If you're coming to New York for a golf vacation, you probably got on the wrong plane. Unless you've got an in at the private clubs (the New York area probably has more great private courses than any place in the country), it's not a great area for golf. But if you must play while you're here and don't know any members of Winged Foot or Shinnecock, here's some suggestions:
Best Upscale Public
Centennial Golf Club
Centennial is a 27-hole semi private facility in Carmel, NY - about an hour drive from Manhattan in light traffic. It may sound far, but it's hard to find a decent public course without driving at least 30-45 minutes; at that point, the extra 20 minutes is worth it for a good course. Centennial is a great layout with good conditions and good management. With 3 nines and a location far enough from the city, it's ...
[more]Golf, Jay Weiss

Chinatown
Above the Financial District and encroaching on shrinking Little Italy and the Lower East Side is New York City’s expanding Chinatown--rapidly increasing in both size and population. Chinatown is a wonderful place to meander about. Everyone in your group will notice different things. On a recent visit with my family, my husband noticed that the streets bend, and the buildings bend with them. My older daughter noticed fish and dehydrated things in markets that she wanted to take home and examine under her microscope. And my little one marveled at lots of colorful kitsch: Hello Kitty and others. You can begin your exploration online here or on foot at the intersection of Mott and Canal.
[more]