Golf Adirondack-Style: Beauty and the Best

Sixty Unspoiled Courses in the Six Million Acre Park

ADIRONDACK PARK, March 29, 2007 - The Adirondack Park in New York state is well known for skiing and hiking, but what many do not realize is that there are 60 challenging golf courses in the six million acre wilderness park. The most difficult part of golf in the region is keeping one's head down as some of the most breathtaking views of mountains and lakes can be had from the cedar-lined fairways and rolling greens of the signature courses. Beauty all courses share this trait. Here are holes that stand out from the crowd: The 12th hole at Westport Country Club is considered by many to be among the most beautiful holes in New York state. It meanders downhill through a well-defined tunnel of mature Adirondack pines and finishes in a natural amphitheatre green setting. At The Sagamore Golf Course, holes are routed naturally through an upland meadow and Adirondack woods, where white birches enliven the evergreen forest. From the elevated tee on the first hole, you have the best view of Lake George and the Adirondack high peaks. The trademark clover leaf designed greens and bunkers illustrate the meticulous design details at the Whiteface Club & Resort. The intense Whiteface Mountain and Lake Placid backdrops are designed purely by nature. Best view of Whiteface Mountain is from the sixth hole. The Thendara Golf Club, an 18-hole championship golf course, is a meticulously kept course, with doglegs and sweeping fairways. The best view of the Adirondack Mountains is from the 12th-hole tee. The Moose River flows along holes 10-14. When playing golf in the Adirondacks you are likely to see a wide range of wildlife including deer, fox, numerous bird species and even an occasional bear or moose. In addition to beauty and wildlife, many Adirondack courses offer unique challenges. The following are some of the demanding courses and their signature holes: The signature hole at the Hiland Golf Club is the ninth hole, a 540-yard, par 5, requiring an approach shot to a well-bunkered, peninsula green. At the Lake Placid Club Links golf course, the 18th hole requires a strong tee shot followed with a long second shot, culminating in an uphill green guarded by bunkers on three sides, a rewarding ending to classic golf surrounded by breathtaking scenery. The first hole at the Saranac Inn Golf and Country Club is a worthy finishing hole, but coming at the start of the round it demands extra attention. A par will surely result in honors on the second tee. At Carlowden Country Club, the eighth hole is the number one handicap hole for many reasons. It is significantly long and the green is very severe, the plus side to this hole is that it is beautifully framed by trees. The Tupper Lake Golf & Country Club is not a long course (6254 yards), but shows its teeth when you arrive at the greens. They are undulating and fast, making them a real challenge. The 5th hole is the one that bites. For a collegiate challenge, the fifth hole at the St. Lawrence Golf & Country Club is the answer. The par 4, dogleg left provides the most challenging distance fairway with a punchbowl of traps waiting around the green. Many Adirondack courses are also filled with noteworthy golf history. Here are a few examples: Bluff Point Golf Club is the third oldest golf course in the United States. At the first tee you will realize the panoramic views that were once shared by Presidents William McKinley and William Howard Taft. A young Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, also vacationed at this popular resort. Cedar River Golf Club was once owned by one of the first black members of the PGA, Dewey Brown. Many of the courses were designed or established by golf legends including Donald Ross, Alister Macenzie, John Van Kleek, Seymour Dunn and Craig Wood. The Adirondack golf courses offer many packages in connection with local hotels. These packages and a full listing of courses can be found at www.visitadirondacks.com.