Southward Ho at Southward Ho Country Club

Southward Ho, a product of Long Island's sandy loam, exists as a tribute to early 20th-century golf course design, its rolling terrain sculpted to present a strategic challenge rather than brute length. The course, etched into the landscape near the Great South Bay, favors the thoughtful player who can navigate its subtly contoured fairways. The wind, a constant companion, adds another layer of complexity to shot selection, particularly on the exposed back nine.

Architect Herbert Strong's original design, refined over the years, retains its old-school character, with relatively small greens and strategically placed bunkers demanding precision. While it has never hosted a major championship, Southward Ho has been a proving ground for generations of Long Island's finest amateur players.

The club's membership, a mix of local business leaders and avid golfers, appreciates the course's understated charm and the camaraderie found within its traditional clubhouse. A round at Southward Ho is often capped with a meal on the patio, overlooking the course and the distant waters of the bay, where the day's best – and worst – shots are replayed with equal enthusiasm.