Timber Banks Golf Course

Timber Banks is the new Nicklaus course in a real estate development, northwest of Syracuse in Baldwinsville. take I-81 north to 481, then on Rt 31 for a couple of miles. The course had nine holes opened last year, and has just opened all 18. It's grown in nicely, still will take a couple of years to really mature. The layout is 7,331 yards from its back tees, with four shorter sets of tees. It's a parkland style of golf course, routed through and across woodlands, meadows and wetlands, with a good amount of visual deception and major greens complexes. There's typical Nicklaus design elements of steep bunkering, contoured greens that are hour-glass shaped or twin-tiered, that require a lot of high shots into them. The par 5s are stout at 558, 584, 588, 593 from the championship tees, but hazards and visual tricks that require risk-reward decision-making. There's a very nice practice range with twin tee boxes, an enormous practice putting green and a short-game facility that includes a chipping green and several bunkers. The greens fees are a little steep for the Syracuse area at $50, but it's well worth it once in a while.