I just returned from a short visit to Resorts International Catskills near Kiamesha Lake in New York’s Catskill region. As a youngster, I vacationed in that area with my family almost every year from 1961 to 1967. At that time the region was abuzz with numerous hotels with big name entertainment and all types of activities, including golf. I wasn’t a golfer back then, but in the late 90’s when I first took up the game, I visited many of the old guard Catskill courses, including Kutschers (Wm F Mitchell), Grossingers (Joe Finger), The Nevele (Tom Fazio), The Fallsview (RTJ Sr), The Granit (Hal Purdy), The Concord Monster (Joe Finger) and the Concord International, all of which are NLE. The decline in the region’s tourism industry over the last 50+ years is stark. The only public golf courses I am aware of that remain in close proximity to the Borscht Belt region of Monticello/Liberty/Fallsburg/Ellenville are two muni’s, Tarry Brae and Lochmor, both owned by the Town of Fallsburg, and Swan Lake, which is a “mom and pop” operation that seems to be hanging on by a thread, all three designed by Wm F Mitchell. The three are decent, but not special. I played Swan Lake on this trip, a nice round for $25, including cart to ride on its roller coaster routing, up, down and across a steep hillside parcel.
The first new golf course opening in the area in 50 years is scheduled to occur next spring at Resorts International Catskills. As best I can tell the new course will have nine holes over land that was part of the Concord International Course and nine over land that was the first hole and back nine of the Concord Monster. I had time to walk what I believe will be the front nine of the new course (the part on the International). Those holes appear to be ready to play with just some mowing and raking of bunkers, although I don’t think construction has started on a club house and there are no signs indicating hole numbers. Query: Is it normal to keep a course in playing condition this far in advance of opening? The greens were mown to putting length, most of the fairways were cut to fairway length although a few were at short rough length from tree line to tree line.
I believe the new course was designed by Bryce Swanson, a Rees Jones associate. According to an article on Jones’ website, the surviving portions of the Monster have been reconfigured as follows:
- · “the former first hole will become the new 10th, while being shortened to a par-4 from a par-5;
- · the old 18th will become the 11th, while the previous green site for the 11th will become the new 12th’s tee box;
- · the 12th green site will be moved to across Kiamesha Creek, removing the forced carry;
- · a new short par-four 13th will play from 255 yards to 365 yards along the creek, near a new par-three 14th;
- · the 15th will be the old 16th; the par-four 16th will be the old 17th; the 17th will be a brand new par-three; and the old 9th will become the new 18th.”
The course is situated between the two new on-site hotels, the Resorts World, which houses the casino and a small Top Golf facility, and the Kartrite, which is a family oriented facility with a large indoor water park. The nine holes I walked were the ones on the International course site and are adjacent to the Kartrite which was built on remainder of the International course. The nine new holes that I walked didn’t remind me of either the International or the Monster, which is probably a good thing.
I’m not 100% certain of the hole numbers as there is not yet any signage to identify the holes, and it’s possible they could reverse the nines from what was indicated in some of the prior press,. There were a couple of places where I could have taken a different fork in the road, but I think I have the order of the holes right as the ones I saw started and returned where I think the club house will be built and consisted of what appear to be two par 3’s, two par 5’s and five par 4’s so would make sense that they are a nine hole loop.
Overall, the nine holes I saw had very wide playing corridors, a lot of movement to the land both in terms of uphill and downhill holes as well as ridges and a couple hummocky rolling fairways. The setting was very pretty and secluded with only two holes parallel to one another. There were five teeing areas on most holes. These nine holes were an easy walk, the only exception being the longish uphill walk from 5
th green to the sixth tee.
Reminder hole numbers are my best guesses.
Number 1 is a par 4, dogleg left to a flattish landing area followed by a gradual incline toward the green that gets steeper as you approach the green which has a single center front bunker.
Resorts Catskills #1 from middle tee 
Resorts Catskills #1 
Resorts Catskills #1 
Resorts Catskills #1 uphill approach 
Resorts Catskills #1 pitch to green 
Resorts Catskills #1 short right of green 
Resorts Catskills #1 green from right front The second hole is a medium length par three
Resorts Catskills #2 par 3 from middle tee 
Resorts Catskills #2 par 3 from front tee 
Resorts Catskills #2 short right of green next 7 holes to follow