Golfing in the Adirondacks can be a beautiful challenge

Get out and golf

ADIRONDACK PARK, NY - The Adirondack Park is well known for skiing and hiking, but what many do not realize is that there are 60 picturesque golf courses in the six million acre wilderness park. The most challenging 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.

• Recently awarded four-and-one-half stars out of five for "Best Places to Play" and the "Good Service" seal by Golf Digest Magazine, the Malone Golf Club has 36 championship golf holes divided into two courses, designed by Robert Trent Jones. The Grill Room Restaurant is located just inside the Clubhouse and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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 peaceful 18-hole course overlooks the scenic Black River Valley and the foothills of the Adirondacks. A challenging course, Carlowden offers tee options for all skill levels, and has several two-tiered greens. Each round allows for a different golf experience.

• 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.

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 in the Adirondacks were designed or established by golf legends including Donald Ross, Alister Macenzie, John Van Kleek, Seymour Dunn and Craig Wood.

The Adirondack Park, named for the Adirondack Mountains that lie within its boundaries, offers some of the best opportunities in the United States for outdoor recreation in a superb natural setting. The wilderness lands of the Adirondack Park are an outdoor-lover's paradise and vacation packages offer a wonderful opportunity for visitors to sample all that there is to see and do in the region.

The official Web site of the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council is VisitAdirondacks.com. Log on for an interactive experience to plan your trip. From a high definition scenic video clip to thousands of visitor images, VisitAdirondacks.com features a comprehensive trip planner with maps and itineraries, package listings, events, activities, restaurants, lodging and more. Or, call 800- 487-6867 for free travel information.