GOP chair takes a swing at Suffolk exec's ($45G) golf game

Suffolk Republican Chairman John Jay LaValle said that if any donor is thinking about paying $45,000 to play golf with Democratic County Executive Steve Bellone, they should save their money.

Lavalle told the crowd at the GOP convention in Farmingville last week that he played golf three years ago with Bellone, and he was awful. "You're not going to get any golf tips from him," LaValle said.

 LaValle was referring Bellone's upcoming June 29 golf fundraiser at Bethpage State Park, where he is offering to play nine holes on an empty course with any donor who pays $45,000 as a "premier sponsor."

 LaValle said he once played two or three holes with the county executive at a golf fundraiser held by former Republican Comptroller Joesph Sawicki, who was cross-endorsed by Democrats."I wouldn't pay 45 cents to play with him,"  he said.

Keith Davies, Bellone's campaign manager, declined to say if anyone has made the top tier donation, but acknowledged Bellone is no golf pro. When Bellone is "not working to save taxpayer dollars," Davies said, "he spends his limited free time with his three children and training for the Suffolk County Marathon, not practicing golf."