Enthusiasts brave the heat for golf

While many resident were escaping the heat in air-conditioned offices or soaking up rays at community pools, others braved the 90-plus-degree weather and headed to Eisenhower Golf Course.

Despite an excessive heat advisory released by the National Weather Service, John Driscoll, of Rockville Center, successfully played 18 holes on the red course on June 20 and 21. “Today was better than yesterday,” he said on June 21. “Yesterday was brutal.”

Driscoll, a New York Police Department retiree and current John Jay College professor, said he rented a cart, but saw a number of others who were carrying their clubs. “I don’t know how they did it,” he said. “You couldn’t drink enough water.” He consumed nearly nine bottles on the course.

Bayville resident Tom Rowan, who recently retired after 37 years as an operations engineer, said what brought him out was “stupidity.” He golfed nine holes before throwing in the clubs.

“It’s very hot, that’s why I dressed loosely,” Rowan said, who wore a grey cotton T-shirt and light khaki shorts. When asked if he would golf again in 90-degree heat, he simply said there was a 50 percent chance. “I get to do what I want [in retirement],” Rowan added.

Brian Clifford, of Merrick, who works as a Nassau County Supreme Court Clerk in Mineola, said he skipped lunch to hit the driving range and practice putting. “Even though it’s hot, it feels nice out,” he said, but added that a round of golf was out of the question.

“I’m surprised so many people are here,” Shannon Kenney, a staff member on the course, said on June 21. “We tell everyone to drink a lot of water.”

“A lot of people golf in the morning when it’s cool,” added Sarah Rockwell, a cashier from Hicksville. She said that golfers play at their own discretion and workers encourage players to wear hats and stay hydrated. “They get so excited to golf that they don’t think about the [heat],” she said.

Despite numerous water fountains and concession stands available, according manager Chris Gruter, at least three golfers were treated for dehydration on June 20, and an ambulance was called for one man with heat exhaustion. “It’s not necessarily dangerous,” he said, “just a wake up call to drink more water.”

According to course records, 575 players set out to play 18 holes on June 20, while 175 others were listed as playing nine. The facility was averaging similar numbers the following day, Gruter said.