Saranac Lake, NY
Seymour Dunn's Adirondack Masterpiece
A classic Scottish design by Seymour Dunn in the Adirondacks, Saranac Inn Golf Club offers 18 varied holes of public golf in Saranac Lake, NY.
A Classic Scottish Design in the Heart of the Adirondacks
Saranac Inn Golf Club was laid out in the classic Scottish tradition, routed across the natural terrain of the Adirondacks rather than forced onto it. The result is a course of genuine variety, where every one of the 18 holes carries its own memorable character. This is public golf in Saranac Lake at its best: strategic, walkable, and rewarding for players of every level.
The First Hole Sets the Tone
The opening hole at Saranac Inn would make a worthy finisher, but arriving at the very start of the round it demands your full attention right away. It is a championship-caliber test and one of the best holes in the Adirondacks. Make par here and you will earn honors on the second tee, and from that point the golf only gets better.
Fifteen Holes to Hold Your Interest
Between the strong start and the strategic finish, Saranac Inn serves up a great variety of long, medium, and short par 3s, 4s, and 5s, so no two holes ask the same question. The 2nd is a three-shot par 5, while the 3rd and 4th open up real scoring chances with a short par 3 followed by a short par 4. The 5th and 6th are two tough, long par 4s, and the 7th is a long par 3 defended by a mound guarding the green.
The short par-4 8th is almost drivable, but its large, undulating green can turn an easy-looking birdie into a six if you are not careful. The back-to-back short par-5 9th and 10th offer a chance to make up shots, though the three-tier green on the 9th demands respect. Two strong par 4s follow, and many players consider the 11th the toughest hole on the course. The 12th can also play difficult, with a blind second shot into one of the few flat greens. The final three holes before the finish are two short par 4s with a short par 3 in between.
The short par-4 8th is almost drivable, but its large, undulating green can turn an easy-looking birdie into a six if you are not careful. The back-to-back short par-5 9th and 10th offer a chance to make up shots, though the three-tier green on the 9th demands respect. Two strong par 4s follow, and many players consider the 11th the toughest hole on the course. The 12th can also play difficult, with a blind second shot into one of the few flat greens. The final three holes before the finish are two short par 4s with a short par 3 in between.
A Finish That Is Deceptive and Strategic
Like all good courses, the best finishing holes at Saranac Inn are both strategic and a little deceptive. The 16th is a demanding long par 3 with a green that slopes hard from back to front, leaving a testing up-and-down from anywhere off the putting surface.
The 17th, a 430-yard par 4, is a great golf hole and an invitation to disaster if you fail to keep your tee shot well to the left side of the fairway. The par-5 18th plays to a dramatic elevated green, a fitting setting for a closing hole that rewards special judgement for your par and very special judgement for your birdie.
The 17th, a 430-yard par 4, is a great golf hole and an invitation to disaster if you fail to keep your tee shot well to the left side of the fairway. The par-5 18th plays to a dramatic elevated green, a fitting setting for a closing hole that rewards special judgement for your par and very special judgement for your birdie.
Strategically Designed for Your Game by Seymour Dunn
Saranac Inn was designed by Seymour Dunn, who considered this course his masterpiece. He described his design goal in his own words.
The scheme of my masterpiece is not to make a course unduly difficult and severe. I aim to put in as few hazards as possible so as to spare the poor player as much as I can, the game being difficult enough for beginners without strewing their path with discouragement. On the other hand, the few hazards I have put in are so placed as to tax the skill of the advanced player to the limit, in order that the very best play must be brought out and justly rewarded. The total length of the course is 6470 yards, par 70, and if anyone breaks it more than once we will want to frame his picture and hang it up in the clubhouse.
Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Gold | 404 | 558 | 160 | 333 | 445 | 388 | 223 | 303 | 485 | 3299 | 481 | 404 | 418 | 328 | 150 | 351 | 196 | 423 | 538 | 3289 | 6588 |
| Blue | 385 | 554 | 124 | 324 | 441 | 377 | 197 | 295 | 447 | 3144 | 466 | 398 | 412 | 315 | 133 | 346 | 183 | 415 | 528 | 3196 | 6340 |
| Blue/White | 385 | 460 | 124 | 324 | 362 | 330 | 197 | 295 | 447 | 2924 | 466 | 325 | 318 | 315 | 133 | 346 | 183 | 330 | 528 | 2944 | 5868 |
| White | 364 | 460 | 122 | 258 | 362 | 330 | 165 | 255 | 389 | 2705 | 458 | 325 | 318 | 271 | 136 | 316 | 145 | 330 | 439 | 2738 | 5443 |
| Red | 365 | 430 | 120 | 258 | 332 | 276 | 149 | 251 | 340 | 2521 | 365 | 320 | 313 | 252 | 130 | 296 | 160 | 323 | 387 | 2546 | 5067 |
| Handicap | 3 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
Par 72 · Designed by Seymour Dunn · handicap shown is the men's stroke index. Select a tee to highlight its yardages.
Layout
The Architect
Born in 1892 beside the first tee of a golf course in Northern Scotland, into an historic golfing family, Seymour Dunn seemed destined to become one of the great teachers of golf, designers of courses, and marketers of the sport. He first visited the United States in 1897 as a fifteen-year-old boy, and on that family vacation he laid out a nine-hole course at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey.
The prodigy quickly went international. At only seventeen he was appointed pro at the Societe Golf de Paris in 1899, then began designing courses across Europe: the first course ever built in Belgium, at Royal Ostend in 1903; the Royal Golf Club de Belgique for King Leopold in 1906; a course at the Rothschild Estate in France and one for King Emmanuel in Italy in 1908; and Royal Zoute in 1909. In 1904 he moved to Northern Ireland to serve as golf pro at Royal County Down.
Dunn first traveled to Lake Placid, New York, in the summer of 1906, and the area would become his home for the rest of his career. In 1907 he emigrated to the United States permanently to join his famous course-designer uncle, Willie Dunn Jr., one of the designers of Shinnecock Hills. By 1909 he had laid out the course at the Lake Placid Club. His reputation grew not only through the courses he designed but through his innovative teaching: he demonstrated the correct swing plane using an imaginary pane of glass, a technique later popularized by Ben Hogan, and his methods were used by greats of the era including Jim Barnes, Walter Hagen, and Gene Sarazen.
The prodigy quickly went international. At only seventeen he was appointed pro at the Societe Golf de Paris in 1899, then began designing courses across Europe: the first course ever built in Belgium, at Royal Ostend in 1903; the Royal Golf Club de Belgique for King Leopold in 1906; a course at the Rothschild Estate in France and one for King Emmanuel in Italy in 1908; and Royal Zoute in 1909. In 1904 he moved to Northern Ireland to serve as golf pro at Royal County Down.
Dunn first traveled to Lake Placid, New York, in the summer of 1906, and the area would become his home for the rest of his career. In 1907 he emigrated to the United States permanently to join his famous course-designer uncle, Willie Dunn Jr., one of the designers of Shinnecock Hills. By 1909 he had laid out the course at the Lake Placid Club. His reputation grew not only through the courses he designed but through his innovative teaching: he demonstrated the correct swing plane using an imaginary pane of glass, a technique later popularized by Ben Hogan, and his methods were used by greats of the era including Jim Barnes, Walter Hagen, and Gene Sarazen.
The Architect
Born in 1892 beside the first tee of a golf course in Northern Scotland, into an historic golfing family, Seymour Dunn seemed destined to become one of the great teachers of golf, designers of courses, and marketers of the sport. He first visited the United States in 1897 as a fifteen-year-old boy, and on that family vacation he laid out a nine-hole course at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey.
The prodigy quickly went international. At only seventeen he was appointed pro at the Societe Golf de Paris in 1899, then began designing courses across Europe: the first course ever built in Belgium, at Royal Ostend in 1903; the Royal Golf Club de Belgique for King Leopold in 1906; a course at the Rothschild Estate in France and one for King Emmanuel in Italy in 1908; and Royal Zoute in 1909. In 1904 he moved to Northern Ireland to serve as golf pro at Royal County Down.
Dunn first traveled to Lake Placid, New York, in the summer of 1906, and the area would become his home for the rest of his career. In 1907 he emigrated to the United States permanently to join his famous course-designer uncle, Willie Dunn Jr., one of the designers of Shinnecock Hills. By 1909 he had laid out the course at the Lake Placid Club. His reputation grew not only through the courses he designed but through his innovative teaching: he demonstrated the correct swing plane using an imaginary pane of glass, a technique later popularized by Ben Hogan, and his methods were used by greats of the era including Jim Barnes, Walter Hagen, and Gene Sarazen.
The prodigy quickly went international. At only seventeen he was appointed pro at the Societe Golf de Paris in 1899, then began designing courses across Europe: the first course ever built in Belgium, at Royal Ostend in 1903; the Royal Golf Club de Belgique for King Leopold in 1906; a course at the Rothschild Estate in France and one for King Emmanuel in Italy in 1908; and Royal Zoute in 1909. In 1904 he moved to Northern Ireland to serve as golf pro at Royal County Down.
Dunn first traveled to Lake Placid, New York, in the summer of 1906, and the area would become his home for the rest of his career. In 1907 he emigrated to the United States permanently to join his famous course-designer uncle, Willie Dunn Jr., one of the designers of Shinnecock Hills. By 1909 he had laid out the course at the Lake Placid Club. His reputation grew not only through the courses he designed but through his innovative teaching: he demonstrated the correct swing plane using an imaginary pane of glass, a technique later popularized by Ben Hogan, and his methods were used by greats of the era including Jim Barnes, Walter Hagen, and Gene Sarazen.
The Dunn Masterpiece
The original Saranac Inn course was built in 1901 with only a few holes and expanded to nine in 1904. Six years later, Seymour Dunn and his uncle Willie Dunn redesigned the layout, growing it to the full 18 holes played today. Dunn said he strategically designed the course to be playable, enjoyable, and challenging for every level of golfer, and he called it his best work. The enduring design reflects his acute understanding of the game and a rare ability to translate that understanding into a course that has stood the test of time, changes in technology, and generations of players.
The 1923 Walter Hagen Course Record
Around 1923, golf legend Walter Hagen paired with trick-shot artist Joe Kirkwood to face Seymour Dunn and Tom Hutchinson for a $1,000 purse on the new Saranac Inn course. A period snapshot captured Hagen making a spectacular drive. He went on to shoot 70 for the 18 holes, setting a course record in the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saranac Inn open to the public?
Yes. Saranac Inn Golf Club is open to the public seven days a week, with tee times starting at 7 AM in the summer. You can book your tee time online, or call the pro shop at 518-891-1402 with any questions.
Does Saranac Inn have memberships?
Yes. Saranac Inn offers a variety of memberships to fit your schedule and your budget.
Does Saranac Inn host golf outings?
Yes. Saranac Inn is a popular spot to host events of all sizes, thanks to its superior customer service and outstanding golf course.
Does Saranac Inn have a practice facility?
Yes. The practice facility includes a driving range, a practice bunker, and a large putting green.
Can I bring my own beverages?
Aside from bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages, all other drinks must be purchased from Saranac Inn, and it is unlawful for customers to bring alcoholic beverages onto the premises for consumption. Saranac Inn keeps its prices in line with other establishments in the area, and a beverage cart is available on the course for your convenience.
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