Bolton Landing, New York
The Sagamore delivers a true Donald Ross experience, pairing thoughtful design with memorable Adirondack mountain and Lake George vistas. It's a regional must-play that rewards precision and savvy more than length, making every round both fun and challenging.
After your round, walk to the veranda above the 18th green for sweeping Lake George views few visitors realize are open to all golfers.
Set above Lake George, The Sagamore is a classic Donald Ross resort design where narrow, hardwood-framed fairways and bold, undulating greens require smart positioning and touch. Small-to-medium green complexes reward careful approach play and putting precision, while elevation changes and dramatic lake vistas add both challenge and atmosphere. The 1985 restoration recaptured Ross’s original blueprints, preserving authentic bunker locations and green contours to deliver an experience both strategic and timeless.
Ross’s penchant for strategic angles, deceptive distances, and rolling green surfaces is on full display, especially on the stout par 4s and challenging long par 3s.
The round begins with an elevated tee and mountain backdrop, requiring a confident drive into a hardwood-framed fairway. The approach plays into a classic Ross green with subtle slope and a deep bunker eager to punish the careless miss.
Favor the left center of the fairway off the tee for the best angle; play for placement over distance.
Stray drives right risk blocked approaches; the deep green-side bunker is a round-killer.
Well-kept resort turf with seasonal variety and firm, contoured greens.
Moderate to brisk outside of major resort events; plan for 4-4.5 hours in peak season.
Classic Adirondack resort—relaxed but historic, with lake breezes and old-school charm.
Standard resort golf attire; traditional but not stuffy.
Tree-lined holes and elevation make saves tricky—don’t get caught short.
Ross greens demand your best touch and speed control from all distances.
Morning, midday, and sunset rounds can play in very different temps and wind.
Early rounds maximize calm air and the golden mountain light.
The Sagamore Resort opens on Lake George.
Donald Ross–designed golf course debuts.
Course restored to Ross’s original blueprints.
Ranked Top 15 Public Course in New York by Golf Digest.
Listed in Golf Digest Top 25 Public Courses in New York.
Included in Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Courses in America.
Ranks #5 in Golfweek’s public-access New York list.
The Sagamore was conceived during the golden age of American resorts, adding a Donald Ross masterpiece to its lakeside property just as motorcar travel boomed. Ross’s personal supervision guaranteed the classic green shapes and strategic intent that define the course today.
In 1985, The Sagamore invested handsomely in a restoration aimed at reviving Ross’s original vision, ensuring the bunker placements, green complexes, and overall character remain classic Ross—even as the resort evolved for a modern clientele.
The Sagamore has become a favorite host for regional charity events, with annual tournaments such as the Cindy and Skeets helping raise funds and bring together the North Country golf community in scenic, festive style.
The Sagamore is one of only a handful of original Donald Ross designs built on a true Adirondack hilltop.
In the Roaring Twenties, a round here was a signature feature for the region’s resort elite, often combined with steamboat arrivals.
The course’s 1985 restoration aimed to recapture Ross’s original bunker schemes—many now play nearly as intended in the 1920s.
Lake George’s blue water is visible from multiple holes, but only a few require you to factor its wind into play.
High-end, acclaimed public course in Saratoga Springs
Easy-access, affordable quick play in Glens Falls
Scenic North Country option with mountain backdrops
Convenient, approachable public play
Superb Donald Ross–influenced private if you can access it
Bolton Landing or Lake George village
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Blowing Rock Country Club shares a memorable sense of place, making it a compelling counterpart to The Sagamore Golf Course.
Why it matches: If The Sagamore Golf Course is your kind of course, Roaring Gap Club is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
Why it matches: If The Sagamore Golf Course is your kind of course, Country Club of Asheville is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
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