[Looking for this year's camp info? See the Guide to 2023 Summer Golf Camps on Long Island.]
Early in the spring, practice for the new season is typically confined to the driving range. But when the heat arrives, not only is it time for everyone to start enjoying time on the course, it's also time for junior golfers to form and polish their game with help from experienced professionals.
Learning doesn't have to stop when the school year ends — teaching pros all over Long Island have developed summer camp programs that school junior golfers in the fundamentals of golf, the golf swing and course etiquette, among other aspects of the game. These golf camps offered at a handful of Long Island courses are designed to either put the first building blocks in place for newcomers or provide expert guidance for juniors looking to take their game to the next level.
The following is a list of 2013 summer junior golf camps available and open for registration at various public courses around Long Island. For more information, follow the links below to the course websites and junior camp pages.
(Please note that this is not a complete list of Long Island summer golf camps. If a course or facility is not included here, contact them directly to learn about their available camps and clinics.)
Crab Meadow: The High School Development Program is a unique instruction and competition experience designed for the intermediate player looking to advance his or her game. On-course play includes lessons in course management, short game, club selection and bunker play, as well as head-to-head match competition. Three-hour sessions take place weekly in July and August. Call (631) 499-8005 for price and program schedule.
Dix Hills Park: Basic Program open to junior players from age 6 to 14 with limited or no golf experience. The program stresses safety, rules and etiquette through games and contests in a fun atmosphere. Club Division open to boys and girls who are ready for on-course instruction and play. Campers in this program receive advanced instruction and are introduced to various competition formats. Six-week sessions take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and begin the week of July 8. Cost is $325 (Basic)/$350 (Club). Visit the junior golf program page for more info.
Gold Coast Golf Center at the Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course: Half-day camps available for kids from age 6 to 9 with rates starting at $199. Beginners and intermediate golfers focus on fundamentals in an environment designed to foster development and interest in the sport. Full-day camps include on-course instruction and are open to juniors from age 10 to 17 with rates starting at $499. All programs begin on June 10 with sessions available through August. Other programs and discounts are available. Visit the registration page for full camp info.
Great Rock Golf Club: Half-day camps are open to boys and girls age 7 to 14 and run in four separate sessions from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday to Thursday, beginning June 24. Campers receive a Great Rock hat and final-day pizza party. The cost is $199 per child, per session. Full-day camps are open to boys and girls age 9 to 16 and run in five separate sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday, beginning July 8. The cost is $399 per child, per session. Full-day campers receive on-course instruction, Great Rock hat and daily lunch. For more, see the Great Rock camp flyer.
Harbor Links Golf Course: All camps are split into AM and PM sessions beginning the week of June 24. Weekly programs for kids age 6 to 9 run Tuesday to Friday and include games and drills that help develop important skills and fundamentals. Separate programs for teens age 10 to 16 run Monday to Friday and cover the full swing, short game, course management, rules and etiquette, and conclude with a two-day "Junior Scramble" team tournament. Cost is $410 for the 6-9 camp and $585 for the 10-16 camp, with discounts available for family and friends. For all program information, schedules and registration forms, visit the Harbor Links website.
Holbrook Country Club: One-hour sessions offered every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to noon, and Wednesdays through Fridays (starting July 3) from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Juniors can attend any six sessions for $175; no reservation necessary. For more, visit Holbrook's Junior Golf website or contact Rob Callahan at (516) 695-1464.
Indian Island Country Club: Weekly full-day camps include lunch, prizes, skills contests and on-course competition. Camps are open to boys and girls of all skill levels between the ages of 7 and 16. Fees are $450 per week, per camper, with family, returnee and multi-week discounts available. Sessions begin July 1 and last through August. See the Indian Island camp brochure for all details.
Lido Golf Club: Camps are open to golfers age 6 and up, with all skill levels welcome. Week-long programs focus on swing fundamentals, short-game skills and techniques, course play, etiquette and rules. Evening camp sessions (5:00 to 7:00 p.m.) are available beginning the week of June 24; morning camp sessions (9:00 to 11:00 a.m.) the week of July 1. Enrollment is $300 per session. Visit the Lido website or Chuck Kupfer Golf for details.
Pine Hills Country Club: Four-week programs take place on Tuesday evenings and are open to boys and girls from age 7 to 14. First session begins July 2; second session begins August 6. Campers will learn putting, chipping, full swing and etiquette, and receive on-course lessons from two PGA teaching professionals. Registration is $295 ($275 before June 25). For additional information, check out the camp brochure.
Poxabogue Golf Center: Sessions run Monday through Friday and are open to boys and girls from age 7 to 16. All campers receive daily lunch, shirt, hat and prizes, and will learn basics of the full swing, short game, putting, rules, etiquette and sportsmanship. Cost is $475 per week, per camper, with family, returnee and multi-week discounts available. Sessions begin July 1 and last through August. See the camp application for details.
Smithtown Landing Country Club: Contact the Smithtown Landing pro shop for information about details and availability of summer programs led by PGA professional and Hall of Famer Michael Hebron. Call (631) 979-6534.
Spring Lake Golf Club: Programs available for kids from age 8 to 11 (July 16-18) and teens from age 12 to 14 (July 30-August 1). Three-day camps teach swing fundamentals in a fun environment with on-course play each day. Cost is $179 per child. Visit the Spring Lake website for details.
Timber Point Golf Course: Six-week Basic Program is designed for new players from age 7 to 10, and focuses on fundamentals, safety, rules and etiquette through fun games and contests. Club Division (four-week and eight-week programs available) is open to experienced juniors from age 11 to 15 and includes advanced instruction and on-course play. Basic and Club sessions begin in late June and run through mid-August. Call (631) 581-2401 or e-mail timberpointgolfcourse@yahoo.com for price, schedule and registration information.
West Sayville Golf Course: Eight-week programs (total of eight four-hour sessions) are available on Tuesdays through Fridays beginning July 2. Campers receive instruction at the range and on the course, with instruction concentrating on all aspects of the swing, including grip, stance and alignment, plus bunker play and video analysis. The $450 fee also includes shirt, hat and rule book. Visit the course website and download the camp registration form for more information.