Leatherstocking Golf Course

In from out of town playing this beautiful course for the first time. Manageable from the back (green) tees at 6,400 yards. As advertised, #17 and #18 are the gems, with #11, a long par 5 up on the ridge line overlooking the lake a close third. Conditions were excellent, as expected. Greens were very firm, so front half of the green was a good bet for most holes. Bought the $8 yardage book, which it was definitely worth it and a nice souvenir. Pace of play at 8a on a vacation Wednesday was good at 3.5 hours, but could’ve been quicker. Staff were super efficient, kind, and helpful. Be aware: driving range is 5 mins down the road in your car (as others have noted). You buy tokens at the clubhouse and then get back in your car to go over to the range. Practice green is also across a couple holes away from #1 tee. So overall, I’d say get there at least 15 extra minutes before your round if you wanna warm up and get a feel for the greens.

Two main gripes: 1) there’s no colored flag or other system for pin locations, nor GPS in the cart. For me, just having a GPS watch and no rangefinder, and lots of elevated greens, it was hard to know how deep the pin was on more than half the holes. So basically, bring your rangefinder if you have one. 2) Price: for $135 (relative to the otherwise pretty reasonably priced courses around the area), I would have expected more amenities — no GPS in the carts as noted, never saw the beverage cart during our 8-11:30a round (and since you don’t pass the clubhouse at the turn, that’s even more of an issue), and no drinking water on the course anywhere.

Overall, glad I played this beautiful place, but will probably look for a different higher end course next time I’m visiting family up here.

This course was everything I thought it was gonna be and much much more just beautiful or the most beautiful golf courses in the country. What a Beautiful Pl., Cooperstown, NY

Really enjoy playing this course. Challenging layout, excellent conditions and very scenic.

Greens are challenging, lots of breaks and undulations.

A couple of things:

1. Water should be available on the course; it's not.

2. Signage needs to indicate where to proceed between the 8th and 9th hole. Easy to get lost if you're not familiar with the course.

Greens still doing their spring wake-up. A few bare spots but overall good conditions. Tee to green in very good conditions.

This course is phenomenal and has extremely tough/quick greens. 5 star views and conditions. The course has a nice variety of holes and because of the quality of the greens I feel this course wont ever lose its lust. Would go back in a heart beat

Only negative- the price of and don’t play after rain, no cart paths extremely wet conditions, haven’t played there enough to call it a drainage issue- we played after a very rainy few weeks so might have been irregular.

Love playing Leatherstocking; scenic course in very good condition.

However, not sure it's worth $130/round — especially since the bathrooms in the clubhouse weren't working and there is NO water provided anywhere on the course and no opportunities to purchase water either. Inexcusable oversight in the summer heat.

Course is in immaculate condition and the views of the lake are breathtaking. Fairways are fairly wide, but lots of bunkers and tricky greens. Very enjoyable round.

The staff was great and the course is a must play.

Beautiful location right on the lake. Conditions were excellent and the staff was friendly and attentive. We played in 3.5 hours and enjoyed the course and surroundings.

I was up near Cooperstown for vacation and was looking to get in a round of golf. Enter Leatherstocking! The course itself is in good shape and is well designed. Wasn't busy at all and the final 3 holes are a real treat. Only drawback is that they are working on several of the tee boxes, so golfers would generally tee off alongside the box or further up on the forward tees. The island tee box on 18 is certainly one of the most unique features I have seen on a golf course!

Not quite sure how this course is so grossly overrated.

There are some beautiful views; I came to be challenged and wasn’t.

Conditions were good not great.

Pace of play not good.

This course is for hobbyists and not low handicaps.

Go play Seven Oaks.

Never again.

this was my first time playing Leatherstocking, and people I know had talked it up pretty big, so my expectations were pretty high. and the course met or exceeded all my expectations. We played on a very cold and Windy Fall day, but the course was picturesque and very fun to play. I will go back for sure.

Fun course to play. There are a few spots that you are not sure where to aim the first time you play. The 18th is an "island" tee box, so water is an issue.

I came for the baseball hall of fame and came away just as impressed with Leatherstocking, a classic as quirky and interesting as it gets.

With the exception of the short par-5 14th (462 yards), the 6,400-yard course seems to play longer and tougher. Greens like 2, 7 and 9 erupt skyward, playing all uphill. All four of the fairways across the road are like riding a ski ramp, up or down or tilted.

The brutal 17th (all carry over water from 182 yards) and the island tee box on no. 18 in the middle of the lake end the round in style. After golf, dine on the patio of the elegant hotel. Such a great experience from start to finish.

The first 8 holes are what I call the "valley section". A few hole with elevation changes but pretty straight forward. The next 4 are the "mountain section". Major elevation changes and side hill lies. Many great views from the mountain side section. I believe the 12th drops down farther than it is long. I love that par 3. Then you come down off the mountain and do three holes in the valley again. Then the fun part. The 16th through the 18th are what I call the "water section". Great water holes especially the 18th where you tee off from an island tee box out in the lake. A very challenging par 5 where you hit onto the fairway from the side so you have to know how far you can hit to clear the water but not too far to hit through the fairway. I'm from the Albany, NY area and this course is about an hour ride for me but it's my favorite course in upstate NY. Must play it at least once. I play it every year at least once.

I am a member I love it so much and the PGA pro is super Nice