MERRICK GOLF CLUB CLUBHOUSE

The flat Long Island terrain gets maximized through strategic bunkering and mature tree lines that frame every approach shot on this well-maintained Nassau County layout. Water comes into play on six holes, including a demanding par-3 16th where the green sits precariously close to a pond that has swallowed countless approach shots. For a public track thirty minutes from Manhattan, the conditioning rivals many private clubs in the area, making it a legitimate test that rewards course management over pure distance.