Hudson Valley Resort & Conference Center

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.