It doesn't matter what the calendar says — when weekend temperatures are hovering around 60 degrees and the sun is shining, it's a weekend to think about golf.
And not just golf on TV as the pros get tan in Hawaii and California. It's time for playing golf, at least for those who haven't buried the clubs for the offseason behind Thanksgiving decorations and Christmas ornaments.
Winter golf season is a little uncomfortable and not entirely pleasant, but if you don't mind dressing in layers and spilling coffee down your windbreaker, it's also a great time to play local courses in relative peace and quiet, at a discounted price. Ground conditions tend to hold up until the first prolonged snow cover, and ample tee times allow for pressure-free rounds that are ideal for newcomers and junior players. And if you happen to catch a 60-degree Saturday or Sunday, it's like a belated Christmas gift — except for the wait to get on the first tee.
Bethpage is back to normal this winter now that the PGA Championship has come and gone. The Blue Course will be open through the offseason as well as the Yellow, which was closed for part of last winter to make way for PGA prep. The other Bethpage courses will reopen closer to April.
See also: Winter Golf on Long Island overview
The handful of seasonal golf courses around the Island closed in December and typically reopen for play in March. The rest keep the tees open year-round. Some post updates on things like frost delays, rate specials and weather closures on Facebook or Twitter — for others, you probably need to call ahead to check on conditions.
To keep winter golfers up to date on playing options around the area, Golf On Long Island will periodically post available discount rates and specials through the offseason. At some courses, winter rates can be as low as two bucks a hole. Some include lunch. Check back for updated specials throughout the winter.
For a full primer on offseason golf, check out the Winter Golf on Long Island page, which will feature some of this season's special rates in addition to offers from previous years.