Apalachin, NY (on the NY/PA border near Endicott/Binghamton)
Designed by Brian Silva and Mark Mungeam
'10 Rates: $42 ride weekday, $75 ride weekends, $65 ride Fridays, $65 weekend 1100-1500, $55 weekend 3PM twilight
Fat Guy Research: Admittedly I only saw this course on a drive-by during a biz trip, but from the quick peek I got at 3 or 4 holes, it looked like a well-designed minimalist true links in good shape. Per the website, The Links at Hiawatha Landing was rated 4-1/2 stars by Golf Digest (higher than it's more famous neighbor, En-Joie GC), and it was also rated as the 2007 #5 Best Bargain in the U.S. by Golf Magazine. Definitely worth a round, and a surprise gem for this far out in the sticks.
T&L Golf Review, 2007: Built on parkland but no walk in the park, this track just west of Binghamton attempts to approximate the windswept conditions of a British links. Most of the greens are accessible by the bump-and-run and there are no forced carries, although the absence of blind shots makes it perhaps less quirky than the average links across the Atlantic. (2350 Marshland Road, Apalachin.)
Where To Booze & Grub: For good BBQ nearby, hit Big Dipper BBQ (www.bigdipperbbq.com) and grab an ice cream cone from the adjacent stand for dessert.
Owego NY is the nearest town of any size. Per a web search, among the best restaurants in Owego are O'Hara's (191 Main), The Cellar, and the Owego Treadway Inn.
The best wings in the area can be found about 25 minutes west in Sayre PA at Alliger's House Of Wings (www.alligershouseofwings.com). 25 flavors of wings on the menu, and sauces good enough to compete in Buffalo NY's annual wing festival. Also sold mail order through their website. Sayre's best restaurant is the Original Italian Grille (www.originalitaliangrille.com), housed in a great former brick train station and serving fine Italian cuisine and hand-tossed pizzas.
Further Distractions: Bet on the ponies (off-track) and play the slots at nearby Tioga Downs Casino.
Also Play: En-Joie GC in nearby Endicott NY hosted a PGA Tour event for 35 years, and now hosts an annual Champion's Tour event.
See Also: T&L Golf's Finger Lakes Golf Weekend