Golf in Brighton

Elected to the PGA as an instructor in 1977, Gary Tatar has spent more than three decades helping students find the middle of the fairway and the bottom of the cup. Gary draws his greenside manner from World Golf Hall of Fame coach Harvey Penick, who taught him the importance of simple and direct communication and practical training devices rather than imparting swing advice via sand-trap hieroglyphs.

During private lessons, Gary often enlists the help of 3-D video analysis so players can view their own swing and better understand his feedback. Gary also imparts his pin-hunting panache in playing lessons at Deerfield Country Club, where he gives advice in real time and fields course management questions, such as what club to hit off of the tee and how to overcome a fear of being abandoned by one's golf ball.

Stretched out along the western banks of Silver Lake, a gauntlet of bent-grass fairways leads players along a path that presents challenging play and picturesque views of the water. Though play never wanders close enough to Silver Lake proper to render it a hazard, multiple ponds enter play on several holes. The course adds additional challenges with undulating terrain, tall evergreens that line the fairways, and strategically placed sand traps that double as tanning beaches for displaced tourists.

Adjacent to the course, golfers can find respite at The Club restaurant, which offers a menu of classic American dishes to be enjoyed in a dining room with views of Silver Lake.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 70 course
• Total length of 6,012 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 69 from the back tees
• Course slope of 119 from the back tees

High Performance Golf’s professionals—who call on more than 25 years of collective experience—help golfers to hone their game by using advanced technology to break down swings. The golf pros use video analysis, K-Vest 3-D motion-capture systems, and launch monitors to dissect each pupil’s mechanics and sweaty palm tendencies. The data generated by these systems enables the instructors to develop personalized plans for students' improvement, helping them to reach goals more efficiently in private and group lessons. The professionals incorporate training exercises for specific muscle groups, and their facility lets students practice indoors or at an outdoor range. Additionally, High Performance Golf’s PGA Tour simulator invites players to swing through the fairways of famous courses without having to wrestle the feral caddies that lurk in their water hazards.

Since sculpting its first fairway in 1928, The Brookwoods Country Club has earned hosting rights to such prestigious events as a U.S. Women’s Open qualifying tournament and multiple New York State Amateur Championships, each attracted by the pristine upkeep and spectacular views sculpted into the Geoffrey Cornish–designed course. Golfers must navigate the dense forestation lining the fairways and the water in play on all holes except the par 3 14th hole, placing a premium on deft club selection and the use of hydrophobic golf balls.

Afterward, players can head to the 19th Hole and refuel with soups and sandwiches on the outdoor patio that overlooks the course. Indoors, a fireplace warms patrons as they sip on post-round beers and regale each other with tales of the time they putted the entire course.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Total length of 6,806 yards from the back tees

• Four sets of tees per hole

• Designed by Geoffrey Cornish

Gothic Hill Golf Course grants playing groups ample space to address their golf balls on the tee and take aim at each of nine pins, en route to the overall par of 27. At 1,353 yards, though short, the course demands concentration and precise execution with each shot—competitive skills that can be easily applied to other situations such as trying to play Sudoku in the bathtub. After a full day of golf, customers can visit Wesley's where they can unwind on the patio over a meatball sub or cheeseburger.

Course at a Glance:

• 9-hole, par 27 course

• Total length of 1,353 yards from the back tees

Links 4 Less bridges the gap between drop-in golfing and club membership. Card bearers can pack their clubs and set a tee-time with any of the club's participating golf courses, giving ample opportunities to test new drivers and spiraling golf cart stunts on different surfaces. Each course offers Links 4 Less members a discounted rate for both weekday and weekend rounds, as well as 9- and 18-hole challenges.