After Rough Winter, Rolling Oaks Ready for Season

After Hurricane Sandy and the big blizzard this past February, preparation for the spring was rougher than ever for Rolling Oaks Golf Course in Rocky Point.

According to operations manager John Romashko Jr., over 250 trees came down on the course and had to be removed. Along with that, regular preparations such as filling the sand traps and rolling greens are still underway. The course, however, is already well conditioned for play. 

"We’re in the process now of trying to clear up all of the smaller twigs and debris, which is all manpower, there’s no machine that gets everything," Romashko said. "Already people have been saying the course is in great condition."   

The course has been seeing a steadier stream of golfers each week as the weather warms, but the rough economy continues to be an obstacle for many who used to be 18-hole regulars. 

"It’s been getting bigger and better, but we do see a fair amount of nine-hole play," Romashko said. "People are finding on some of the bigger courses they can’t afford to spend five hours on the golf course.

"We have some people that used to play 18 saying they can only play nine because they have to go to work, it’s part of the economy...it’s still bad."

Mill Pond Golf Course in Medford recently became its parent course and took over operations from the Town of Brookhaven, which owns the property. The course, which Romashko calls an executive course 'with attitude', caters to the young crowd as well as seniors.

They offer a $199 membership for the season which enables unlimited golfing Monday through Friday expect holidays, and also offer a senior membership for the entire year. The course features two par 5’s that are doglegs, nine par 3s and rest par 4s, with golfers hitting over water on 17 and 18.