Hay Harbor Club

Visiting Fishers Island, New York is like visiting another era. Located just two miles offshore of the southeastern coast of Connecticut, this peaceful and beautiful island is shy about revealing her charms. Life moves at a slower pace here and the year-round population of 235 makes for a laid-back and friendly atmosphere. People passing on the sidewalk greet each other by name. That Fishers Island is a paradise, preserved that way by the absence of a bridge to America, is uncontested; the only way to the island is by ferry or private boat. The population swells to about 2,000 during the summer: two-thirds of the seven-mile long island is private property, so you must be a homeowner or their guest. Many sailors have admired the spectacular homes along the Fishers shores while passing it to visit Martha’s Vineyard or Block. Today, the island has about 600 homes, one K-12 school, a volunteer fire department, one gas dock, one seasonal hotel and restaurant, one movie theater, café, liquor store, ice cream parlor, post office, and three gift shops and churches. This island is a place well worth discovering, as you’ll also find wooded nature trails, several freshwater ponds, and uncrowded beaches where you can have a bonfire (with a permit) or go fishing. It’s also a great place for bicycling; drivers travel slowly as there are no traffic lights. Hay Harbor is a smaller club on the west part of Fishers Island with a nine-hole, links-style golf course and a second hole that runs along the ocean. Its tennis club has 11 clay tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a salt water swimming area affectionately called The Shark Tank. Lessons for kids and adults include tennis, golf, swimming, sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. With the magnificent winds that swirl all around the island, the Hay Harbor sailing club is a popular pastime for people summering at the island. You’ll also find some stunning beaches on the south shore of Fishers, with views of the North Shore of Long Island and Block Island. Isabella Beach is secluded and open to all, and it’s a great place for fishing or spearfishing. The parking area is small and unmarked. To the east, Chocomount Beach and South Beach are also lovely, but you’ll need to befriend a resident to gain access. The waves can be big and there are also no lifeguards, so families with small kids should head for Dock Beach, where there is a lifeguard, soft white sand, and a roped-off swimming area. This is a Tier III beach.