The Top 3 Best Value Courses in Central New York
While the weather outside is frightful and the clubs are stored in the garage for the winter, we can still delight in dreaming about the upcoming golf season in 2024. While there are many to choose from, we have compiled our list of the ‘Top 3 Value Courses in Central New York.’ We have chosen courses that provide a stern and scenic challenge all without emptying your wallet.
#3 – Rome Country Club, Rome, NY
Rome Country Club opened for play in the summer of 1930, and has been owned by the Cupp family for the last 30 years. Designed by the late Geoffrey Cornish, Rome CC is a strikingly beautiful and very challenging championship golf course carved from the foothills of the Adirondacks. The golf course stretches to over 6,800 yards from the back tees yet plays to a manageable 6,300 yards from the middle tees. Rome CC has rightfully earned a prestigious 4 star rating by Golf Digest’s Places to Play where the course is always in perfect shape. The par 4 first hole boasts one of the most difficult opening holes anywhere in New York State. After managing to avoid the creek that runs through the left and middle of the fairway, you are left with a difficult approach up to an elevated green. You must be below the hole or a three putt awaits. The course has a great mix of holes; the driveable par 4 eighth, the back-to-back par 5’s on the ninth and tenth holes with danger lurking everywhere, the beautiful par 3 fourteenth and sixteenth holes and finishes up with a birdie opportunity at the closing hole. The best part about this experience is that you can always get a prime weekend tee time, get around in less than 4 hours and have a cold beer at their full service bar at the 19th hole. Highly recommend adding this track to your 2024 Golf Calendar.
#2 – Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville, NY
Green Lakes State Park is an incredibly scenic course, with its plush fairways, and is one of the first golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, one of the game’s most innovative golf course architects. The landscape and rolling terrain at Green Lakes provides a stern test. The course has fairways where you’ll rarely receive a flat lie, deep faced bunkers and flawless greens. The best part of your round is knowing that the par 5’s at the seventh, ninth, tenth and twelth holes will offer the golfer with a great chance at birdie or perhaps even a rare eagle. There’s a panoramic view from the clubhouse, a spectacular spot to enjoy an adult beverage and grab a burger while discussing your round with your buddies. The only downside is the popularity of this great course, where you’ll experience 5 hour rounds during peak times.
#1 – Radisson Greens, Baldwinsville, NY
Radisson Greens Golf Club opened to acclaim in 1978, and is designed by world renowned, Robert Trent Jones Sr. Radisson features large bent grass greens with narrow tree-lined fairways with large bunkers guarding all of the greens. Water comes into play on 6 holes, but none more so than the diabolical par 5 third hole, easily one of the most terrifying holes in all of New York State. Radisson continually challenges even the most skilled player with it’s consistent menu of beefy par 4’s, with the tenth hole leading the way, challenging par 3’s, and outstanding par 5’s. It plays over 7,000 yards from the tips, should you be so inclined. It’s all packaged in a beautiful, scenic layout that would normally cost north of $100.00 per round anywhere other than Upstate New York. Radisson offers an outstanding golfing experience at a solid price, and is now proud to be crowned the Best Value Course in Central New York!
