Sharon Springs NY 9 holer.....?

[paul cowley]

...upstate NY, near Cherry Valley, an area where the Hasidic Jews vacationed, was a fun 9 holer I played a bit in my youth.
   I even tried to bring it back after it closed...I assume its still there , grown over ......I think it has a lineage.

 does anyone have any experience or info on the course?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

is this it?

www.sharonsprings.com/golf.htm

[paul cowley]

Yes, thats the one.....but thats about all the info I have on it.

[Steve Mann]

paul-

i was born and lived in sharon springs until the age of 8 when we moved furhter upstate to glens falls.  i vaguely remember playing there in my youth.  that was back in the late '70's/early 80's.  i do recall some decent holes and the topo was great.  they also had some terrific buildings on/around the property near the golf course.  i always remember driving down the main drag where all the bath houses(?) were, boy did it have a distintive smell!  i can make a few calls if you like.  my grandmother still lives in town, she is 95 now but still really sharp.  she will point me in the right direction.  send me an IM or get back to me if you like further info.  
i cannot believe someone on this board played/knew about sharon springs, ny.  wow.

best,
steve

[Steve Curry]

Steve,


Small world, my Grandmother is 96, in Cooperstown and this reminds me of the Otsego Golf Club where I played in my younger days.  Have you ever been there?  

Steve

[paul cowley]

...hey guys, it is a small world...I grew up about a half hour east of there....made my first birdie on this course on #1, which was funny as I had yet to make my first par.
 
 I would play it off and on until it closed....great little clubhouse design , which has inspired me on more than one occasion ....how about that short , drivable par 4 that dropped about 125' ?

  As for its design, I don't know....I doubt it , but maybe Devereaux Emmit bopped over there for a day or two when he was designing the Leatherstocking course [a great one] in Cooperstown.

....but for me , this course will always be seen through some halciyon mist of my youth........hey ,has anyone played Western Turnpike in Guilderland NY ?

[Steve Mann]

steve c.-

have not played the otsego course you spoke of.  how are you doing these days at bcc?  any more restoration or tree removal?  hope all is well.

paul c-

the leatherstocking course is fantastic!  definitely a "semi" hidden gem. although, with the hotel and all there now everyone is playing it.  definitely underappreciated.  regarding western turnpike, now you are on my stomping grounds.  grew up playing cobleskill g and cc(formerly 9 holes, now 18).  all the albany courses also.  albany cc, woolferts roost, schyler meadows(very good d. emmet course) and cc of troy.  my first job was at cc of troy, great walter travis course with a master plan now in effect with renaissance golf, i think.  tom doak can confirm.  

i spoke to my father last night and he doesn't hold much hope for the pavilion golf course to be restored and re-opened.  especially if the new owner bought it back in 1996.  it would have been done by now i would think.  sharon is a tough sell.  the majority of the motels and motor inns have closed down over the last 5-8 years and not much is left there.  

steve

[Steve Mann]

paul-

they play the triple play pro-pro tourney at the turnpike.  they have 27 holes so you play best ball(9), alternate shot(9) and scramble(9) formats.  it is a great tourney.  western turnpike has some very good golf holes on it also.  probably  a sleeper for albany because most people are playing the new one called orchard creek i think.  but, many good holes and some great topo on the property.
best,
steve  

[Steve Curry]

Paul,

I do know Western Turnpike, its now owned by the Town of Guilderland.  I have not played it but was there for our Junior event two years ago.  

One of our outings this year is planned to be at Leatherstocking, so I may have a chance to find out a little more on the course in SS.

I have to add that I love Orchard Creek in Altamont.

From a web site I found...
"Three golf courses within 25 minutes drive will delight the avid golfer and plans for Sharon Springs' own 18 hole golf course are well under way."

Steve

I also have meant for years to research the heritage of The Otsego Golf Club as its originator was wealthy and tied to the golf seen with his great game.

[JohnV]

The Futures Tour had an event at Western Turnpike the two years that I worked for them.  It was a fun place.  27 holes.  There was one neat par 5 on the one 9 we didn't use with a couple of bunkers that reminded me of the spectacles and then if you carried them it was dowhill to a green with a drop off left that could be very scary.  I think I have some pictures at home of the course, I'll try to get them up tonight.

[paul cowley]

....yo Steves....hadn't noticed your previous posts.

   I played my first golf at Western TP as I grew up in nearby Altamont [hence my connection with Orchard Creek]...all my misty early memories of the game occurred there.
 When I first played the Leatherstocking course in my teens, I knew immediately that something very different was going on there and my interest in golf design was kindled to a higher level.

  I go back to Altamont once or twice in the summer ...if either of you want to get together at Orchard Creek as my guests, we could sit out back with a beer at look at the Helderburgs ....

[Steve Curry]

This is one of them.

[Dave Bourgeois]

Paul, Steve, and all,

I was born and raised in Latham so I'm familiar with Western Turnpike, but played my HS golf at the Town of Colonie.  My parents are still up there and have since become members of Pinehaven which is close to the Turnpike.

Is Pete Gerard still the head pro @ Orchard Creek?

[Scott Witter]

Paul, Steve, Dave, John & Steve:

I grew up just outside Utica NY for 23 years, Played everything in sight as a kid, Sharon Springs and many more.  Years later while in college at Syr, I played many in Central NY and then from 1987 to 1993 I lived in Saratoga Springs, just 30 minutes north of Albany and played everything up and down I-87 as well as east and west.  The influence of Emmett is everywhere out that way and quite enjoyable.

This is truly a small world.  every course you mention I have played at one time or another...kinda neat to share the memories after all this time