Visit Rochester, New York and You May Never Leave!
Rochester, New York is Limitless!
Visit Rochester like I did in July 2019 and you may never leave!
Limitless in terms of pretty much everything- accommodations, restaurants, history, museums, scenic vistas, and yes, of course, golfing opportunities which is what initially caught my eye!
But after experiencing Rochester I would say that what is the most limitless about it would have to be the people I met while visiting—their personalities, their dreams, and their realities!
Of course, I include all people—those living that I interacted with and those that lived in the past that interacted with me- both types spirited, creative, and impactful!
New friends found at the Woodcliff with a view of the Bristol Valley from the 4th tee behind!
Take for interest, Dusty Odenbach, PGA Director of Golf and fourth-generation owner & operator of the Links at Greystone, an impressive Craig Schreiner-designed gem of a links-style golf course. This is a perfect example of a young and new generation taking the family business, the altered family legacy to new heights. Earlier in life the Odenbachs expanded from the mining business to recreational golf business. Now Dusty and the family team is taking the authenticity of this links design to new levels with fields of yellow-tainted fescue heather and revealed expansive golf course vistas as trees are being removed. This golf course takes you back, all the way back to the roots of the game on the seaside links of Scotland!
With Dusty Odenbach after playing The Links of Greystone!
Yes, Rochester lies north of the 42nd Parallel and experiences a winter season when golf is not possible for the rationally-inclined normal golfers. Albeit those that venture out into the winter wonderland with tethered orange colored golf balls, what is one to do on a golf course in the months of January and February?
Snow Tubing at Greystone!
The ‘hit-into-a-slope’ driving range is being converted to a state-of-the-art tubing facility! With lighting, snow machines, and a tube lift to pull you up the 100 feet to the top, having fun at the Slopes of Greystone will be like tapping in that gimmie for birdie to close out a buddy and win the match!
New friends made at Ravenwood, including Rich from Visit Rochester (under flag) who shot a 74 with 3 straight birdies!
Kick back and enjoy the 1,000 foot long & slick coast back down to the flat lands of Greystone. Whether you do one run or a golfers’ magic number of eighteen the clubhouse and Stoney’s Pub is sure to be your post-tubing destination! Enjoy the ‘Speedie’ Marinated Beef with House Made Cheese Sauce on a Pretzel Roll like I did. And if you are from Greater Binghamton like I am, let Dusty know that proper spelling is ‘Spiedie!’
The larger-than-life Dusty, the UCONN baseball star pitcher that could have made it on the PGA TOUR in my opinion after playing a round of golf with him, is obviously vibrant and alive. But so too to me was Margaret Woodbury Strong after visiting the Strong National Museum of Play, the Ultimate Play Destination, and the No. 1 Rochester Attraction according to TripAdvisor.com.
Margaret Woodbury Strong finishing her swing in life with grace, power, and meaning!
A kindred spirit and benefactor of children, young and old like me, is Margaret! After seeing a picture of her golfing in style back in the 1930s and experiencing her fascinating legacy museum, I felt like I spent the afternoon playing golf and experiencing life at its essence with her!
Don’t pass by the Merry-Go-Round as you enter without taking a ride (or as you leave but do upon arrival!)! Chip in the dollar to ride with gratitude and hop on a horse or if you are lucky enough ride in the ‘Lover’s Tub’ with your forever valentine. Afterwards, pass by the Bill Gray’s Skyliner Diner if you can, pay the modest admission fee and enter America’s Playland. Be sure to note that Happy Hour at the Skyliner is 2:30 to 4:30 pm every day with milkshakes at half price!
Honored am I to become the 17th member character of Sesame Street!
I had an amazing afternoon at the Strong National Museum of Play! We learned through fun and I learned a lot about myself in a couple of hours. I was honored to become the 17th member character of Sesame Street during their celebratory 50th year! Then, if that wasn’t enough, I was voted Wegman’s Employee of the Month! Locals know all about Wegman’s and you should too! My play friend Margaret’s collections are amazing! Yes, even Mabel, Margaret’s first doll that started it all, especially my namesake Raggedy Andy (and Ann). The only sad occurrences of the day were when the ride of the Merry-Go-Round ended and the play museum closed at 5 pm. Hopefully you can visit on a Friday or Saturday when they are opened to 8 pm.
My three days visiting Rochester were magical. I did not want them to end!
The Art Deco Suite at the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa.
Accommodations in the Art Deco Suite at the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa were over the top! My first of four rounds of golf was right there on top of Woodcliff Mountain with a view all the way down the Bristol Valley from the 4th tee. My final round would be in the distance, on the west side of Canandaigua Lake at Bristol Harbour. The Cook Family, in their fourth year of ownership, continues to renew the Finger Lake’s premier golf resort. The historic and renown Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course with so many scenic views never fails to impress the beauty of nature upon golfers and guests from around the world!
My Bristol Buddy Joe and I on the 7th green with the view of Canandaigua Lake behind us!
In between the Woodcliff and Bristol Harbour, I played The Links at Greystone and another gem of the Golf World—Ravenwood Golf Club. Host of the 81th New York State Men’s Amateur Golf Championship in 2003 and then again the 87th in 2009, this centrally located golf course is public golf at its country-club-like best. The Robin Nelson-design on gently rolling topography speaks for itself directly into any golfer’s heart. Challenging but not too difficult, this masterpiece is true to its designer’s vision of “If you hit a good approach shot, you should have a chance to make the putt” and walking off the 18th green you will leave wanting to come back and play Ravenwood again!
As far as culinary delights and satisfactions, my indulgences at Label 7 in the village of Pittsford, Stoney’s Pub at The Links at Greystone, The Cub Room in Downtown Rochester, Genesee Brew House overlooking the gorge-ous waterfall of the Genesee River, Rohrbach’s Brewery & Bitter Honey on Railroad Street, and at the Restaurant at Bristol Harbor were all memorable!
Visit Rochester, New York and You May Never Leave!
Additionally, I visited the George Eastman Museum and Mansion which are beautifully located on East Avenue amidst the most elegant and architecturally sophisticated residential area of Rochester. Founded by George Eastman and Margaret’s father Henry Strong in 1888, Kodak continues to this day along with the Xerox Corporation, another Rochester corporate baby. A Kodak Moment and a Xerox Copy is as American as it gets. Kodak’s legacy and Eastman’s personality are to be found below the canopies of estate trees along East Avenue.
Whether through the lenses of golf, community, or entertainment Rochester, New York is seen clearly as limitless. Visit Rochester like I did in July 2019 and you may never leave!
For more specifics on each Rochester venue I visited, please click here to follow a play-by-play recap of my visit to Rochester, NY!
