Glen Oaks of Old Westbury will host the first leg of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs. This year Northern Trust will replace Barclays as the title sponsor with a five-year agreement, signed in January. This is the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs and it has plans to remain in the New York/New Jersey area for the next five years with the following courses hosting:
2018 The Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, N.J.
2019 Liberty National Golf Club, Jersey City, N.J.
2020 Plainfield Country Club, Edison, N.J.
2021 Black Course at Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale (Long Island), N.Y.
2022 Liberty National Golf Club, Jersey City, N.J.
Newsday’s Mark Herrmann had a nice write-up yesterday about the PGA Tour coming to Long Island in August. Here a few choice quotes – full article here.
“Most golf courses are going ‘rugged’ now, with more natural areas, ” Glen Oaks head pro Tim Shifflett said. “This is manicured. It’s green grass, it’s white big bunkers, it’s great views. It’s a look the average person really hasn’t gotten a chance to see very often.”
There is a temptation to compare the style to Augusta National, which is not entirely fair. That is the highest possible standard. Still, Glen Oaks superintendent Craig Currier used to work at Augusta and he took great care in sprucing up the 46-year-old course on Post Road. The hope is that the distinctive look will attract spectators to a tournament that had sparse crowds at Bethpage Black last year, when it was known as the Barclays.
And how does it compare to Bethpage Black?
“The experience here is much different than Bethpage,” said Peter Mele, the tournament’s executive director, after having brought a TV crew around the course for footage. “There is not a blade of tall fescue here. Everything is landscaped. It’s going to be an easy course to get around on.
What about tickets? All you need to know can be found here. Daily tickets will run you $45 to $75 for dollars a day. There are special deals for military vets and kids under 18.
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