One round in the Catskills

[Joel Zuckerman]

Been to The Concord's Monster and Grossinger's.  Any other worthwhile suggestions?  Thank you for the input.

[Chris_Blakely]

Catskill GC (Catskill, NY) is a decent course on hilly terrain

Rip Van Winkle GC (Paleville, NY) is an old Ross 9 holer with great views of the surrounding mountains

Blackhead Mountain Lodge ( Roundtop, NY) is a fun 18 hole course built on some great terrain - very tight in spots with great views.

Hudson Valley Resort (Kerhonkson, NY) has a decent 18 hole course

Mohonk Mountain House GC (New Paltz, NY) old course built in 1897 - may now be called Lake Mohonk GC.  Rolling terrain great views

Shawangunk CC (Ellenville, NY) old 9 hole course, built on rolling terrain.

Those are the best of what I have played.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I would play Rip Van Winkle CC just to buy a hat there.

www.rvwcc.com

[Matt_Ward]

Joel:

Lots of mediocre stuff there.

The Monster at the Concord has a few holes of note but overall it's simply long and long and even longer. I like the par-4 17th a bunch but it's not a place you travel more than 75-100 miles to go there.

Grossinger's is likely the better of the two.

If you need a cheaper alternative try Tarry Brae in South Fallsburgh -- it's a Bill Mitchell design and has a few holes of note. You can also head to nearby Monroe and play the Nicklaus course at Mansion Ridge. The publicly owned Stony Ford is also worth a play and is halfway between Monroe and the Catskills themselves.

Sad to say, the Catskills is a place that time has moved on from in so many ways. The desire to bring it back to life can only happen if casino gambling becomes the dominant engine there and even with that I don't see how the area can compete with what is happening in so many other locales.

I used to beat up on both the Poconos and Catskills. Now, the former sems to be doing something to generate interest. Unfortunately, the latter is still talking about the past and seems to be mired in them as well on the golf scene as well.

[Chris_Blakely]

The Concord Resort's website says the courses were closed for the 2007 season.  Does anyone know if they reopened?

http://www.concordresort.com/

[Peter Galea]

I always recommend Rip Van Winkle. It's family owned, an easy walk, and has many cool features. Chocolate drops, flanking mounds, and strategy on every tee.  It's a must play  whenever I'm in the area. Say hello to John Smith for me.
Don't miss Kaaterskill Falls nearby.

[Joel Zuckerman]

Matt;

Yeah--If it wasn't for Parents Weekend at my daughter's summer camp, I wouldn't be within a hundred miles...visitng the Catskills is not exactly on my "lifetime to-do" list. 
Or--to paraphrase orator Patrick Henry---"Give me Death instead of Liberty (NY)"

Thanks for the recommendations though...

[SPDB]

I would try Union Vale in LaGrangeville.

[Matt_Ward]

Joel:

I'll second that recommendation -- except for the fact that it's a bit of a ride from the heart of the Catskills to LaGrangeville.

If you want to save $$ and play a decent layout try Stony Ford in Middletown. A bit better than average.

Enjoy your daughter's summer camp -- likely better than the golf side of the equation.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Joel,
If you can get access try the Powelton club, it's just over the Newburgh bridge, heading west. I was there once, but it was very long ago, maybe 25 years. I seem to remember it as a lot of back and forth, good views, and v.g.  upkeep. I think it  was designed by Emmet, but that's also a distant memory.   

The International course at the Concord is fun, so is the little one at Grossinger's.

[Dan Herrmann]

In lieu of golf:  http://www.catskillguide.com/hiking.htm

There is some really nice hiking up there.