A Golf-Themed Bar for Brooklyn? Back 9 Grill Now Open

Even before the , Prospect Heights has been full of sports fans, with Mets and Yankees fans battling it out at such bars as and Half Court and "footie" fans flocking to .

But golf fans? Apparently so.

At least according to Ron Dutes, chef and manager of The Back 9 Grill, a golf-themed gastropub that opened Friday on Vanderbilt Avenue at Prospect Place, .

The owners, who own several other restaurants in Prospect Heights but wish to remain under the radar, weren’t too concerned about current trends, or whether the neighborhood is home to many Tiger Woods fans. They just love golf, and wanted to create a spot where they and their buddies could hang out after playing the 18-hole course in Marine Park, according to Dutes.

But apparently, there are a suprising number of golf enthusiasts in the area, with several coming to the bar on opening weekend, said Dutes.  

And the bar is a golf-lover’s heaven—the game will be shown on several flat screen TVs (once the ) and antique golf paraphenelia covers not only the walls, but the bar and all the table tops (under plexiglass). According to Dutes, the owners did much of the interior work themselves and it shows—it’s clearly a labor of love.

But even non-golf fans will likely appreciate the spot, which offers “fine eclectic comfort food” (according to the menu) in an appealing atmosphere.

Dutes, who trained at Johnson and Wales University's culinary arts program, has been cooking for 10 years, most recently a four-year stint as sous chef at Blue Water Grill in Manhattan. 

The culinary background shows in the menu. Besides the expected offerings of beer, burgers and sandwiches, there’s such unique items as the "mac and chini" a fried macaroni ball with prosuitto, roasted red pepper and herbed tomato sauce, (see photo gallery), buffalo chicken spring rolls, mini tuna tartar tacos and grilled asparagus as a side dish.

The Back 9 Grill, 635 Vanderbilt Ave. at Prospect, 718-622-6463. M-Th 12-11, F, Sa., 12-12 and Sun. 12-10. Cash only.