We know that golfers can find places to golf anywhere they go, and Albany has some true gems. Whether you’re visiting the city for the first time or have lived here your whole life, you’ll want to check out these courses.
Capital Hills at Albany Golf Course
The backdrop at this course is absolutely beautiful, and the course provides an enjoyable day of golf for people of all skill levels. This par 71 course has a 70.5 USGA rating, a 128 slope rating, and a total of 6,332 yards from the blue tees. For 2018, the rates for a non-resident adult are only $31, and you can rent a golf cart or pull cart. Capital Hills also offers the largest driving range in the area, chipping and putting areas, a Pro Shop, and a full-service restaurant to satisfy your hunger after a round.
Orchard Creek Golf Club
Located up the road in Altamont, near Schenectady, Orchard Creek was voted the second best golf course in the region by the Times Union readers. It’s also one of the best public golf courses according to Golf Digest magazine, and it has been named one of the most scenic golf courses as well. Yelp reviewers agree, frequently referring to this course as both beautiful and challenging.
Throughout the year, they host various outings and tournaments. They also have a Pro Shop, restaurant, and chipping and putting practice areas. The par 70 course has a USGA rating of 72, a slope rating of 131, and a total yardage of 6,623 off the blue.
Balston Spa Country Club
This one is a country club, but unlike many other private clubs, they allow non-members to play the course Monday through Thursday. The club was established in 1925 and serves as an excellent example of course from that golden age of course design. Balston’s par 71 course has a 70.3 USGA rating and 127 slope rating. Like the other courses, they offer outings, lessons, a Pro Shop, and a restaurant on-site. They also offer reciprocity with several other clubs in New York. So if you’re traveling to Albany from somewhere else, it’s worth checking the list to see if your club is included.
Taconic Golf Club
While this semi-private par 71 course is technically located in Massachusetts, it’s only 40 miles east of Albany and well worth the drive if you’re in the area. It is frequently rated in the top two most beautiful golf courses in New England, which is no wonder since it’s set in the Berkshires. Their tees are coded using different colors than most courses, and the scorecard includes options for combinations of the different tees. As a result, they offer up a range of distances from 5,826 from the purple tees to an impressive 6,808 yards on the black tees. The black has a 73.5 USGA rating and 134 slope rating.
They offer a certain number of memberships each year, but you can also play as a non-member. The clubhouse contains a restaurant. They also have a practice center, located off-site on the Williams College campus.
If you can’t decide between these four courses, we recommend trying them all! After all, you can never play too much golf.
