New configuration, new holes at Lazy Swan look good

Lazy Swan Golf and Country Club Village superintendent Peter Sermini recently graciously offered to give me a tour of the yet-to-open new nine holes at the Saugerties daily-fee golf course. I was absolutely blown away by the design and condition of these new holes, which will be ready for the public next spring. Once the additional nine holes are open and integrated into the original nine-hole design by golf architect Barry Jordan, Lazy Swan will be a must-play venue for local and out-of-the-area golfers. Jordan also did the new nine holes. While the course is pretty much ready for play right now, owner Tony Bacchi wisely decided to let the course mature over the next six months before opening it to the public. The only thing missing right now is cart paths, which will be added before the snow flies.

The new configuration will start with four new holes and then Nos. 5 through 12 will consist of the first eight holes of the original nine-hole layout. Then golfers will cross a road after playing what is now the par-3 eighth hole and play five new holes, which will be Nos. 13 through 17 on the new layout. The current No. 9 - a meandering par-5 that finishes in front of the building that hosts weddings and meetings - will be the finishing hole. The new course will be a 6,300-yard, par-70 layout. One of the best new holes is the par-5 third hole. The hole starts with a daunting tee shot that must avoid water on both sides. It features a 70-foot drop from the tee box. If golfers are able to negotiate the narrow chute and find the fairway, it's possible to hit the green in two if one is able to clear a pond that fronts the green. "You can make either a 3 or a 10 here," Sermini said. The par-5 15th hole is another challenging one. The green sits way on top of a hill and is surrounded by bunkers. The downhill par-3 16th measures about 185 from the back tee and is surrounded by water and bunkers. The best new hole, in my opinion, is the straightaway 420-yard par-4 17th that runs adjacent to the southbound lane of the New York State Thruway.

Needless to say, this new layout will be a wonderful addition to the many fine courses we have here in Ulster County. I can't wait for it to open. The final round of the Ulster County Men's Amateur Championship (the Herdegen) is scheduled to be held at Lazy Swan next June.