BigBang12401

Great place to learn the game. Lots of room to miss. Mostly flat, so it's good for senior walkers. Greens are very good. Making substantial improvements that will increase difficulty and challenge.

If you live in the Hudson Valley you MUST play Apple Greens. Fairways are superb, rough is penal but not punishing, greens are contoured and lightning fast. Holes are well-defined and each poses its own interesting challenges. There is trouble on every hole, but if you hit it straight you'll be fine. Par 3s, unfortunately, are not memorable. One of the best-conditioned 18-hole public courses in the Hudson Valley. Course gets a lot of play, so reserve a tee time.

And be sure to try the 9-hole (no walkers) East Course. Elevation changes and views are amazing. Quite difficult for the mid-handicapper.

A once fine course has deteriorated in recent years, but current management is taking steps to restore it to playability. HVR has some of the best designed golf holes in the county, but generally poor conditions tend to ruin the experience.

Fairways are not mowed frequently enough, so tight clean lies are rare.

Two greens are temporary; the rest all show some signs of damage/disease. They are puttable, but slow.

The front 9 is short and gimicky, but No. 4 is a beautifully-designed par 4.

The back 9 is a brute (conditions aside). Back-to-back par 5s (15 & 16) are fun and challenging; the par 3 17th may be the toughest around.

I play the back 9 frequently ($15 to ride). It's tough, fun and frustrating; anything near par is a good day.

I recommend you give it a try; just don't expect too much. You may find enough good points with this once-fine course to bring you back again and again.

Any weekday you may find yourself alone on the course. For some of us, that's a strong selling point.

Here's hoping planned course improvements come sooner than later.