LOCAL GOLF

The spirit of Horace Greeley is alive and well at Royce Brook Golf Club, where the term “Go West” has taken on new meaning.

In fact, it’s time to “Go West” before it’s too late.

Located just south of I-287 on Hamilton Road in Hillsbourgh, N.J., Royce Brook boasts two of the state’s finest and busiest public courses. But after this fall, Royce Brook’s West Course will become private – primarily for corporate memberships – while the East Course remains public.

“It was an executive decision,” says Royce Brook CEO Jerry Leon. “There was a demand for corporate memberships.”

Right now you don’t need a corporate ID to play Royce Brook. The West Course is a sprawling, links-styled layout that features 185 in-your-face sand bunkers. It plays 7,158 yards from the back tees, with a slope of 134.

“The West is a challenge,” says Leon. “It has all the risk-and-reward features that good golfers look for.”

Less intimidating is the East, which plays to a middle-tee slope of 126.

Both courses were fiendishly designed by Florida architect Steve Smyers. Greens fees range from $65-$95 (including cart).

TEE TO GREEN

Johnson Wagner, the Met area’s hottest young golfer, has decided to turn pro just in time for this week’s Met Open at Winged Foot.

The 22-year-old Garrison native successfully defended his Met Amateur title two weeks ago and earlier this year won the Ike Championship. On Tuesday, he will defend his crown at the Met Open, where victory this year will be worth $23,000.

Wagner plans to attend PGA Tour School this fall.

John Baldwin, a two-time Met Amateur champ and former MGA president, won the British Senior Amateur earlier this month at Woodhall Spa in England.

Baldwin, who carded 76, 70 and 70, will play the Met Senior Open Aug, 27-28 at The Woodmere Club.