North Hempstead is considering a one-year extension to the management contract with Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington that ends this year while its rebids the terms of the agreement, according to Supervisor Jennifer DeSena’s office. 

Built in 1998, Harbor Links is owned by the Town of North Hempstead and operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management.

It features an 18-hole championship course, nine-hole executive course that is not closed off to the public during private events, a driving range, pro shop, athletic fields and a full-service banquet hall and restaurant.

As part of the rebid process, DeSena will assemble a committee that will provide “the most competitive and open process possible to benefit our residents,” according to her spokesman Brian Devine. 

The committee membership is not finalized as of now but will be in the future, Devine said.

Since at least 2013, the town has had a management agreement with the golf course, according to a financial and operational review released in 2016. 

Harbor Links has been a topic of discussion,  particularly during the summer, when residents were critical of the course’s limited availability because of private outings.

Port Washington resident Jack Genicoff told the board during a July meeting the course was to be partially closed to the public on 66 of the 109 weekdays from May 1 to Sept. 30 – 61% of the time.

The course is partially closed when private outings are held, which the current contract has no limit on.

James Viras, general manager at Harbor Links, previously confirmed to Blank Slate Media the championship course is closed when outings are going on and reopened to the public following the event the same day.

In the month of June, Harbor Links had private outings on June 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 22, 27 and 29. In July, Harbor Links had private outings scheduled for July 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 22, 25 and 28.

For North Hempstead residents, a round of golf on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays on Harbor Links’ championship course costs $100 from open to 8 a.m., $95 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and $90 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with prices dropping to $75 and lower throughout the end of the day.

At Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, the Black Course costs $85 for a round of golf for state residents.

Since 2000, Bethpage State Park’s Black Course has hosted three men’s major golf championships, including the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009 and the PGA Championship in 2019.