This summer, I went back to two old haunts and found them better than ever:
THE LINKS AT HIAWATHA LANDING
2350 Marshland Road
Apalachin, NY
800.304.6533 (800-30-golf-3)
www.hiawathalinks.com
Architect: Brian Silva and Mark Mungeam
Par – 72
Excitement Level – 9/12
Difficulty – 8/12
Design: six stars
Natural Setting Five and 1/2stars
Conditioning – Six Stars
Value: seven stars
Overall: Six stars
Still one of the best values anywhere in the country, Hiawatha is as authentic an inland links design as can be found anywhere in the U.S. The front nine winds through native fescue before turning along the Susquehanna River and then back to the clubhouse with a great reachable par-5 closer.
The back nine has a great punchbowl green at 11, and two more epic par-5s at 12 (winding through fescue with a daring shorrtcut for the brave long hitter) and a wraparound par-5 over water at 18.
Perhaps the best hole on the course is 16 with it’s bisected fairway…carry the bunker and get a turbo-boost to within 100 yards of the green or play safe and have 200 in to a pedestal green.
Good Ol’ Bernie Herceg, the PGA Head professional, has now been elevated to coach of the U Binghamton golf team, but he’s still as sharp as ever with a lesson as well. Bernie fixed my swing right up.
Great price, great food, great golf. The website is here.
CONKLIN PLAYER’S CLUB
1520 Conklin Road
Conklin, NY
607.775.3042
www.conklinplayers.com
Architects: Marty Brown, Rick Brown & Rick Rickard
Par – 72
Excitement Quotient – 8/12
Difficulty – 3/12
Design – Four stars (all ratings out of seven)
Natural Setting – Five and 1/2 – Six stars
Conditioning – Six stars
Cost – $55 peak, $45 reduced
Yearly memberships – No
Value – Six stars
Overall 5-1/2 stars
Conklin Players Club is also set in the same lovely southern tier vale as Hiawatha Landing, but is a polar opposite in design. Conklin is a mountain course playing up, down and around steep hills and features impeccable conditioning. Perfectly manicured verdant fairways tumble up, down and around the mountains. In the fall, the vale of the Southern Tier bursts aflame with red, gold, orange and purple leaves. The October full harvest moon rising over the 15th fairway is unbelievable.
Besides being gorgeous, Conklin is short and wide, so experts and amateurs alike can have a career day. Conklin showcases a little of everything that makes up a good golf course design and an enjoyable course for all levels of player – some water, some sand, holes that are easily negotiable in length and pristine conditioning. More a shotmaker’s course than a power layout, players will find they need the driver sparingly and strategically all day.
The back nine begins with a short par three played to an enormous island green with a backdrop of a flower bed trimmed and landscaped to replicate the course logo. Located less than fifteen minutes from Hiawatha Landing, the two make for an unforgettable 36 hole day.
Best holes at Conklin: The horseshoe par-5 6th, the reachable dog-leg par-5 9th, the driveable 12th, the tough long 14th, and the par-5 18th that cascades downhill.
