Let's Review: Sag Harbor Golf Course

The Skinny

The area is depleted with public courses so Sag Harbor can offer a quick 9 for any casual golfer, but don’t expect Bethpage or Montauk Downs from this Long Island muni.

The Course

Sag Harbor is a 9-hole dust track situated about 15 minutes in between East Hampton and Bridgehampton. It’s short, flat, and extremely firm - any ball hitting the fairway is going to jump like it hit concrete.

Naturally, the layout here won’t satisfy folks who play most of their rounds at Maidstone or Sagaponack, but don’t let this deter you from coming out to walk nine holes with a couple of beers after work. There isn’t too much public golf in the South Fork of Long Island, and Sag Harbor offers a place to putz around and swing the clubs.

This is a charming spot! Grow the game, etc., etc.. You might only grab driver twice, you could get stuck behind Ethyl and Gus who like to take their time, and there’s a good chance you walk out with more mosquito bites than strokes, but it’s a day out on the course nonetheless.

The Price

I actually don’t know how much they charge, but it isn’t more than $25. You can do as many loops as you want if there’s no one in front of you, which is nice.

There also isn’t an online booking system, which is pretty epic in 2024. You either call and someone gives you a tee time that you’re 90% sure they just guessed, or you just rock up, check in, and get in line by a bench on the first tee and wait for your turn.

Signature Hole

The par 4 6th is a legitimate pain in the ass. The tee box hugs some serious woods on the right, and the dog leg right is at a true 90 degree angle. Too much off the tee will send you OB straight ahead, and short is littered with brush. Play a righty slice if you’ve got it, or go hero ball and send one over the tree-line.

Grabbing a Bite 

You’re close enough to East Hampton and Bridgehampton that you’re probably just going to eat there. I think they sell peanuts or something at the clubhouse.

Nice to Know

Two things: 1) the beer they sell in the clubhouse is like $3 a can the last time I went, which is begging for it, and 2) pack bug spray - it’s an unpleasant experience out there if you’re not equipped.

How many sleeves: 1-2

The course is objectively easy, but that doesn’t mean it won’t swallow a golf ball or two. You’re essentially in the woods, so naturally there’s some shit lining the fairways that will mean you have to drop if you go in.