Things To Do On Long Island. Part 6

Updated on August 22, 2016

Things To Do On Long Island guide is coming to the end. This is the latest hub in the series. I’ve told about numerous activities for all interests and backgrounds – from beaches to kayaking, from lighthouses to bird watching... Today we’ll delve into one more thing Long Island is famous for – sports.

Golf

Businesspeople and gifted amateurs, as well as professional golf greats, are among the players who relish the challenges of Long Island sparkling greens and fairways.

From western Nassau County to East End, the Island is packed with a diverse selection of public courses, ranging from historic to recently opened clubs. You can tee off near a scenic waterfront, on the legendary Gold Coast, or amidst the fabulous lifestyles of the Hamptons.

Bethpage State Park is considered the largest public golf facility in the world, and features 18-hole regulation golf courses: the Black, Red, Blue, Green and Yellow. The gem of them all is challenging Black Course, which in 2002 became the first publicly owned and operated facility to host the U.S. Open in the golf tournament’s 102-year history. The U.S. Open was again held at the Bethpage Black Course in 2009.

The private Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, founded in 1891 as the first golf club in America, hosted the U.S. Open in 1896, 1986, 1995 and 2004. Montauk Downs is considered one of the finest public golf courses in the nation. Another outstanding public golf facility is located at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.

Sports

Whether you are looking to see professional athletes play or take in a premiere national event, Long Island has your sporting event.

New York Islanders Home Games

The New York Islanders of National Hockey League (NHL), play at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale from October to April. Their schedule typically includes games against teams such as the NY Rangers, the Edmonton Oilers and the Boston Bruins.

The Belmont Stakes

Known worldwide as the “Test of the Champion”, the third and final leg of the Triple Crown is held in June at Belmont Racetrack in Elmont. The historic race held since 1867 has always been a nail-biter and draws thousands of race fans to the park. The 430-acre Belmont Racetrack also hosts thoroughbred horse racing on almost 100 days from early May through the end of October. With grandstand admission as low as $2 per person, it’s one of the best sporting bargains around.

Minor League Baseball

The 6,002 seat Duck Ballpark in Central Islip is the home of minor league Long Island Ducks. They play from April through September. Tickets are affordable – so you can easily take the whole family for a day at the ballpark.