Thursday, August 30, 2007

Golfing Highlights Column 8-31-07

The elevated seventh tee at the French Woods Golf Course gives golfers a beautiful view.
Cabin Fever At French Woods Golf Course

Carved out of the Catskill Mountains, the French Woods Golf Course provides unparalleled vistas and priceless views on it's 18 hole 6,000 yard public course.
The course is also unique in that it offers 7 private lodges situated throughout the golf course with each lodge featuring 2 bedrooms, dining and living room and full kitchen.
Russ and Lynn Bass have worked hard to bring a scenic challenging and enjoyable golf course to all levels of players
The clubhouse overlooks the course and entire valley providing panoramic views that reach out to as far away as 25 miles.
The land upon which the golf course is built is now once again back in the Bass and Bouchoux family whose descendants were some of the first settlers and land owners in the French Woods area....dating back to the mid 1800's.
In 1997, Russell and Lynn Bass (whose maiden name was Bouchoux) were looking to attract interest to the French Woods area. Their decision was to construct a golf course, restaurant and log cabins for rental.
Construction of the front nine of the golf course was started in the spring of 1997. This was not a simple easy project as the entire area was all woods.
Russell designed the course and since he was in the logging business, logging crews came in, cut down trees and cleared the land.
On June 29, 1999 the first nine holes were open. Work continued on the back nine and on June 29, 2001 the back nine opened.
The course is presently home to a Monday ladies league and Tuesday and Thursday ladies leagues. The Hancock Central School and Family School use French Woods as their home golf course for league competition.
The course plays from the blue tees 6,018 yards and is a par 72. The front and back nine play to par 36. The front nine plays a total of 2,959 yards from the blue tees
French Woods Golf & Country Club also offers fine dining in their very well designed modern clubhouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is available along with special banquet and party packages.
Cabin and golf packages are also available.
Golf course superintendent is Dan Wormuth.
The pro shop offers all the essentials of golf and a small bar greets you as you enter the clubhouse. A putting green awaits you just outside the clubhouse entrance.
Club memberships are available at $550 for single and $725 for couples. Family memberships are $790.
The club special of $28 Monday through Thursday includes golf and cart for 18 holes and breakfast or lunch.
For tee or dinner reservations call 607-637-1800. Their web site is http://www.golfandxski.com/
We found the course very interesting to play from the blue tees.
We will describe to you this week how the first nine holes should be played. Next week we will detail the back nine.
Hole No. 1 is a 351-yard par 4, keep you tee shot down the middle and avoid the trees on both sides of the fairway. No traps on this green.
Hole No. 2 is a 135-yard par 3. Short narrow downhill fairway but club selection is important here.
Hole No. 3 is a 423-yard par 5 and best to keep your tee shot in the center of the fairway. This hole plays uphill with a large pond on the left which is visible from the tee. There is a trap on the right front section of this green. Good club selection here can get you a birdie.
Hole No. 4 is a 373-yard par 4 with a sharp dogleg to the left on your tee shot. Stay center right. There is water crossing the fairway about 100 plus yards from the tee. There are no traps on this green. Club selection on the tee is important here.
Hole No. 5 is a 500-yard par 5 with a dogleg left. Hit your tee shot over the fairway flag. There is a trap left front of this green. Good club selection here helps getting a birdie or par.
Hole No. 6 is a 177-yard par 3. Requires a tee shot straight down the middle for a birdie or par.
Hole No. 7 is a 317-yard par 4 and presents a view worth the trip to this golf facility. There is a highly elevated tee which makes this hole just outstanding and our favorite on this whole course.With the green sitting to the left it is best to play to the right side of the fairway. There is a big gully before this green. A nice par hole.
Hole No. 8 is a 360-yard par 4 with a dogleg right. Stay right on your tee shot and do not use the driver. There is some water left.
Hole No. 9 is a 370-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg right. Another nice view from the blue tee. There is a small pond right so play the center of the fairway. Trap is located on the right side of the green.

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

The mental game is important. Make a commitment to improve, and not make excuses.
Before you make an attempt to improve your game, be sure you are ready to commit to the time and work required. Otherwise, you may set yourself up for failure or give in to convenient excuses.
For example, make sure that you have the necessary time and resources available....that other duties and distractions are taken care of, and that you aren't depending on anyone else (a teaching pro, mental coach, playing companion) who can't be counted on to follow through with their part in your plan for improvement.
The commitment and the planning must be such that if you don't succeed, you have no one to blame but yourself.
Indeed, it would be better to wait until you are absolutely ready than to make a half-hearted commitment to the challenge before you.
Robert Menges is the head Golf Professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club on Mt. Hope Road at Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached by phone at 292-0323 or via e-mail at menges@localnet.com

Ed's Outlook

Local golf icon Ellsworth "Bucky" Buck will be the guest of honor at this years Twin Village Golf Club Annual Dinner Saturday, September 8 at the Rockland House in Roscoe.
Eighty-nine year-old "Bucky" has gone through a quadruple heart by-pass, developed medical problems with his right knee and has battled various other medical problems this past two years but his love for the game of golf gives him that hope and desire to someday return to play the game of golf again.
When Bucky was on the course you couldn't find a better dressed golfer as he sported the Payne Stewart look with knickers-style pants and long socks.
Bucky was and still is an accomplished musician and is a well-known author and writer of poems.
It's always a pleasure to be around Bucky because he is a pure gentleman and always proclaims his strong belief in God and his Christian faith.
We miss Bucky on the golf course with his 48-inch Yonex Titanium Plus driver and his 24-karet golf putter.
It will be a fun evening when the Twin Village Golf Club honors this golfing icon.
The evening will also honor all of the club champions for 2007. An open bar will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 and dinner will be at 6:30 p.m.
Those wishing to be a part of this evening can call Mary Austin for reservations at 607-498-4757.
Ed's Outlook is provided by Golfing Highlights Columnist Ed Townsend. If you have a topic that would make good reading, or have golf scores, standings or tournament information, Ed can be reached by calling 439-8177 or by sending an e-mail to bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com
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