man & nature # 243 ~ different strokes for different folks
Monday, October 12, 2009 at 12:49PM 
At the turn ~ The Sagamore - Bolton Landing (on Lake George), NY • click to embiggenHave you ever given any thought to the idea of making pictures on a golf course?
Of course, there are golf courses and then there are golf courses. Here in the Adirondacks, the area is home to numerous courses - virtually all of them, in fact - that are very "mature" which is to say that they are in the neighborhood of 100 years old. Most are a few years either side of that number.
What this means is that they were carved out of the landscape without the use of modern earth moving equipment. What that means is that the landscape, the natural nature of the terrain, is most prominent in the look and feel of the place. The courses take on the appearance of a finely crafted park. Add to that the fact that they are situated in a forever-wild wilderness, most of the views on these course are rather spectacular.
All of that said, the characteristic that I most appreciate about these golf courses is that, in a very real way, they are the embodiment of the character of the Adirondacks themselves - man & nature co-existing in a harmonious and sustainable relationship.
As an example, golf-wise, virtually every course in the Adirondacks has numerous protected mini nature preserves spread throughout their confines. These mini-preserves, as well as the golf courses in their entirety, are sanctuaries / homes to an incredibly diverse population of flora and fauna. Many a round of golf, especially late in the day when I prefer to play, includes wildlife sightings of bear, deer, fox, coyote, raptors of all kinds, ducks, geese, an incredible array of aviary species, to name just a few of the possibilities.
I don't know it's like in your part of the world, but in mine, golf is rarely "a good walk, spoiled". ~ Mark Twain
Reader Comments (2)
Another brilliant picture. I salute the way you capture the subtle tones of nature. Please keep up the good work.
I agree completely about the little preserves protected throughout the courses. When I was growing up north of Boston, MA, I remember getting lost in my mind walking between the holes on our home courses in North Reading and Topsfield. I would love to have the opportunity to go back there and do a photo project of those little spots between the holes.