50 Things to Do Before Memorial Day: Golf at Montauk Downs

Memorial Day weekend draws ever closer, and while we at Dan’s Papers can’t wait, we also know there are many things we have to squeeze in during the next few weeks on the East End, lest we lose our chance with all that summer brings. We know that if we don’t get out and do these now, we’ll have to wait until after Labor Day before we try again…and so will you!

We continue our countdown of things to do before Memorial Day weekend on the East End with #9: Golf at Montauk Downs

The East End has some of the world’s finest golf courses, but 90 percent of us won’t ever play 90 percent of them. Montauk Downs, however, is 18 holes of public goodness that anyone with a few dollars and a set of clubs can enjoy. Of course the thing that makes it great also becomes a problem once the crowds come and everyone from Manhattan to Montauk wants to play there. Come Memorial Day weekend, it’s nearly impossible to play the course without a lot of waiting and possible interruptions as others attempt to play through on the tee or green.

Named among Links magazine’s “Top 10 Best Municipal Course in U.S.” in 2013, Montauk Downs was first developed in 1927 and was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1968, with help from his son, the world famous course designer Rees Jones, and then bought by the State Parks in 1980. And Golfers beware, this is not a novice course! The winds from both the ocean and bay change daily, so it never plays exactly the same way.

Montauk Downs is open year round, sunrise to sunset, but before making a reservation, golfers must register in the golf reservation system by faxing a copy of their driver’s license to 631-668-7893. Once registered, golfers can call the golf reservation line at 631-668-1234, using their driver’s license number as their access code. For additional information and tee-off hours, call 631-668-5000 or visit Montauk Downs at the New York State Parks website here.

Come back tomorrow for 50 Things to Do Before Memorial Day in the Hamptons #8.

<< Read Memorial Day Countdown #10