rather to fill the
hole with sand the golf course provides. In this situation, fill the divot and then tamp down
the sand so it is level with the surrounding area.

At some golf courses in the North that feature ryegrass and in the South
where dormant Bermuda grasses are overseeded, you may be asked to fill the divot with a
sand/seed mixture. Again, it is important to tamp the sand down so the seed will
germinate.

Be sure to ask about the local procedure when you are playing at a newcourse.

Information Supplied by Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

One of the most common mistakes golfers make is letting go of the club with the last
three fingers of their left hand at the top of the backswing. This allows the golfer to
feel like the club is swinging back further and helping increase distance, but in reality
causes a loss of control and diminishes your ability to hit the ball on the sweet spot.
Look at your glove. If it is wearing out at the heel pad you are losing control of the
club. Monitor this during your practice. At address hold the club firm, not tight, with
the last three fingers of your left hand. Let your left thumb and pointer finger in
addition to your entire right hand feel loose. Turn your shoulders and swing the club to
the top of the backswing. Your fingers will tighten naturally! Do not allow the fingers to
open.
Now hit the ball without regripping the club. With each swing try to accelerate the club
through the ball to a balanced finish. Practice this until you have control of the club
from beginning to end. If you hold the club too tight or too loose at the beginning,
control of the club becomes impossible.
There is no doubt that strong hands will help your golf. A good strengthening drill is to
squeeze a soft ball whenever you can. This can be done at home while watching television
or even at work when talking on the telephone. Give it a try — you’ll see the
improvement!