Page 41 - Dutchess Tourism 2022

GOLF
COURSES
If you’re a
golfer, or just
want to try
your hand at the
sport, get ready for
a great day out on the greens when you’re in Dutchess County.
Just off the Taconic State Parkway is the 18-hole championship James Baird State Park Golf Course, which is known for its lengthy fairways and tricky shots. Poughkeepsie’s McCann Memorial Golf Course, designed
in 1972 by William F. Mitchell and updated in 2001 by Stephen Kay, features a formidable assortment of blind tee shots, water hazards and other obstacles.
Robert Trent Jones Sr. set the 18-hole Casperkill Golf Club amongst soaring ancient oaks and the meandering Casperkill Creek. In southern Dutchess, The Beekman Golf Course lies at the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, offering spectacular views along the 27 holes of the USGA-rated course. One reviewer described The Links at Unionvale as “18 holes of Ireland in Dutchess County.”
The Red Hook Golf Club in northern Dutchess is player-friendly and appeals to a wide range of skill levels. College Hill and Vassar in Poughkeepsie and Dogwood Knolls Golf Course in Hopewell Junction are family-friendly nine-hole golf courses that are perfect when you’re looking to get out for a quick game.
Dutchess County boasts some of our country’s first golf courses, including the nine-hole Dutcher Golf Course in Pawling and the 18-hole Dinsmore Golf Course
at Mills-Norrie State Park in Staatsburg, built in the 1890s. Fishkill Golf Course and Driving Range makes a fine practice facility with a 12-hole executive course and grass tee range. In addition to the driving range at Par Fore Golf Center, families can take advantage of batting cages and a mini-golf course.
Explore
the Outdoors
The Links at Union Vale, Lagrangeville
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you’ve come to the right place!
Biking
No matter your level, enjoy biking through the heart of the Hudson Valley, with its mix of rolling hills, winding roads, magnificent views and stops through charming towns and quaint villages along the way.
Scan here for suggested bike routes throughout Dutchess. Check out the
Pleasant Valley and Staatsburgh loop, with a wine break at Milea Estate Vineyards. The William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail itinerary, with its 13.4-mile continuously paved and mostly flat path, is fun for all ages.
a multitude of habitats — from streams, wetlands, ponds and forests to a network of marked trails in the 415-acre preserve.
Hiking
Dutchess is home to some of the most popular hiking spots north of New York City. Skip the crowds and visit some of our less-trafficked, hidden-gem trails. Conquer Brace Mountain in Millerton, the highest peak in the county, and be rewarded with stunning views! For something with a lower degree of difficulty,
try Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve. Visitors can experience
Kayaking
Paddle Tivoli Bays or Norrie Point with Atlantic Kayak Tours and experience wildlife, scenic views and historic sites from the Hudson River. Or rent kayaks and paddleboards through Hudson River Expeditions at Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park in Beacon to explore Denning’s Point and Fishkill Creek.
Fishing
Cast your line at public fishing streams full of trout in various spots along Route 22, from Dover to MiIlerton. Try your hand at fly fishing in Wappingers Lake, a shallow impoundment of Wappingers Creek that is filled with largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch and black crappie.
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