could use your advice re October trip in the Northeast, please!

[PThomas]

good morning

have to use some free airline tickets before this November, and the wife loves the fall colors and has always wanted to go to Vermont or somewhere like that

I can fly into any of the following:  Albany, Hartford, Long Island, NYC, manchester, or Providence

so, any suggestions on good hotels or resorts for a long weekend near any of these?  OF COURSE, THERE MUST BE AT LEAST 1 GOOD GOLF COURSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOTEL/RESORT OR CLOSE NEARBY!

thanks in advance

[Glenn Spencer]

Fly into LaGuardia, take a ride out to Mamaroneck, find a hotel and then play Winged Foot and see if you can break 200 for 18 holes.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Paul,
I'm sure you'll get other recommendations but you won't go wrong staying at the Equinox (Travis/ Rees) or  the Sagamore (Ross). Equinox Resort in Manchester Village, Vt., is very New England, but it does have upscale shopping/dining. Sagamore is in Bolton Landing on Lake George, very beautiful setting. Both have websites and offer golf packages. Albany would be the airport of (my)choice.

Early to mid October for leaf-peeping.

[PThomas]

Jim - thanks, I shall call those 2

Glenn - as much as I want to get to WF someday, don't think that fits the bill for this trip

and I KNOW I could break 200, you smart A**!

any other ideas??

[SPDB]

Paul - Jim beat me to it. Fly into albany. go to VT. I would actually stay at the Dorset Inn (just above Manchester - where Equinox is) instead. The Equinox is to be sure a nicer hotel, but I love the Dorset Inn for its understated quality - and the food at the Tavern there is to die for. It's also half the price. And Dorset is a charming spot, in contrast to the busier Manchester.  

Next, weasel your way on to Ekwanok (right next door to Equinox). You can always drive the 1hr south and play Taconic in Williamstown, MA if the Rees/Travis combo doesn't appeal to you.  Also try to make it onto the Dorset Field Club (next door to the Inn), which should be easy - just linger at the Tavern one night, and I'm sure you'll run across a local who'll play with you  

This is your best bet.

[PThomas]

thanks SPDB!

[Dave Bourgeois]

If you do Albany you could always hit the Sagamore to stay and play (Ross and pretty untouched from what I know). Other area spots would be Saratoga National (Rulewich), and kick it old school at MacGregor Links (Emmett).  Saratoga and Lake George are pretty close together so you have some good options.  If you are around Albany and have access you could try Olde Kinderhook as well.

Cheers,

Dave

[David Kelly]

Cooperstown. The Otesaga Hotel is a great old place overlooking Lake Otsego with Devereux Emmet's Leatherstocking Golf Course right next door.

You also have the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Fenimore Art Museum, the Farmer's Museum and the Cardiff Giant. What more could you want?

http://www.otesaga.com/

[rjsimper]

Dave -

With all due respect, did you honestly just recommend McGregor golf links?

I cannot possibly think of a worse golf course in the area - or in any area for that matter.  From what I'm told, it used to be a decent place for a round, but in recent years they've cleared out the surrounding forest for low-cost housing that encroaches on the course and makes it, sadly, one of the more miserable places around.

For a vision of what McGregor could once have been like, and in my opinion a decent/worthwhile course in the Albany area, Mohawk is not too bad (though private, but I got the feeling they might be generous with access...just a completely unfounded hunch)



While I'm at it, let me add a strong endorsement in the Manchester area for Equinox/Ekwanok (the latter being private and difficult) as well as the worthwhile sidetrip to Taconic, probably my favorite golf course in northern New England.

[Cliff Hamm]

A different take would be to fly into Manchester and head for Maine or the NH mountains.  In NH the Balsams is a classic resort with a worthwhile Donald Ross course set in the mountains.  For the best foliage/golf combination I might head to Maine.  Sunday River has a new course which is supposed to be quite good and the foliage will be spectacular if you go around Columbus Day.  Sugarloaf is also a possibility altho a course I think is overated with my preference going to Belgrade Lakes.  This might be the best combination of golf and foliage.

[Dave Bourgeois]

Ryan,

Yes I did recommend McGregor links.  With the exception of the condos I believe that it has good bones and is a decent representation of Emmet.  You are correct in that you have to try and look past some of the obvious issues.  I also know that access is not a problem which is another reason that I mentioned it.  

Are there better choices in the Albany area? Absolutely!  CC of Troy would be worth a look as would Schyuler Meadows (another Emmet I think), and how about a look at our own Paul Cowley's Orchard Creek!

I won't argue with you on Taconic (I haven't played it), but I'm sure its a winner.

[rjsimper]

Not trying to pick on you at all, Dave.  McGregor is a sore spot from my college days and really, I think I'd rather play the local muni the day after they've aerated the greens with a set of Left-handed Titanium shafted Spalding blades and a Ceramic headed driver than play McGregor again.  

And that might be understating my case

[Dave Bourgeois]

No problem, and I can understand the strong feelings.

If I ever suggest that you play there I'll be sure to check ebay for those clubs prior to posting.  

[Dan Herrmann]

Keep in mind that the New England leaves are usually way past peak in November.  But early November is pretty good in the mid-Atlantic.

Don't get me wrong, though.  I love Northern New England.  

It may be too cold, but Mt. Washington (Ross) in New Hampshire is a treat.  Far from world class, but it does have a lot of charm.  IIRC, it starts with a par 3.

Albany is a great choice - you have VT, MA, CT, and Cooperstown within an easy drive.

[Brad Tufts]

I can second all of the recommendations mentioned so far.  I had an extensive post about rublic and resort golf options in NH, VT, and ME a while back if you want to try a search.

Oh, and Simper, Taconic is 5 miles south of the start of Northern New England, haha.

[PThomas]

 a shameless bump

thanks for the thoughts

[Brad Tufts]

here's my big N. NE golf post:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=15778;start=msg271822#msg271822

reply #31

[PThomas]

thanks Brad!!!

[Steve Curry]

Paul,

I am organizing a fundraiser at Westchester CC Oct. 23.

www.alumniturfgroup.com for information.

best-
Steve

[Dan_Callahan]

Given that it is November, I would fly into Providence and drive to Newport. I have played Newport National in the late fall, and it is spectacular. You will also get bonus points with your wife—the shops and restaurants and mansions seem to be without end.

You could also hop in the car and head to Plymouth, a little over an hour northeast of Newport. Try Waverly Oaks or one of the Pinehills courses.

A little over an hour northwest, in Sutton, Ma, is Blackstone National, a very fun Rees Jones course that would be spectacular in the fall.

If you hugged the coastline, you could try Shennecossett, a good Ross course that has been redone by Silva or Mungeam (can't remember). A very inexpensive muni. You could also try Lake of Isles, the Foxwoods course by Rees Jones that is receiving a lot of press. I haven't seen it 9there are two courses—one private, one public), but I've heard some negative comments. And it is brutally expensive.

You can't go wrong with the Vermont recommendations—unless it snows.  

[Mike_Sweeney]

When in doubt, head to The Cape. At that time of year some of the private clubs are open to a letter, and you have all the public courses in Plymouth to play.