Favorite Hole
No. 2, Par 4, 358 yards
After inching closer to the ocean with every step on the first hole, you arrive at the wonderful second tee box just a few paces from the beach. Frankly, you’d be quite happy to just sit on the tee-side bench for the afternoon and watch the waves crash ashore, but the second is too exciting to just look at. This short par 4 climbs up the large southeast dune nearly 55 feet with a steep cliff drop off along the right side. A deep, exposed sand hollow fronts the green, wreaking havoc on any shots that end up short.
While the idyllic location is what makes this hole so memorable, the looming cliff edge on both the drive and approach inflicts fear in a player’s head. If you manage to reach the green without losing your ball, you’ll likely be rewarded with a par or birdie and a spectacular view across the entire course and ocean beyond.
Ilustration by Cameron Hurdus
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Overall Thoughts
The Hay Harbor Club might as well be a fantasy golf land. In other words, the Hay Harbor Club is likely the most delightful place to play golf in America. It’s truly a blast from the past with its simplistic design, presentation, and culture. It’s a stripped-down version of what golf in U.S. has become over the last 150 years with beverage carts, overly maintained turfgrass, and all the exorbitant extras that are completely unnecessary to the core of the game. Hay Harbor is all that it needs to be, a playground for the stick and ball game. Nothing more, nothing less.
Upon visiting the island with a primary focus on the Big Course (Fishers Island Club), I had little knowledge of Hay Harbor. The island that boasts a size of just under five square miles features two golf courses, so it felt necessary to see both of them given the multiple ferry rides and meticulous planning it took to get there. I walked into the large, white, barn-like clubhouse and met golf professional Andrew Kegarise, who already had a smile on his face. I get the sense that it’s impossible not to smile while on property at Hay Harbor. An infectious joy overcomes all who get to experience the course. It’s an incredibly laid-back place where people are just happy to smell the salty ocean air and be under the sun. Andrew kindly spoke with me for over an hour and shared the history and countless stories of Hay Harbor, which illuminated how unique and special this place is. For many members, the two courses on the island are the only golf they know. They grow up coming to the island all summer long and pick up the game at Hay Harbor to advance their skills and eventually graduate to the Big Course. Andrew tells me he often has to educate men and women on the definition of par and bogey and guide them through the basic etiquette of the game because they simply don’t know any better. Additionally, there are daily kids camps, women’s and senior clinics, and activities that create that homey, muni feel. The golf course itself is just a small piece of the overwhelming charm of Hay Harbor, along with the culture and the people who define it.
The Course
Hay Harbor is a shining example of what golf could (and should) be on a low budget. Scruffy tee boxes, natural fairways with any number of low ground cover plants and grasses, and most importantly, smooth, true greens. No irrigation means the course is at the mercy of the climate and typically runs very firm, fast, and raw. There’s a great variety of golf holes plotted along the awe-inspiring site, providing a splendid nine-hole journey. Right out of the gate and through the first six holes your attention is captured not only by the beautiful ocean views but the quality of the golf holes. Watch out for the gaggle of rocks poking up out of the fairway on the first hole, but do enjoy the downhill approach to the fall-away first green. Don’t get too distracted by the attractiveness of the second, and avoid losing your ball over the cliff edge. Make sure you’re precise with your shot into the postage stamp third surrounded by bunkers. Oh, how I dream of what it’s like to approach this green from its original tee box. Be alert for cars coming towards you down the road that lines the fourth. The angled tee shot leaves you basically hitting over it to a fairway that pitches away from the dog leg. Prepare your legs to hike up to the infinity edge of the fifth green, and don’t forget to stop for a moment of gratitude and soak in the view from the sixth tee. Manage your ball flight and utilize the downsloping ground to find the sixth green.
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I could go on and on about the feelings of delight you find around every corner of the property and the quality of golf shots throughout, but it will never do the place justice. There’s an intangible and irresistible allure to Hay Harbor. It may be exclusive and unattainable for many, but Hay Harbor reminds us why we play the game. To enjoy our natural environment and gleefully interact with other humans over an ancient game.
1 Egg
(How We Rate Courses)
The mix of great land and soil, a quality routing, and a variety of fun, compelling golf holes gives Hay Harbor its Egg. I had to dismiss the majestic grandeur of the full experience to reach this conclusion, but if I were rating the experience and enjoyment of playing Hay Harbor, it would receive top honors. I’ll never forget the endless smiles and gratitude that overwhelmed me during my time on the property.
Course Tour
Illustration by Matt Rouches
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