MONTAUK DOWNS STATE PARK, A Park with creature comforts
Written: Jun 18 '03 (Updated Sep 19 '06)
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Pros: World Class golf course, driving range, swimming, tennis
Cons: No telling of future plans of the downstairs restaurant that is now being renovated.
The Bottom Line: The fact that there wasn't anybody willing to talk about the renovation put me off.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Montauk Downs State Park |
This park is very different from Montauk Point State Park and its close neighbor Camp Hero State Park that are just five minutes away.
Montauk Point State Park is noted for it's tranquil rugged beauty, historic lighthouse and world class surf fishing.
Camp Hero State Park abuts Montauk Point State Park and has the same rugged beauty of the bluffs high above the Atlantic Ocean, the same surf fishing, but is also a secret military base that is a sort of ghost town.
Montauk Downs State Park is very, very different than these two places. If you want creature comforts this is more the place to come. It has a world class 18 hole golf course, a pro shop, a driving range, a large swimming pool area and kiddie pool, and a restaurant or two, I think? I'll explain more of that to you in a bit.
WHERE IS IT ?
Montauk Downs, like the other two parks I just mentioned, along with Hither Hills State Park and little known and just opened Shadmoor State Park are all out on the very eastern end of Long Island's south fork Montauk area. Montauk is an Indian name, or is that Native American, that means "hilly land".If you manage to get yourself heading east on route 27 (Sunrise Highway), and just keep going about 130 miles out from New York City you will find yourself in the town of Montauk.
Pass through the small simple and unassuming town and continue east a few miles. You will pass a sign on your right inviting you into Shadmoor State Park. Shortly after seeing that marker look for the sign to Montauk Downs State Park on your left.
If driving out to the point isn't an option, the Hampton Jitney, a bus service, can get you out to Montauk. The Long Island Railroad also comes out from New York City. From town you would have to get a taxi ride to the park just a few miles away. The Montauk Taxi and Pink Tuna Taxi are two companies I know of.
THE PARK
As you enter the park, especially if you were in any of the other four nearby state parks, you immediately see the difference. Ahead of you is a large, attractive building set up above on a small hill. It's nicely landscaped and draws you to the main entrance. Unlike the other parks this is set in a balanced and more formal landscaped area. My wife and I have been here before, and I remember how attractive the entrance area was, then, during the height of summer. There is plenty of parking on either side of the building. There is ten minute pick-up, drop-off parking in front. Handicapped parking is nearby too.
THE MAIN RESTAURANT
The building is two stories high and the complete top level holds a very nicely decorated and sunlit room. The views from it are beautiful. They do serve breakfast and lunch up there in a semi-formal atmosphere. Golf clothing is fine. That's who they cater to during the day. Cocktails are available here too.
The restaurant also caters events. It seems to me they could take care of a few hundred people there. Not having experienced an event there I couldn't tell you how well they do it, but, once again, the surroundings are perfect.
DOWNSTAIRS
Entering the building I was put off a bit by the apparent construction going on. As neat as the building was on the outside, it seemed disorganized on the inside. It lost that elegant look as you passed through the doors and seemed a bit more like the locker rooms of a high school.
There are restrooms that are part the locker rooms, for those who may golf, on this level.
THE GOLF COURSE
Straight through to the end of the hall are the doors that take you out to the Golf Course. I did not play or walk the course that day. I will say that what I saw of it was quite beautiful and well maintained. Being raised slightly above the course you can get a pretty good view of it. With all the rain we have been getting the rye grass looked terrific.
This course was designed by the famous Robert Trent Jones Group who have over two hundred golf courses in 38 countries on six continents. This golf course was written up to be one of the top fifty courses in the US. That's not bad for a public course.
Prices aren't all that bad either. Well, by New York standards anyway. Weekly rates for eighteen holes is $30.00 per person and $36.00 on weekends.
To rent a golf cart it is $13.50 per person.
Tee off times differ depending on time of year. 5:30 AM till 7:00PM in the summer. Cut an hour or two off each end during the spring and fall. For exact time and reservations call 1 (631) 668-3781. They take reservations a week ahead of time. There is a also a walk on policy you may want to ask about.
There is a good looking putting area to hone your skills while waiting for your tee-off time.
DRIVING RANGE
I did go over to the driving range and try out my swing. Ha, I can use a bit more work. My wife and I went out doing a bit of golfing twice in the last two weeks. God knows, I need more work. So does my wife. Not that she needs more work but rather she knows I need more work.
There were about twelve or so ports from which to test your swing. This area was a bit messy with empty buckets for golf balls strewn about. I do have to give them the benefit of the doubt in that the area may only be like that because of the terrible weather we have been having. There just wasn't more than a day or two of good weather all May and into June. Due to this fact, and it still being early in the season, they may not have gotten their daily maintenance preparations set just yet. The grassy area where you drive the balls out to looked fine.
PRO SHOP
For those who want to get the best of equipment and get some high tech advantages on the course, take a short walk back into the main building to the pro shop. It's conveniently near the driving range and tee-off area./ This place was very well stocked and looked like it was certainly ready for business. Hey, even if your golf game wasn't the best, this place could sure get you looking like you are the best. Plenty of top name brands here.
Across the hall from the pro shop there is construction going on. Evidently it was some kind of cafe or small restaurant they were working on. I was curious about it and this is when things got a bit weird.
I had asked someone at the desk where you sign up for golf what kind of food and drink might be available in the summer and what were the plans for this downstairs restaurant renovation. These people told me they couldn't tell me but the people in the Pro Shop could. It was stated that the pro shop would run the small eatery for the daily golfers. So I went back to the pro shop and asked. "What will be happening with the food area under construction and what will they serve?" The fellow asked why I would want to know. I suppose I made a mistake telling him that I just wanted to round out some information on a review I was doing of the state park for Epinions. Stating I was doing a review was poison!! That was it. They didn't want to say another word. I then asked him "Please just tell me what you may be offering here in the summer when I come back with my wife?" He wouldn't say anything and wouldn't even look me in the eye any longer. He then gave me the parks supervisor's name and said I could find his office in the front of the building. So I went there looking for him only to be told "He's not in today." So I asked the person in his office if she knew what kind of food they may offer in the restaurant. She said she had no idea and told me to go back to the Pro Shop.
I suppose this supervisor must be running a tight ship or they have some kind of orders from above not to speak to anyone about anything. That was it, they wouldn't answer the simplest of questions, like when will it open and what might they serve?
So my friends, this is like the mystery of the Montauk Project that I talked about in my review of Camp Hero State Park. But here, instead of UFO's, space aliens, and time travel, we have the mystery of the renovation work at Montauk Downs. Hey maybe a McDonald's is coming into the golf club. They just don't want the word to get out yet. Look to review a book I may soon write. "Mystery at Montauk Downs"
Ok, lets get to the rest of the place, there is more to tell.
THE POOL
There is a nice outdoor pool. It is a good size, smaller than an Olympic but still plenty big with plenty of room around it for chairs and lounges. Next to the large pool is a large kiddie pool. There are plenty of lounges to go around. Shade is limited to three very large, actually huge, umbrellas for shade. Bring lotion!!
There is a three dollar and fifty cent pool use fee for the day. In this park you do not pay a vehicle use fee. You just pay for everything you do!!
In the pool area, there is a small building where, during other years they served a limited menu of food and served drinks. I couldn't get a straight answer about what and if anything will be served this year.I will try and talk to the park superintendent and leave an update here as soon as I get in touch with him.
UPDATE
After calling the pro shop and just inquiring about food services this year I was told that there will be continued food service at the pool. Things are a bit different this year and the fellow I spoke to believes they may have alcoholic drink service at the pool. Yes my friends, my wife and I do enjoy sitting in the sun by the pool sipping on a cool drink that can be ordered with a wave of a hand.
The pool area doesn't have much in landscaping or anything really breaking up or softening the feel of all the concrete in the pool area, yet, it is still comfortable and doesn't get very crowded.
TENNIS TOO !!
I almost forgot to mention the tennis courts on the premises. You wouldn't even know they are there. The courts are set behind the pool area. There is nothing like an hour of tennis and then a quick shower, a dip in the pool and a cool drink while sitting on the lounge.
SUMMING IT UP
There are five state parks in Montauk. Montauk Point is noted for fishing, hiking and the lighthouse. Camp Hero State Park is the mystery military base. The newly opened Shadmoor State Park is a rustic, no services at all, hiking and wildlife area. Hither Hills is the only State park there where you can camp on the beach and has some one of a kind dune walks.
Just about in the middle of all these parks is Montauk Downs State Park. The only walking you may do is chasing after your golf ball. This park is for the playful and relaxing side of us humans.
It's an oasis in the middle of maritime forests, sandy beaches, and rugged ocean bluffs.
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Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: June-August
Recommended for: Couples
Review Topic: Overview
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