Father and Son Return to Turning Stone: A Golf Trip Seven Years in the Making
Seven Years can pass in the blink of an eye. The last time my son, Gus, and I teed it up at Turning Stone Resort, he was just 10 years old — more focused on hitting the cart horn and chasing golf balls than keeping score. This fall, we came back, now with Gus in his late teens, ready to take on the big courses for real. What we found was the same world-class golf destination we remembered, but with a whole new sense of fun, challenge, and connection.
The Return to Turning Stone
Turning Stone Resort, in Verona, New York, remains one of the best golf destinations in the Northeast — a mix of championship-calibre courses, top-notch facilities, and the kind of hospitality that makes every visit feel special. For us, it was the perfect setting for a father-and-son golf reunion.
We planned three rounds: the mighty Atunyote, the scenic Shenandoah, and a relaxed late afternoon spin around the par-3 Sandstone Hollow.
Atunyote – The Big Stage
Our trip started at Atunyote, the crown jewel of Turning Stone and former host of the PGA Tour’s Turning Stone Championship. The moment you turn onto that private entrance road, you know you’re somewhere special.
The course was immaculate(even though it had been recently aerated) — wide fairways framed by pristine bunkering, still fast greens, and flawless conditioning from tee to green. Gus couldn’t get over how “tour-ready” it looked, and I couldn’t help but think how far his game (and patience!) had come since our first visit.
It’s a course that demands respect but rewards good golf shots. We didn’t light up the scoreboard, but we had our moments — a beautiful chip in birdie on the 2nd hole, a clutch par save from the rough on 18. It was golf at its purest — challenging, beautiful, and shared between father and son.
Hollow – The Perfect Finish
After Atunyote, we decided we needed more golf and shuttled over to play Sandstone Hollow, the resort’s fun and underrated par-3 course designed by Rick Smith. It’s short, scenic, and ideal for winding down the day.
We made a friendly match out of it — no pressure, just some good-natured competition. Gus edged me out by one stroke, earning bragging rights and proving that the student may have finally passed the teacher.
Sandstone Hollow was the perfect closing note for the day— a reminder of how golf brings generations together, from first swings to full-grown games.
Shenandoah – Rain, Laughs, and Memories
The next day brought steady rain and gray skies, but that didn’t stop us. Shenandoah may not have the tournament pedigree of Atunyote, but it’s every bit as enjoyable. The course twists through wooded terrain and wetlands, offering a mix of strategy and scenery.
Despite the soggy weather, the course held up impressively. The greens rolled true, the fairways drained well, and the staff made sure everyone still felt welcome. Gus and I laughed our way through the puddles — the kind of round that reminds you that golf isn’t just about scores; it’s about stories.
Walking off that final green, I couldn’t help but think back to our first trip — Gus barely tall enough to see over the steering wheel of the golf cart, now driving it like a pro and outdriving me on half the holes. Turning Stone hadn’t changed much: still beautifully maintained, still welcoming, still first-class in every detail. But what had changed was us — and that made the return all the more meaningful.
Turning Stone gave us more than just great golf. It gave us a chance to reconnect, to laugh, and to measure time not in years, but in fairways walked and memories made.
No comments:
Post a Comment