Designer: Rick Smith (1999)
Location: Verona, New York
History: One of five courses at Turning Stone Resort, Sandstone Hollow was designed in 1999 by Rick Smith.
Conditions: 8/10, Sandstone Hollow is in very strong shape with true-rolling greens and lush teeboxes.
Value: 9/10, Unlike some of the other courses at Turning Stone, Sandstone Hollow is very economical at $19 to walk. This is much more fun and better practice than going to the range.
Scorecard:
Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
Black 27 1482 N/A N/A
White 27 1175 N/A N/A
Red 27 912 N/A N/A
Hole Descriptions: Sandstone Hollow is Turning Stone’s 9-hole par 3 course located on marshy, forested land near the Sportsplex and Pleasant Knolls Course. This sporty executive course features conditioning nearly as strong as the championship courses on property, provides excellent value, and is more than just a pitch-and-putt with holes ranging from 118 to 234 yards. There’s a good chance you’ll use most of the clubs in your bag here and it is an excellent and very fun way to practice.
Sandstone Hollow opens with an 168 yard hole set at an angle over a hazard to a small green containing a back right swale. A large bunker defends just short right of the green.
The 2nd hole turns back around in the opposite direction and plays slightly uphill at 177 yards. This is another pretty one-shotter with forest down either side and a large putting surface that slopes left-to-right towards a bunker.
Even the best executive courses like The Cradle and Bandon Preserve are overall fairly short and you’re able to play them with only a few clubs. This is not the case at Sandstone Hollow and the course is all the better for the variation in distances. At 234 yards, the 3rd hole is the hardest on the course and one of the more difficult par threes you’ll find anywhere. Playing uphill with a significant forced carry over a hazard, this hole features a very tiny, left-to-right sloped green surrounded by forest and defended by bunkers left, long, and right.
The 4th hole offers a bit of a breather as the shortest par 3 on the course at 118 yards. This is a simplistic hole playing over rough to a left-to-right tilted green defended by a right bunker.
At 177 yards, the 5th hole is a solid par 3 playing over a ditch and hazard to a narrow, flatter green lined by a left bunker.
A pretty but somewhat forgettable hole, the 6th plays slightly uphill at 154 yards with a subtle green lined by a right bunker.
The 7th is arguably the second toughest hole at Sandstone Hollow at 186 yards. This diagonal green is extremely narrow and defended by a small right bunker.
The 8th is a nice short par 3 playing slightly uphill at 124 yards. This is perhaps my favorite hole here and features a very shallow green containing a middle ridge that kicks balls to either side. A pin anywhere near this ridge leaves a very challenging putt that can get away from you. Deep bunkers defend this green short and long right with beautiful rocky outcroppings framing the hole as well.
Sandstone Hollow closes with another solid hole playing slightly uphill at 144 yards. This hole features a large green that slopes both left-to-right and back-to-front lined by a deep right bunker.
General Comments: There is no range at Sandstone Hollow, but there is a small practice green near the 1st tee. Those looking to hit balls can use the awesome golf dome next door which is open year-round. The clubhouse is quite small and basic and pace of play was excellent when I played. I suspect this is usually the case as no teetimes are needed here and it’s walk-ups only.
Verdict: A sporty 9-hole executive course, Sandstone Hollow provides strong variety, excellent conditions, and great value. This is a great place to practice and is well-worth a play when at Turning Stone.
