_Apr/holdingitsown.jpg "Holding Its Own")
By Steve Donahue
Operating in the shadow of numerous exclusive clubs, Poxabogue Golf Center has created a niche in New York's famed Hamptons
The Hamptons, New York’s much-publicized enclave of the rich and famous, is also known for its surplus of exclusive, world-renowned private golf clubs. Shinnecock Hills, National Golf Links of America, Friars Head, Sebonack and Maidstone are the highest profile of these many facilities, where only those of privilege, blue blood or major connections can play.
Given the region’s affluence, it might be surprising that Poxabogue Golf Center in Bridgehampton—a nine-hole public course and driving range surrounded by the Hamptons’ many upper-crust 18-hole playgrounds—is just as famous to local golfers. “We’re kind of like the Wal-Mart next to the big, high-end shopping centers,” jokes director of golf Steven Lee.
So, you may ask, just how does “Poxie,” a par-30, 1,583-yard track with six par-3s and three par-4s, fly in the face of the Long Island elite and remain a successful, sustainable business? It’s pretty simple, Lee says.
“We’re the only public place to play around here,” he chuckles. “A lot of tourism comes through here during summer, so we’re obviously very busy June through August. A lot of summertime play comes from locals.”
All categories of golfers are drawn to Poxabogue: men and women, beginners and highly skilled, and juniors and seniors. “It’s a total mixed bag, which is really nice,” says Lee.
Poxabogue, which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2014, hosts approximately 9,000 to 10,000 rounds annually. According to Lee, the course loses some shoulder season business from regulars who opt to play at a nine-hole, par-36 public layout in Sag Harbor, which, unlike Poxabogue, has golf carts and a liquor license, and sells $600 annual memberships.
“I don’t want to, or have to, compete with that,” says Lee, “but my goal is to build our shoulder seasons. It’s tough to do in this area. Springs are dead, and falls are really quiet.”
Instead, Lee and his staff focus on what Poxabogue does have—namely, a superbly conditioned course that can be played in 90 minutes or less for “$20 or $30.” The facility also boasts an expansive driving range with two (one recently added) grass-tee areas and 20 covered stalls, and a summer junior golf program that has grown from 100 kids to nearly 300 in three years.
“There’s no other place golfers can hit balls in the Hamptons,” says Lee, adding that the range generates approximately $190,000 annually, excluding lessons. “Our covered stalls are packed on summertime rainy days when you can’t go to the beach or go fishing.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, the atmosphere at Poxie is decidedly less formal than its posh neighbors. Golfers have to wear a shirt and can’t play barefoot for liability reasons, but there’s little more by way of dress code standards. According to Lee, that’s by design.
“We don’t have a lot of rules,” he admits. “The course was really run down under the previous ownership, but it still had all kinds of formal codes and stuff, which just made people laugh.”
Lee assumed management of Poxabogue in June 2013, leasing the course from the town of Southampton, which owns it. “It’s the closest thing to owning my own course,” he says.
Although his name may not appear on the ownership documents, Lee certainly treats the course as if he ponied up his own money for it. With the help of his superintendent, Lee has made numerous facility improvements, including countless repairs; a $6,000 tree removal and shrub-pruning program; overseeding the entire course with Colonial bentgrass; and, for the range, purchasing 45 new, high-quality hitting mats and 23,000 new, premium golf balls.
“[The] previous ownership had lowered the image of the place in a high-profile area,” Lee says. “We have built it back up. The difference between now and then is incredible. In fact, a guy who plays at Maidstone told us our course was in better shape than Maidstone.”
Poxie’s low-key vibe doesn’t just attract Average Joes. Some of the countless celebs who frequent or have frequented Poxie’s course and range include actors Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, Ed Burns and reality TV star Bethenny Frankel; actor/musician Justin Timberlake; talk-show host Jimmy Fallon; celebrity chef Michael Symon; NBC Sports’ Jimmy Roberts; and Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer. Musician Jon Bon Jovi’s son, Jake, is a student of Poxie’s teaching professional, Rob Corcoran, a 2014 PGA Championship competitor.
“The private club caddies also love this place, calling it ‘mini-Merion,’” Lee adds. “They come here in the afternoons to practice and play, and have their little money games. It’s really kind of neat.”
While some might prefer to play a longer course, a growing number of golfers in this fast-paced age embrace Poxie specifically because it’s shorter. “Where else can you play golf in an hour-and-a-half tops?” Lee asks. “In the off-season, a friend and I play, and our average round takes 40 minutes. You can’t beat it.”
Steve Donahue is a Connecticut-based freelance writer.