Things To Do In Jefferson Valley-Yorktown

Yorktown Golf & Baseball Center is best described by its sounds: the whiffing of clubs on the driving range, the steely rattling of baseballs on batting-cage walls, and the gentle burbling of the mini-golf course's waterfalls. Surrounded by verdant greenery, the 14-acre sports center offers outlets for competitive players and casual ball-whackers alike, beginning with an 18-hole mini-golf course replete with obstacles such as waterways and feral know-it-all golf pros. Within the four baseball and softball batting cages, pitches hurl toward batters at speeds ranging from 40 mph to 85 mph. Practice shots soar from the two-tiered driving range's 36 covered hitting stations, and players hone their short games on the putting greens and sand traps. In addition to providing ample practice opportunities, the center staffs a stable of knowledgeable golfers and batters to lead private and semiprivate lessons and curate a full pro shop.:m]]

National Golfworx's driving range spills out across a rolling verdant horizon, a picturesque scene punctuated by golfers whacking their way through practice rounds. Two buckets, each containing 90 balls, arm golfers with ample ammunition for sending dimple-faced orbs on long flights or attempting to hit tin ducks at the course's shooting gallery. Select from 45 hitting spots and a wide range of yardages to perfect techniques with multiple clubs and angles. Lighted tee boxes accommodate nighttime drivers, removing the need for cumbersome headlamps or glow-in-the-dark putters.

Solars Sports Clubs has fitness fanatics of all stripes covered, offering amenities that range from the parquet of the basketball court and the hardened evergreen of the tennis courts to rows of weight machines and the whirr of the smoothie bar. Group classes whip participants into shape, whether it's heart-pumping belly dancing or spin classes that encourage cyclists to workout without having to share the road with reckless turtles. Solaris also offers kids classes and summer camps, getting little ones off the couch and into action while honing their sports skills.

My Gym, which currently has more than 200 international locations, began more than 20 years ago as a structured place for children to safely play, acquire new skills, and romp off a sugar buzz. All classes are organized according to age level—starting as young as 6 months—and designed to incorporate the latest physiological and psychological research. Tiny Tykes gets babies moving with help from their parents, Mighty Mites teaches toddlers self-reliance and beginning sports skills, and Champions, a class for kids aged 6 to 9, emphasizes the importance of using teamwork to master more complex sports skills and achieve group goals such as building a human pyramid to reach the cookie jar. My Gym's energetic instructors are experts at using music, dance, and gymnastics to build youngsters' strength and self-esteem while stimulating their giggle-plexes. The noncompetitive environment fosters creativity, and hands-on activities boost children's learning retention and fun quotient.

In CrossFit Somers’s 2,000-square-foot facility, enthusiastic trainers push people through a constantly rotating regimen of exercises designed to turn them into well-balanced all-around fitness machines. Working through a roster of 10 core goals, including increased flexibility, speed, and cardio endurance, students carry out a variety of tasks such as the clean and jerk—lifting a barbell over their head in three moves—or the jerk, where they shout at the barbell that it will never find love. They also throw medicine balls up against the wall, pull against resistance on the TRX ropes, and jump atop plyometric boxes from a standstill.

Combining these functional movements and exercises with a diet of vegetables and lean meats helps exercisers lose weight and sculpt whole physiques. Instructors also customize the program, hosting sessions for kids as well as scholastic athletes looking to enhance their skills.

Since 1959, a golf path dreamed up by architect William F. Mitchell has been acquainting players with the hilly terrain of the Lower Hudson Valley. Putnam County Golf Course started out as a private club, but became open to the public when the county bought it in 2004. Players can amble over bent grass greens and rye grass fairways kept to country club standards, but without having to golf in their tuxedos. Afterwards, retire to The Grille Room to fill up on wraps and sandwiches, burgers from the grill, or breakfast sandwiches served all day.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-71 course
• Total length of 6,800 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 72.8 from the back tees
• Course slope of 128 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole