Your next door golf resort
What if you could schedule a golf getaway... in an out-of-the-way location... with stunning views and terrific golf... plus all the amenities you'd expect from a top-notch resort?
And what if you could find all that only a few miles from Rochester?
Guess what - you can. The destination is
Bristol Harbour Resort, and it's one of Rochester's golf jewels.
Let's start with the golf.
Bristol Harbour started in the early 1970s as a golf course community featuring a handful of condos and homes and a small clubhouse by the course's 10th tee.
Like a vintage wine lovingly tended, it's been getting steadily better ever since.
The course itself is a Robert Trent Jones design, so prepare yourself for a quintessential golf experience. The fairways can be tight - especially on the back - and more than once you'll face a choice. Try to fly the bunker, or play it safe? Lay up, or go for the green - and risk plunking your ball in the water?
The 14th hole features a 125 foot elevation drop to the tee.
The course - which hosted the 2009 EWGA Northeast Semi-Final Championship Tournament - is a healthy 5,482 yards from the red tees. When you feel that sense of satisfaction from a round well-played, you'll know you've earned it.
As you'd expect from a resort property, the course is kept in terrific shape, with snow-white sand bunkers and beautifully maintained greens. We gals will find the tee boxes to be level, thoughtfully-placed, and in excellent condition.
And then there are the views. The course is carved into New York's famed Finger Lakes geography. There are some spectacular elevation changes on a couple of the holes, and many of the holes offer glimpses of Canandaigua Lake and the lovely hillsides that flank it.
At one time, this was all something of a Finger Lakes secret.
But Bristol Harbour's reputation is growing. Fourteen years ago, it replaced its original clubhouse with a new, larger facility that features a large pro shop, a restaurant with an outdoor patio, a banquet hall, and even more recently a great room that seats up to 350 people.
Bristol Harbor's beautifully-maintained course was designed by Robert Trent Jones.
It's earned a reputation as one of the area's finest restaurants, drawing both locals and vacationers. And the resort offers two golf schools, with a variety of formats to suit both area residents and out-of-town guests.
And that's only the beginning.
Vacation destination - even when you only have the day.
"People come here to get away from it all," says Greg Mulhern, PGA Professional and Director of Golf and Operations, Bristol Harbour. "It's a quiet place where you can relax and get away from all of life's stresses and strains."
That said, many of Bristol Harbour's guests live no more than a few hours' drive away. The resort is hugely popular with Canadians, as well as people from the western and southeastern parts of New York State, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. "People have learned that they can come for just a day if they want, and it feels like a vacation - even if they only had to drive 45 minutes to get here."
The Bristol Harbour pro shop carries fantastic women's golf clothes, like these adorable Sandbagger shoes.
Bristol Harbour has become a hugely popular destination for "golf buddy" trips and tournaments, as well as corporate meetings and weddings. Honeymooners and families adore it. And what's not to like? The resort
features a spa (be sure to ask about their golf massages!), a private beach on Canandaigua Lake (with docks, marina, and a swimming area with lifeguard), hiking trails, pool, and tennis court.
The resort is also located in the heart of Finger Lakes wine territory. It sometimes hosts wine tastings. It will help you book a wine trail tour. Or you can visit the
Heron Hill Winery tasting room just up the road.
Sound irresistible?
For many people, it is. "We have groups that have been coming here for years," Mulhern says. "They plan their golf seasons around it."
Well you know what? Spend a bit of time at Bristol Harbour, and you'll see why!
We'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Bristol Harbour for supporting our chapter as a 2011 Eagle Sponsor.