Welcome to The 2023 Golf Season

Its a Great Day at Fairchild Wheeler

*** Golf Couse Opening & Covid-19 Golf Course Guidelines ***

Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course will be open for play starting on Friday, May 15th. As we process the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, and until circumstances improve, the following rules are being strictly enforced to ensure the safety and health of everyone.

Arriving

  • We have to enforce A Park, Pay, Play & Leave Policy.

  • YOU MUST WEAR A MASK TO COVER YOUR FACE WHILE IN THE BUILDING AND SPEAKING WITH THE STARTER

  • Carts will be for one rider only. As carts come in our staff will disinfect the entire golf cart. Carts will be given out on a first come, first serve basis based on tee times.

  • GATHERING IN THE PARKING LOTS OR ANYWHERE ON THE FACILITY IS PROHIBITED. Please maintain social distancing at all times when checking in, while on the course, using the practice facilities and when leaving the facility. Even if you are playing with family members you live with, it is important to maintain the 6 feet social distancing protocol. PERCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC CAN AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO REMAIN OPEN.

  • IF YOU ARE ILL, OR ARE KNOWN TO HAVE COME IN POSSIBLE CONTACT WITH COVID-19, PLEASE STAY HOME.

Tee Times and Payment

  • Tee times will be spaced at 15 minute intervals. We will open at 9 AM Monday through Friday and 8 AM Saturday, Sundays and Holidays

  • Tee times MUST be made on our website or over the phone (website is preferred while we process the pandemic!). Weekday and Weekend tee times are available 7 days in advance.

  • WALK-UPS are welcome but you must check in with the starter first.

  • Payment will be made when arriving at the golf course. To minimize transaction time, it is strongly encouraged that payment be made by ONE PERSON for an entire group. REMEMBER: You will not be permitted into the building unless you have a mask covering your face.

  • IDs (Resident, Non-Resident Senior, Junior) from last year will be honored through June 15th.

Buildings

  • If you are entering the building either for the locker room or golf shop, YOU MUST WEAR A MASK TO COVER YOUR FACE

  • Restrooms will be open to the public.

  • When entering the golf shop please make sure you are standing on the X’s and follow the arrows to exit the golf shop.

  • Water will not be available on the course. Please bring your own or purchase from the takeout window, if available.

Golf Course

  • All players must putt with the flagsticks in the hole. The flagsticks must not be touched. Cups have been adjusted to avoid the need to touch flagsticks when removing a ball from the cup.

  • Bunker rakes have been removed from the course. You may play preferred lies if the need arises. Golf maintenance staff will periodically groom bunkers but kindly smooth over footprints and marks in the sand with the sole of your shoe before leaving one.

  • Sand bottles will not be available. Please replace fairway divots and fix ball marks. Each player is responsible to care for the course.

  • Scorecards and pencils will not be available

Practice Facilities and Lessons

  • The driving range will be open with proper social distancing available between mats. After hitting balls, please leave the range basket as our staff will be responsible for sanitizing the basket and returning it to the ball machine.

  • The practice putting greens and chipping greens are CLOSED

  • Golf lessons are available with proper social distancing maintained. Contact Stephen Roach, sp_roach@hotmail.com to arrange any lessons

Additional

  • Proper golf attire is still required.

  • Carry hand sanitizer and use from time to time.

  • Do not leave any trash of any kind on the property. If you bring it, you must take it.

*** ***

Fairchild Wheeler offers two challenging 18 hole golf courses. The Red Golf Course demands accurate tee shots which will leave most golfers with mid to short irons for their approach shots. Don’t let that fool you because the Red Golf Course has tough greens that will make most golfers double and triple check the breaks.

The Red Golf Course features 6,568 yards of golf from the Championship Tees for a par 72. The course rating is 71.0 and the slope is 124.

The Black Golf Course features 6,559 yards of golf from the Championship Tees for a par 71. The course rating is 71.5 and the slope is 123. The Black course has beautiful winding hills, great scenic views and delivers a challenge with newly renovated fairway and greenside bunkers.

Besides Two Great Golf Courses, Fairchild Wheeler has so much more to offer. Fairchild Wheeler is home of the First Tee of Metropolitan New York and Nike Junior Summer Golf Camps. The Golf Shop is fully stocked and the wide open driving range allows you to hit short irons up to your driver. After playing 9 holes stop by Vazzy’s snack bar for a quick bite or enjoy a few drinks and some happy hour pizza in Tommy’s grill after your round.

PLEASE be Considerate, Repair Ball Marks on the Greens

Step 1. Take your ball mark repair tool and insert the prongs into the turf at the edge of the depression.
Note: Do NOT insert the prongs into the depression itself, but at the rim of the depression.

Step 2. Push the edge of the ball mark toward the center, using your ball mark repair tool in a gentle twisting motion.

This is the step where golfers who incorrectly “repair” ball marks usually mess up. Many golfers believe the way to “fix” a ball mark is to insert the tool at an angle, so the prongs are beneath the center of the crater, and then to use the tool as a lever to push the bottom of the ball mark back up even with the surface.

Do not do this! Pushing the bottom of the depression upward only tears the roots, and kills the grass.

So remember:
Wrong: Using the prongs as levers to push up the bottom of the depression.
Right: Using the prongs to push grass at the edge of the depression toward the center.

Just use your ball mark repair tool to work around the rim of the crater, so to speak, pushing the grass at the edge toward the center of the depression. One way to envision this is to picture reaching down with your thumb and forefinger on opposite sides of the ball mark and “pinching” those sides together.

Step 3. Once you’ve worked around the rim of the ball mark with your repair tool, pushing the grass toward the center, gently tamp down the repaired ball mark with your putter or foot to smooth the putting surface.