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Golf is trying to take a page from the Whole Foods playbook and convince us golfers that "earth-friendly courses" with worse conditions and higher green fees are the noble, righteous play.
Full story | Also: Defending men-only golf
What do you think when you hear Niagara Falls? Some think old-school honeymoon spot or of the majesty of the falls themselves. But now, many are beginning to think golf. The area is poised to become a top golf destination for travelers from both sides of the border. Check out the area's top courses, including like Hunter's Point, Grand Niagara, and Usshers Creek at Legends on the Niagara.
Lake Placid is a hearty, outdoorsy family-vacation spot. You can go to dinner in a T-shirt, heck, even a near-muscle shirt, and not feel too out of place. The fishing's great, the wild-turkey hunting is a hoot, the Olympic venues are cool, the people are friendly. The vibe's more pickup truck than private jet. But one hotel here challenges all those preconceived notions. Welcome to Mirror Lake Inn, an enclave of pampering in an environment of rugged individualism.
Tell a local that you're going to play Whiteface Club Golf Course in Lake Placid and they'll quickly let you know how much better shape it's in these days. They'll regale with your stories of the transformation, but it's the back stretch that's likely to win Whiteface fans. Indeed, the course boasts one seriously entertaining closing run of golf, one that can redefine your round in a hurry and is reason alone to play Whiteface.
Every state park should have its own golf course, and they should all look like the course in Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs. This 7,141-yard course runs through towering pine trees and takes precedence over nearly everything else in the park. And though the course isn't in perfect condition, the state-park setting makes up for the rough patches. Saratoga Spa State Park is just flat-out fun golf in a beautiful setting.
Saratoga Springs, New York state's Eden for horse-racing enthusiasts, had long needed a high-end public golf course and it can be argued that since its 2001 opening Saratoga National has filled that niche, writes Chris Baldwin. What's hard to credit is the gushing praise the club's received from publications that should know better. Given the raves from Golf Digest and Golfweek, Baldwin teed off fully prepared to be wowed. Eighteen holes later, he was still waiting.
Craig Wood Golf & Country Club is a 10-minute drive from downtown Lake Placid, but coming here is like being dropped into the deep woods. The trees seem to stretch forever beyond the fairways, guiding your eyes to mountain peaks beyond, and there's not a single house in sight. At just over 30 bucks a round, Craig Wood is a serious bargain. More important, it's a fun play, one of several vintage courses in the area.
Seinfeld had the Soup Nazi. Upstate New York had the Golf Nazi - a guy named Walter Smachlo who protected his golf course, the Saranac Inn Golf & Country Club, with the fierceness of a mother bear. You think putting under major-tournament pressure is a big deal? Try hitting your first drive of the day with your chances of continuing depending on it. But now the course has had its gates thrown open to the public under the ownership team of Jim Conners and Steve Wilson.
Also: Golfers can strike gold up in Lake Placid
With a half-dozen century-old golf courses, Lake Placid is looking to become a summer golf destination. But if golf isn't quite enough excitement for you, Lake Placid is also a great place for an adrenaline fix. As host to the 1980 "Miracle On Ice" Winter Olympics, Lake Placid still has its bobsledding facilities, so you adrenaline junky golfers out there can unwind between rounds with a little summer bobsledding.
In Atlantic City, gambling isn't the only game in town anymore. A building boom of upscale golf has transformed the South Jersey region around the city into a legitimate golf destination. Within a half-hour drive of Atlantic City you can tee up at enough quality courses to keep you and your buddies busy during a weeklong getaway without playing the same hole twice. Here are a few of the best.
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COURSE REVIEW
Saranac Lake Golf Club - Lake Placid 
Whiteface Club Golf Course - Lake Placid, NY 
Saranac Inn Golf & Country Club - Lake Placid, NY 