New Paltz Golf Club

Few settings in Hudson Valley golf match what surrounds this public course in New Paltz — the Shawangunk Ridge rises sharply to the west, giving players a backdrop of exposed white conglomerate cliffs that draw rock climbers from across the Northeast. The Gunks, as locals call them, are visible from much of the property, and on a clear autumn morning the combination of turning foliage and ridge-top silhouettes makes for one of the more visually striking rounds you'll find within two hours of New York City.

New Paltz itself is a college town with a relaxed, unpretentious character — home to a SUNY campus and one of the oldest streets of historic stone houses in North America. That spirit carries over to the golf here: this is a public, community-rooted facility where the game stays accessible rather than precious.

At par 72, the layout offers a full, traditional round. The terrain and Hudson Valley weather — four genuine seasons, often breezy — keep scoring honest. Come here for the surroundings as much as the golf.