The Signal on the Green: A New Blueprint for Public Golf on Long Island

CORAM, NY – June 23, 2026 – Brooke Management Group, the golf operations powerhouse led by celebrated LPGA Professional Kelley Brooke, has announced it will assume management of Pine Ridge Golf Course in Coram. While press releases on management changes are common, this one signals a more significant shift. It represents a high-stakes bet on the revitalization of public golf, deploying a proven strategy of targeted investment and community-building to transform a facility that, according to local players, has been in a state of managed decline.

For years, Pine Ridge has been a course with good bones but flagging health. Carved from a native pine forest in 2006, its challenging layout earned it a solid local reputation. However, recent online reviews from golfers painted a grim picture of deteriorating conditions. Comments frequently cited infested greens, tee boxes worn down to sand, and a general sense of neglect. “The course layout is fine but it is clear no one spends any money here,” one recent visitor lamented online. It is precisely this gap—between potential and performance—that Brooke Management Group intends to fill.

A Modern Vision for a Tired Course

The plan laid out for Pine Ridge is less a simple facelift and more a fundamental reimagining of the public golf experience. Brooke Management Group has announced a multi-phase transformation designed to inject a hospitality-driven, modern-club atmosphere into the daily-fee facility. This isn't just about reseeding the fairways; it's about re-engineering the entire customer journey.

Key among the planned enhancements is a technology-infused driving range, complete with covered bays and food and beverage service—a direct play for the social, entertainment-focused golfer. The on-course experience will be upgraded with a new fleet of GPS-equipped golf carts and significant course conditioning improvements, including the installation of strategic, Pinehurst-style waste bunkers. The clubhouse and bar, the traditional social heart of any course, are also slated for major renovations.

“Our vision is to create a modern golf environment that blends the feel of an upscale private club with the accessibility and energy of public golf,” Kelley Brooke, CEO of Brooke Management Group, stated in the announcement. This vision is supported by a planned ‘Founding Membership’ program, a savvy move to build a loyal user base from the ground up by offering early adopters preferred pricing and long-term benefits.

The Kelley Brooke Blueprint

To understand the future of Pine Ridge, one must understand the track record of Kelley Brooke. Her name is synonymous with golf on Long Island, but not just as a former tour player or decorated instructor. Over a four-decade career, Brooke has methodically built a regional empire based on a simple but powerful premise: identify and fill the gaps in the market. Her business philosophy, reportedly hatched from an "Index Card Plan" in 1993, focused on underserved segments like women and junior golfers, laying the groundwork for a business that now employs over 250 professionals.

Brooke's portfolio is a collection of Long Island’s public golf crown jewels, including operations at the famed Bethpage State Park and Montauk Downs, as well as Harbor Links Golf Course. Her success isn't accidental. It's built on a reputation for operational excellence and an almost evangelical zeal for growing the game. Brooke, the 2018 LPGA Professional of the Year, has personally delivered over 50,000 lessons. Her commitment to accessibility is a core tenet, having famously kept her lesson prices stable for years to encourage participation.

This history is the strongest indicator of what’s to come at Pine Ridge. The plan to expand instructional programming through her well-established Golf Channel Academy is not an afterthought; it is central to the business model. The acquisition isn't just about managing turf; it's about cultivating new players and creating a sustainable ecosystem where golfers of all levels feel they can improve and belong.

Reshaping the Regional Golf Landscape

The Pine Ridge acquisition does not happen in a vacuum. It arrives as public golf infrastructure across Suffolk County is seeing renewed investment, with the county itself recently upgrading facilities like the newly renamed Santapogue Creek County Golf Course. Brooke Management Group's move is both a reflection of this trend and a significant escalation of it. By bringing a private-sector, hospitality-focused approach to a public-access course, the company is setting a new competitive benchmark.

This project aims to be more than just another place to play 18 holes. “We want Pine Ridge to become a place where golfers can play, practice, socialize, and truly feel part of something special,” Brooke said. This language of community and belonging is a deliberate strategy to counter the transactional nature of much of public golf. It’s an attempt to build a loyal following in a competitive market that includes several other courses within a few miles.

By transforming a tired property into a modern hub for golf and socializing, Brooke Management Group is executing a well-honed playbook. The project at Pine Ridge will serve as a closely watched case study for how to revive and monetize public golf in the 21st century, blending high-tech amenities with the high-touch of world-class instruction and a welcoming community atmosphere. For Long Island golfers, it promises a much-needed upgrade; for the golf industry, it provides a clear signal of where the game is headed.