GOLF THE HUDSON VALLEY WAYStory and Photography by Pamela A. Campbell |
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Kerkhonkson, N.Y. Throughout the year every season's beauty explodes around the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa bringing guests an abundance of joy as they explore the countryside.
Mad about golf? Then the resort's Golf Director John Sanders and his assistant Larry Gonzalez are just the guys you can engage to get you past those dreaded water hazards and bunkers. Or even if you know nothing about golf, you'd want to give it a shot just for the fun, the exercise or the sheer exhilaration of the game. The resort operates a Learning Vacations Golf School that's available as a getaway package. There are no age restrictions - PGA professional John Sanders conducts daily on-course lessons geared towards the degree of expertise each participant displays. |
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 Budding golfers will receive introductory pointers on their golf swing, short game and course etiquette, while experienced golfers benefit from improving their technique, dropping those golf scores and mastering the course.
Our game follows an early morning, full American breakfast at Bentley's American Grill, one of the resort's restaurants. I am the novice, my partner, is an intermediate player. Our warm-up begins with a pep talk. It's important to relax, and yes, those `driving range practices really count, and so does putting. I struggle to remember my instructor's words about 'proper setup' as that pre-empts 'a good, consistent swing' - I remember how important it is to rotate those hips and shoulders. Soon we're on the course and despite the challenges the landscape is very captivating. I console myself that my daily stretches help with flexibility and my regular workouts increase my strength.
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Although our round is quite uneventful, I manage to improve my aim, and most of all, enjoy the game. The consensus is that I'll always be learning, even if my instructor insists, "You have promise."