Vanderbilt Cup Races

Links golf course.  That gate has been gone a long time.

From Willy K’s Deepdale Estate?

I think that’s the entrance to the Links Golf Course. It would have been on the north side of the LIMP between New Hyde Park Road and Shelter Rock Road. The golf course is no longer there but has been developed into “The Links” gated community.

Wow. I’m pretty clueless about this one. Douglaston Golf Club?

Links Golf Course in North Hills.  I believe the exact location is situated across from 239 Robby Lane (educated guess based on the structures in your photo being the clubhouse and some more recent photos showing similar structures and where they would be situated today).  Howard, see the articles concerning the Links Golf Course, Willie K., and the Motor Parkway I’m sending under separate cover.

At first I was thinking this was Willie K’s private entrance to the LIMP at Deepdale Mansion but the missing slat and hanging left gate door would not be permissible at Deepdale. So I’m guessing we’re at the east end in Lake Ronkonkoma but not at the Petit Trianon. I think were just down the block off the LIMP at this private entrance to the maids quarters at the Annex. That gate would have been heavily used there. Good tricky photo this week Robert.

Thanks for another great post.  The Links was just another place for us kids to explore.  Sleigh riding and snowball fights are some of my better memories.  But overall, I think the developer did an excellent job.  There is plenty of open space, and a few of the small hills and bluffs remain.  But it is also part of our unique Long Island history.  My close friends older brother was a caddy there for years.  He used to caddy for Jock Whitney and so many others, including English royalty.  I once heard a rumor the old clubhouse was IU Willets home?  I wonder if that was true.  I cannot get enough of your website.

I wonder if the pillars are still hidden in there? I’ll have to check it out the next time I’m in there.

In reply to Brian, there is no trace of this entrance remaining.  None.

The estate shown in the above aerial just north of the course is “Northcort” also labeled “North Hills”. Currentley the Buckley Country Day School -  http://halfpuddinghalfsauce.blogspot.com/2013/03/twin-gardens-in-tudor-setting.html

Howard, The Links Golf Club clubhouse was located northeast of the Motor Parkway’s entrance to the Club. It was an old farmhouse that at one time was owned by the Willets family. It was located pretty much where the North Hill Village Hall is today.  When the Links residential community was being laid out there was some half-hearted talk about restoring the Willets farmhouse to be used an the Village Hall. As we know , it didn’t happen. Keep up the good work. Al

Howard,  The Links golf Clubhouse can be seen in the background on the right side of Robert Miller’s photo. The long rectangular building you identify as the clubhouse was used as maintainance equipment garage. I believe that motorized golf carts were also stored there. Al

I worked there washing dishes when I was in my 20’s. It was so much fun! We had to be so fast! I believe I was the first female to be ever be hired there. My dad was the head waiter, bartender, the chef!

I have been a lurker on this fine site for awhile. This is a trip down memory lane for me as I caddied at the Links GC from 1966-1982 (minus two interrupted periods 1970-1974 and 1977-1979). I was fortunate to reach the number one caddie position in the fall of 1975 and maintained that position until the spring of 1977. At that time, a career change had me move to the west coast for a two year period. It is only fitting that I provide some insight to some of the previous comments made.

The long rectangular building as Al Velocci states was a garage. It housed a handful of golf carts.  They were discouraged at this Club.  Jock Whitney and William Paley were two of the most notable exceptions that had carts there.  The golf pro parked their cars there which included a first generation Ford Thunderbird. There was also a very old inoperable Model T that was stored there.  Also attached to the garage was the caddie house.  This garage still stands to this day according to a classmate of mine from Herricks High School who resides in the Links complex.

To the right of the garage was a large farm barn.  This barn was converted on the top level and housed the pro shop.  The pro and his wife, Joe and Julie Phillips, resided on that top level with modest accommodations.  This level also had a workshop for the pro and housed members golf bags.  The bottom level of the barn was the groundskeepers domain. The majority of the mechanical equipment was kept there. 

Across the 10th fairway was the clubhouse. I have attached a front and side entrance pictures of the building. Regarding the private entrance to the Club via VMP, I conclude with a one of a kind story. During my time at the Links the entrance to the VMP between New Hyde Park and Shelter Rock Roads was gated preventing any public access. Occasionally you would see a LILCO utility truck riding the road.  On one memorable occasion in the late 70’s, waiting for a group of caddies from nearby Deepdale GC to assist us in a tournament, a car arrived into the club via the private entrance. They were able to navigate the road due to the gate being opened at New Hyde Park Road. It could have been the first time the entrance was used by a private vehicle after the demise of the road some 40 years earlier. It was a sight to be seen!

One follow up comment in regard to the opening photo of this thread. The building in the back left of the photo is the upper level of the barn was the pro shop and housing accommodations for the pro and his wife. Faintly seen in the back right of the photo was the Clubhouse a converted farm house.

Here are a few Newsday clippings that I saved back in the day that enhance some of the previous made comments.

It was so fun to work there! We churned the butter and rolled it to look like golf balls.
Bert and Percy were the caretakers then. When they passed, the new ones were not so good. Sadly, everything went downhill.

I vividly remember Bert when on occasions a member instructed me to go to the side entrance of the clubhouse to receive a well welcomed cold refreshing coke. Either Bert or Mr. Prescott would retrieve a bottle for me. I do not remember the circumstances when there was a change of management at the clubhouse. However I certainly agree with you Pamela that it was a step in the wrong direction. I am sure we could share some memorable stories on the cast of characters who were members of the club!

I love to hear about The Links. My dad knew all the members, but the names are vague to me. My brothers probably remember better than I do, I’m not good with names.  I wasn’t allowed in some of the rooms, except to clean up. Neither were the wives:)  There were 2 other couples after Bert & Percy. We kind of knew it was going to be the end when the last couple was managing. They had problems. I do remember the side door to the clubhouse, I remember the whole place like it was yesterday. So good to share the memory, thank you!

Thank you to all the recent individuals who commented.  It’s always fascinating to read first hand experiences of topics on the site.  Keep them coming!

Happy to reminisce and share my memories of the Links GC and the Motor Parkway. In my youth in the mid 1960s, the stretch of the highway between New Hyde Park and Shelter Rock Roads was actively used. Our bicycles were up and down the road. Plenty of bike races and the place to show off all of our new fangled equipment. Banana seats, angel bars, sissy bars, etc. were always showcased. The highway gained a second life for many young teenagers who lived in the area. I can personally discuss the Links GC in detail and can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

I lived in Carle Place, the end of the street was a dead end where the motor parkway used to be. We played there endlessly. It’s still there, a border between Mineola and Carle Place. I dream of it, I see the ways we used to roam, the trees, the houses, the fences, such nostalgia. We were blessed to grow up there. Ice skating at the Roslyn duck pond, Bar Beach, so many great things. And really no crime, who locked doors? I live in Los Angeles now, no comment on that:)

Amazing ‘Links’ details posted here. The parkway stretch between Shelter Rock Rd and NHP Rd seen here before Links’ establishment, looking west towards the Old Courthouse Rd bridge

Okay Art Kleiner I will keep them coming! This 1926 aerial showcases the Links GC buildings and the two motor vehicle entrances in that vicinity. Actually there were two additional entrances off I U Willets Road that were gated. One was by the 6th green and the other near the 8th green. Back in my day they were occasionally used by the maintenance department.

The second picture shows the 11th fairway and the pond in 1982. That was my last year at the club and possibly the last year the club was in operation. Perhaps Pamela Dancy can confirm this? Note the rearrangement of the pond. In 1926, the fairway along the pond to the green was adjacent to VMP. Somewhere between 1926-1950, the pond skirted VMP and the fairway to the green was to the right of the pond.

Hope this is not overkill but here are a few more pictures to peruse. The first image, circa 1926, shows the Links GC entrances off I U Willets Road. Just north between these two entrances was the Northcourt estate. The estate has been discussed previously on this site (Mystery Foto #14).

The third picture, circa 1950, shows a sharp image of the Links GC buildings. There was a small building, not mentioned in my previous post, between the vehicle garage and the pro shop/greenskeeper barn. That housed a small electrical station with danger/warning signs that us caddies stayed clear of!

Amazing details presented about Links Golf Course thanks to Pamela Dancy and Richard DeMenna. Please continue to post!