Hidden away in Accord, New York is Inness, an “intimate country retreat” which just so happens to have one of the best 9 hole golf courses in North America. Following its opening in 2021, Inness’ reputation has slowly begun to put itself on the map as a travel destination for those looking to escape. The property is quite literally tucked away off the closest two lane highway; there is a sense of escape from reality and simplicity when you step onto the property, with a gravel parking lot and a small cabin with one small window greeting you upon arrival. Its remote location lends way to a quiet, calming experience, adding to the experience and creating a charming laid-back atmosphere.
Similar to King-Collins’ Sweetens Cove in Tennessee, Inness displays very similar characteristics like large green complexes highlighted by insane undulation and very rugged bunkering. With an array of tee-lengths, no dress code and no rules, Inness has truly mastered the concept of creating and curating the modern golf experience, filled with endless opportunities for the golfer to determine the atmosphere of the round and the style of golf they want to play. My immediate thought was that this was the Field of Dreams of golf. Similar to Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams, the “if you build it they will come” concept has created one of the most unique, off-the-beaten-path golf destinations. After all, golf is best served as an escape from the stress of work, society, and the hustle and bustle of the city, and Inness achieves just that.
Though its not overly long at just shy of 3,400 yards for nine holes, the routing sparks creativity and baits the player to try and hit those “tour-esque” shots to difficult pins wedged behind bunkers, contours, or other hazards to overcome. The freedom the routing produces, with numerous teeing grounds and two pins per green would make Inness an excellent place for a two-person alternate shot format, or, really, any alternate form of golf other than stroke play. Perhaps the best format for Inness? Match play, where players can choose how to aggressive they want to be.
Walking off this golf course, the curiosity of why this is not one of the more popular hubs for golf in the state of New York is ever-present. Located just a few hours north of Manhattan, it took me a bit to wrap my head around the seemingly secretive vibe of this place, yet my visit in the fall of 2023 quickly helped me realized that sometimes being the “best-kept” secret is far more significant. Among the big picture of mega resorts and historic venues, Inness is excelling as being one of the great “if you know, you know” destinations in the Northeast. Oh, and as the New York golf season progresses, the views at Inness only continue to get better as the Catskill Mountain Range glows a vibrate orange, red, and yellow in autumn as the sun sets against the leaves.
Those who venture to Accord, New York for this golf course will concur the experience is best indulged by playing the routing from various distances across nine, eighteen, or even more holes. Given the severity of the green complexes and the flexibility in the layout, nine holes are only just the beginning: different elements might come to life from a shorter teeing grounds to expose a new bunker, slope, or contour. Inness’ strength is its flexibility in each hole and green, and for that, it provides an excellent experience across the small acreage for a full day.
Everyone loves to experience the big-name destinations we have all heard of and adore in the world of golf, but often times, the “sleepers” are some of the best locations to feel as if you discovered them. Inness provides that same experience: while it may be built by one of the trendiest golf architecture firms in the game today, its location and vibe allows this to still feel like a hidden gem with lots of potential to establish itself as a marquee destination going forward.
