Suffolk County Approves $900,000 Bond for Golf Course Improvements

Suffolk County legislators on March 10 authorized $900,000 in bonding to fund infrastructure improvements and equipment purchases across county-owned golf courses, with Bergen Point Golf Course in West Babylon identified as the primary focus of the capital project.

The resolution, introduced as Intro. Res. No. 1075A-2026 at the request of the County Executive, splits the $900,000 into two allocations: $600,000 for site improvements and $300,000 for equipment purchases. The bond resolution required a two-thirds favorable vote from all Legislature members for adoption under the Local Finance Law, which governs how New York counties may finance capital projects through serial bonds or bond anticipation notes. Repayment will come from general county revenues, backed by property taxes on all taxable real property in the county if necessary under its full faith and credit pledge.

Bergen Point drew attention in the resolution because the county recently assumed full maintenance responsibilities for the course. Planned site work there includes repairing cart paths and parking areas, upgrading driving ranges, and purchasing materials such as bunker sand and topsoil. On the equipment side, the county intends to buy sprayers, utility carts, and turbine blowers. The improvements fall under two capital project codes, CP 7166.413 and CP 7166.514, both part of the 2026 Capital Budget and Program.

The Legislature also determined the project qualifies as a Type II action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, a classification that covers routine maintenance, rehabilitation of existing facilities, and equipment purchases not expected to cause significant environmental impacts. No further environmental review was required under that determination.

Once the County Executive signs the resolution, it takes effect immediately. The resolution's signature lines remained blank in the adopted copy as of this reporting. The Clerk of the Legislature is directed to publish the resolution, along with a notice in the form prescribed by Section 81.00 of the Local Finance Law, in the county's official newspapers. The Department of Public Works will then oversee implementation and must submit quarterly status reports to the Legislature covering project progress, any delays, and changes to funding allocations.

The Legislature passed a separate but related capital measure in the same period, approving roughly $600,000 to restore Owl Hill County Park, a 27-acre conservation area that includes historic buildings and woodlands. That project draws $500,000 from county bonds and $100,000 from the county's capital reserve fund.

Reaction to the golf course news on social media offered a glimpse of local priorities. Commenting on a Long Island Parks post about the bond resolution, golfer Joe Buckley wrote: "Nice, great for Bergen! It's going to be great. I'm surprised they don't talk about its drainage issues." The post drew 35 reactions and 8 comments within days of the Legislature's vote.