Pelham GC (Split Rock Course)
Bronx, NY
Golf Digest, Apr '05, '08
Maximum Golf
T&L Golf
1934, John Van Kleek
Back 6714, 72.0,129, 71
Middle 6281, 70.0, 125, 71
Golfcourse.com Review: Wooded and tight. Creek in play on 4 holes, rolling terrain. #18 is a 392-yard par-4.
Best Bar Nearby, NYC: Ya gotta hit Hogs & Heifers (original Meatpacking District location @ 859 Washington St & 13th, also H&H East @ 1843 1st Ave Fl 1), the biker-meets-suit, rowdy joint famous for topless bar dancing by patrons and a hottie singing waitstaff, it inspired the movie/bar chain/reality series Coyote Ugly.
Maxim's Great American Bar Search recommends the following bar tour itinerary for NYC:
1 p.m.
Studio Square
Manhattan has beer gardens, but none wow with sheer size like this 30,000-square-foot complex in Queens. Try one of 20 drafts by the outdoor fire pit while hitting on Leah Remini look-alikes.
4 p.m.
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel
Something cool can happen in midtown Manhattan! This rooftop bar rocks kick-ass cocktails and super-awesome snacks. The view will blow you away, but the Kobe beef sliders will make you want to take up permanent residence.
6 p.m.
Brooklyn Bowl
Sixteen lanes, plush leather sofas, TVs broadcasting sports, seriously good food, and a stage for live performances that’s seen the likes of Kanye and Snoop. That’s more than some cities offer in
a whole year.
9 p.m
Barcade
What’s better than a bar with 34 classic arcade games, such as Punch Out, Rampage, and Joust? How about a Brooklyn bar that also has an ever-changing chalkboard menu of draft beers, the occasional cask brew, and a dog-friendly policy? You’ll feel right at home.
11 p.m.
PDT
Pass through the old-timey phone booth inside East Village hot dog shop Crif Dogs and you’re suddenly in a taxidermy-decked speakeasy that serves deep-fried wieners and radical seasonal cocktails by mastermind tender Jim Meehan.
1 a.m.
Cherry Tavern
Unspecial in the way an excellent dive should be: It has a pool table and jukebox, it’s dark enough to hide your date’s face, and best of all it’s open till 4 a.m. Who needs sleep when there are drink specials?
For more Maxim recommendations, they say the best dive bar in NYC is Jimmy's Corner (140 W. 44th), Times Square's last secret spot. Owner Jimmy Glenn is a living legend in the sweet science who has cluttered the place with 35 years' worth of boxing posters, statuettes, and snapshots. Maximum Golf digs Mare Chiaro aka Tony's, 176 Mulberry St, shot-and-a-beer joint is one of last vestiges of Little Italy, where Johnny Depp gains Al Pacino's trust in Donnie Brasco; Puck Fair Irish Pub, 298 Lafayette St,18 beers on tap; Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancy St, intimate, some of NYC's best live music, adventurous bookings; Campbell Apartment, 15 Vanderbilt Ave, suit & tie crowd, swanky & loungy; massive sports bar The Sporting Club, 99 Hudson St. For clubbing, Brittney hangs at Avalon.
For a great pub to catch the British Open on TV, T&L Golf likes THE RED LION, 151 Bleecker Street; 212-260-9797, www.redlion-nyc.com. "The troubles" are history in an Irish-owned English pub that draws thirsty regulars from both islands. The bar will open half an hour before ABC's weekend coverage begins; catch the action on two large-screen TVs or any of three smaller sets perched above the mahogany bar. In addition to a full English breakfast for $10, the bar stocks more than thirty ales and beers. Open 11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. daily; opening at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and 7:30 a.m. on Sunday during the British Open. Golf Digest digs NYC's St. Andrews Pub so much they put it on their 2008 50 Best 19th Holes list, even though it's not really near a golf course. "Manhattan golfers returning from Van Cortlandt Park GC in the Bronx or the driving range at Chelsea Piers love this Midtown pub; "like being in St. Andrews"; phenomenal scotch collection; most of the staff have Scottish accents; golf memorabilia is a nice touch."
NYC might be among the last places you'd think you could find a decent tiki bar, but it just goes to show that you can find anything in New York. Hit Harry's at Water Taxi Beach (2-03 Borden Ave., at 2nd St., Long Island City; 212-742-1969). If you thought Long Island City was the antithesis of the Hamptons, the folks behind Schnack and New York Water Taxi would like you to reconsider. They’ve trucked in Jersey sand and two dozen picnic tables to create a man-made beach, complete with a tiki hut, $2 Schaefers during happy hour, and a grill serving elk burgers, occasionally fish tacos, and Black Angus hot dogs. Until October 10, you'll find extended families and P.S. 1 defectors playing volleyball to a thumping sound system or simply taking in the best view of midtown Manhattan this side of the Donald's chopper. Getting There: The easiest way is by water taxi (schedule permitting), but if you're coming from the Jackson/Vernon Ave. 7 stop, walk along Jackson Avenue to Borden Avenue, turn right, and then enter the beach driveway. 
For Gentlemen's clubs, there's no better expert than the Yankee's A-Rod, known as a serial strip clubber. The NY Daily News claims A-Rod hangs at VIP Club, Hustler Club, HeadQuarters, and Rick's Cabaret. Howard Stern fans know to head for Scores, but expect to pay for the noteriety… 4 beers there will push the $40 mark.
Where To Grub: For NYC pizza, see Fat Guy's NYC Pizza & Golf Weekend.
Be careful with any list of NYC's best spots for wings. Even though it's in the same state as Buffalo, those New Yorkers are an eclectic bunch, so many Best NYC wings lists are cluttered with wings of the Chinese, BBQ, and even Japanese variety. For true Buffalo wings, the NY Times says the city's best are at Atomic Wings (multiple locations, www.atomicwings.com). Other spots getting nods for legit Buffalo wings include Blondies (Upper West Side and Upper East Side), Croxley Ales (Alphabet City), The Bullpen (Upper East Side), Town Tavern (Manhattan), and Scruffy Duffy's (Hell's Kitchen).
Per the Cooking Channel, New York's best burger is at Minetta Tavern (Greenwich Village). Minetta has been described as a "Parisian steakhouse meets a classic NYC tavern." Think former Hemmingway hangout, former speakeasy, re-retro-ized decor with gilded gold ceilings, and an invigorated classic menu from new owners in 2008.
The Minetta's Black Label burger is $26 (hey, it's New York), but it's a thing to behold. An 8-ounce patty as thick as a Stephen King paperback is hand-formed from ground dry-aged strip steak, short-rib meat, and skirt steak giving the burger a steak-y flavor that would only be spoiled by cheese or condiments. It's then seared on a specially designed extra-hot flat grill and consistently drenched in melted butter during cooking to keep the seared edges soft. It's then rested, the same as a steak should be, to allow the juices and fat to coagulate. Finally it's topped with the sweetest carmalized onions you've ever had, and served on a hearty bun with pommes frites (Fat Guy's no food critic, but I think that's French for French fries). Oh yeah, they do their steaks with the same butter-laden TLC, and were named the best steakhouse in NYC by no less than the New York Times. A new owner is "breathing fresh life into this late 1930's relic... it's high gloss nostaglia." Their dry aged Cote de Boeuf for two is often mentioned in the same sentence with sex, complete with brontasauras-sized roasted marrow bones and sucrine lettuce salad, priced at a mere $104 (hey, it's NuYoak, you want the friggin' steak or naat?). The potatoes Anna, a crispy cross between scalloped and hash browns, are a Must Order.
On a relative lower end of the scale, try the burgers at the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park per MSN.com. Restauranteur Danny Meyer takes alfresco snack bar fare to another level with arguably the best burgers in NYC. Also order a Concrete, an upscale version of a Blizzard.
If Vegas has an argument towards being the World Capital Of Steakhouses, New York would certainly have to be the Grandaddy Of The World Capital Of Steakhouses. You almost have to splurge on a big time NYC steakhouse just to cross it off your bucket list. Travel Channel's Steak Paradise names three NYC stalwarts to their list: Peter Luger Steakhouse, Brooklyn. Peter Luger Steakhouse is known as the "Vatican of meat" by its devoted patrons. For over 120 years, Peter Luger has been serving up its famous porterhouse steaks. In fact, their steaks are in such high demand that reservations need to be made weeks ahead of time. According to the restaurant's loyal customers, the steaks at Peter Luger Steakhouse are worth the wait. Megu, New York City. At Megu, beef is king and nothing beats Kobe beef. The owner, Hiro Nishida, takes great pride in his restaurant and its extraordinary design. Most of the materials used to build the restaurant's interior are imported from Japan -- just like the Kobe beef. If you like your beef raw, sample the beef sashimi. The Palm, New York City. "The Palm on Second Ave. and 45th St. is the restaurant's flagship location. The walls of The Palm are decorated with comics drawn by some of the most gifted hands in the business. The decorating began when the owner of the restaurant allowed struggling newspaper artists to paint caricatures in lieu of paying for their dinners. Now, patrons of this famed steakhouse can see their likeness adorn the wall -- if, over the years, they spend $15,000 at The Palm. All the beef at The Palm comes from one source, and they dry-age their meat between 28 and 35 days. Seasoned only with olive oil and kosher salt, the cuts are broiled to perfection and served. This magic recipe has expanded business and The Palm now has locations nationwide, with 4 restaurants in New York City alone."
Beyond Steak Paradise, most Best Steakhouses in NYC lists include:
Old School: Keens Steakhouse (72 W 36th, great Chateaubriand for 2 @ $102), Maloney & Porcelli (37 E 50th St, well-aged midtown Manhattan classic features steak, oysters, and nice vintages), Uncle Jack's (440 9th Ave, new meaning to 'Meatpacking district', huge portions, Kobe beef).
Wall Street-Style Power Dining: Dylan Prime (62 Laight St, ultra-trendy SNL cast hangout with great filets), Old Homestead Steakhouse (56 9th Ave, hard to pick between the Kobe steak, filet, or the $41 Kobe burger), Sparks Steakhouse (210 E 46th, high quality, oil paintings, leather chairs, great prime sirloin and fresh lobster), Strip Steak (lobster bisque, NY strip, ribeye, porterhouse, red velvet walls, dim lighting, black-&-white pin-ups, bordello atmosphere), MarkJoseph (Financial District, great creamed spinach and hashbrowns compliment great steaks), BLT Prime (111 E 22nd, steak with 5-star French twists, saucy acoutroments), and Robert's (536 W 28th St, the steakhouse at Scores Gentlemen's club... enough said).
Relatively Reasonable (for NYC): Monkey Bar (60 E 54th, has a different $24 special steak every night), Knickerbocker Bar & Grill (33 University Place, a T-bone that'll make you cry, live jazz, and great lobster mashed)
Family Friendly: Ben & Jack's (219 E 44th, former Luger's waiters' beef palace is welcoming and unpretentious with great porterhouse steaks).
'80's Brat Pack author Jay McInerney's favorite Chinese in the Big Apple is Canton in Chinatown (BYOB). The Food Network's Rachael Ray recommends Hog Pit BBQ. Maximum Golf (a short-lived golf mag from the guys at Maxim) likes Great Jones Cafe, 54 Great Jones St, hole-in-the-wall, Cajun menu, good Bloodys; AZ, 21 W 17th St, Asian cuisine, hottie waitresses; Fanelli's pub, 94 Prince St, Old World ambiance, great burgers; Lupa, 170 Thompson, unassuming decor, homemade pastas; Raoul's, 180 Prince St, SoHo French, beautiful people, huge wine list, try the steak frites. T&L Golf likes the Bobby Flay staple Bolo (Spanish, $$$$, 23 E 22nd St); and Grammercy Tavern (American, $$$$, 42 E 20th St) is a NY fave for braised short ribs or a grilled-lamb sandwich.
For late night post-bar-hopping grub, Food Network's Adam Richman (Man vs. Food) digs Wo Hop. "You have to go to Chinatown and get the seafood lo mein here. It’s the best. But be sure you go eat downstairs, where it hasn't changed in years and everyone else will be as fucked up as you."
Fat Guy's Notes From a 2004 3-Day Weekend in Times Square:
Getting There: If you're driving, head up the NJ Tpke to Exit 9 for New Brunswick (home of Rutgers University) and park free on weekends at the garage next to the NJ Transit train station. The $18 roundtrip train to Penn Station and two $5 cab rides save on NYC parking and driving headaches. Nov/Dec is high season.
Tip: Take Monday off instead of Friday for your 3-day weekend. Arrive Saturday morning ready to hit the town, and you'll save $60 on the room Sunday night, plus have an easier time with Sunday night theater tix, dinner reservations, and a Monday midday departure.
Where To Stay: Crowne Plaza (1605 Broadway) is a good value ($159-$219/night) for Times Square digs. Ritzy, modern lobby, decent sized rooms, marble bathrooms. OR swanky boutique W Hotel (1567 Broadway), or the Marriot Marquis.
Where To Grub: Stand in line for the real "Soup Nazi" at Soup Kitchen Intn'l, 8th Ave & 55th St. For sushi/dim sum/Chinese, Ruby Foo's (1626 Broadway), semi-nouvelle but sticking to traditional ingredients, and very rich sauces, all in an ornate atmosphere. At Ellen's Stardust Diner (1650 Broadway, www.ellensstardustdiner.com) the Broadway-wanna-be waitstaff croons oldies and serves quality diner food. For pre-theater apps, hit the upstairs bar at Blue Sapphire @ W Hotel Times Square (1567 Broadway), pricey Asian cuisine with modern decor, great raw bar. Carnegie Deli (55th & Broadway) is a tourist trap rip-off for sandwiches; outstanding meats and a great Reuben, but who needs to pay $20 for a sandwich so big you can only eat half with a knife and fork? Skip the line and get one of their huge, worth-it cheesecakes or pies to go. Friends of mine, Sue and Jenn, like Carmine's for Italian, steaks, etc. Corrine digs Blue Smoke for ribs, BBQ, and hot jazz.
Best Bar Nearby: Great vanilla cosmos at swanky hotspot W Hotel NY (541 Lexington Ave). Lauren digs Whiskey Bar @ W Hotel Times Square (1567 Broadway), or hot restaurant/dance hall Noche (1604 Broadway). For wings and catching the game, hit Scruffy Duffy's in Hell's Kitchen (743 8th Ave). The best original drink in NYC is the V.I.P. (Vodka Infused Pineapple) at Del Frisco's Steakhouse (1221 Ave Of The Americas), and reportedly they serve up a nice steak too. Flashdancer's Gentlemen's Club (1674 Broadway) is nearby the Crowne Plaza.
Budget: NYC ain't cheap. $20-$25pp lunches, $45-$55pp dinners, $8 drinks, and $80 theater tix; you'll drop a cool $1200 on a 3 day weekend for 2, w/ decent meals and partying.
From Golf Digest Apr 05:
Near John F. Kennedy (New York) International Airport
CLOSE BY: Marine Park G. Cse. (2880 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn; 718-338-7113; 18 minutes, 11 miles; $29-$35) was built in the 1960s by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and is extremely busy because of its proximity to Manhattan. The course is fairly wide open and has views of the New York skyline. It's typically not in top shape, but its condition has improved.
IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME: Lido G.C. (255 Lido Blvd., Lido Beach; 516-889-8181; 30 minutes, 15 miles; $42-$62) is a fun seaside course that is routed through marshland on the south shore of Long Island. It was once a private golf club but went bankrupt during the Great Depression and became a muny in 1948. If you don't often play in windy conditions, you're in for a treat. There are many forced carries over water, and the direction of gusts can change hourly.
AIRPORT CONFIDENTIAL: Will the construction ever stop? Count on a few minutes of detours and extra delays as you wind your way to your terminal.