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Recreation in the Finger Lakes
The Four Seasons in the Finger Lakes provide endless recreational opportunities from camping, biking around the lakes and hiking on the trails in the many parks to boating, swimming and water skiing. Sailing is immensely popular. In fact Skaneateles is the home of the Lightning class sailboat. Just walking along the trails of parks like Fillmore Glen in Moravia and Watkins Glen, picnicking along a fast-flowing stream and fishing in the lakes make summer go very fast. Golfers too enjoy a selection of fine courses, some like Bristol Harbor overlooking Canandaigua Lake.
In the winter, there is a lot of cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and ice skating. Downhill skiing is available in nearby ski hills like Greek Peak and Bristol Mountain. The region typically gets a lot of snow so snowshoeing is another choice for outdoor enthusiasts.
FINGER LAKES GOLF
There are several courses throghout the Finger Lakes with an average green fee of $35 including a cart. One of the newest and agruably the best set of courses — and in another price league — are located at Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Verona east of Syracuse.
TURNING STONE RESORT & CASINO
Before the Oneida Nation built Turning Stone Casino and the superb golf courses west of Syracuse just off the Thruway, Verona’s claim to fame was the harness races. Now there is more to bet on including some skins games on arguably three of New York State’s top golf courses: Kaluhyat (ga-LU-yut); Atunyote (uh-DUNE-yote), site for the upcoming $6 million PGA Turning Stone Resort Championship (Sept. 17-23) and Shenendoah. There’s also a no-slouch par 3, Sandstone Hollow, that impresses even big hitters.
Kaluhyat and Shenendoah share a handsome clubhouse while Atunyote, 2-1/2 miles from Turning Stone and Sandstone Hollow each have their own facility. Each course is distinctly different.
Kaluhyat, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and playing 7,105 from the tips (five tee boxes) uses everything in Jones’ arsonel: sizable elevation changes, narrow shutes to navigate from tees to wide sweeping links-like fairways, many large bunkers, forced carries, dog legs and six lakes. It’s a target course with a lot of memorable holes. Take the 2nd hole, a 406 yard par 4 which requires more than 200 yard carry over wetlands and a green that slopes away on both sides.
Or hole #11 a slight dog left, 621 yard par 5 with a wide swatch of wetlands to carry on your drive (except from the reds where this hazard is taken out of play and presents a rather whimpy picture). Then you face more wetlands crossing in front of the green. It’s one of the more memorable par 5s you will ever play.
Atunyote (the Eagle), 2-1/2 miles from Turning Stone, a Tom Fazio gem playing 7,315 from the tips, is more parkland in style with a number of lakes, vast bunkers, rock formations and rolling landscape. Shenendoah designed by Rick Smith, plays more than 7,100 yards and like Atunyote, is more links-style in character — especially on the back nine — with grasses, wide sweeps of fairways and behemoth bunkers. With a rating of 74.1 and a slope of 142, this is also not an easy track, but it is less punishing than Kaluhyat for more errant golfers.
Sandstone Hollow also designed by Rick Smith, gets high marks from even low handicap golfers who find the layout challenging and fun and with green fees just $35 plus $10 for a cart per person, it’s a good deal.
Accommodations: Rooms are fairly large and beds and linens get high marks in the accommodations located over the Casino and in the 19-story Tower — you’ll love the large walk-in showers with two swivel shower heads. For those seeking more space and luxury, The Lodge features suite accommodations with views of the courses. www.turning-stone.com
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For more information purchase.............
The Finger Lakes Book.. the area's first and only comprehensive guide.
Events
•Memorial Day Parades: Skaneateles, Auburn, Waterloo
•Cayuga Wine Trail Festival
•Mercy Flight Balloon Festival: Canandaigua
