Branton Woods Golf Club, Hopewell Junction, New York? a Premier Private Golf Club in New York's Hudson Valley

Branton Wood Golf Club is an Eric Bergstol championship design, cut from the rolling hills of a former bison farm in New York's Hudson Valley. The club sits beneath the shadow of the Stormville Mountains, and plays through lush fields and meadows, mountain foothills and streams.

The 18-hole, par-72 courses plays to 7,100 yards from the Black tees, with a USGA rating of 73.7 and a slope rating of 131. From the Blue tees, the course plays to 6,817 yards with a rating of 72.4 and a slope rating of 128 on L-93 Bent grass tees, fairways and greens, with Kentucky Blue grass in the rough and transition areas.

The course, which opened in 2001, features wide-open fairways, 64 bunkers, considerable elevation changes, and large, undulating, tour-caliber greens. Other elements in play include three lakes, multiple rock outcroppings and native vegetation. The course is considered a traditional golf-course design, with sculpted bunkering and an overall look that could be a hundred years old.

Each hole at Branton Woods is said to have its own unique character and setting, but the par-5s are said to be especially noteworthy. No. 4 plays to 525 yards and may be reachable for some golfers if they can overcome hitting their second shot up a hill and onto a plateau guarded by a large, deep bunker.

Holes No. 14 and 15 provide back-to-back par-5s, which is somewhat unusual. No. 14 plays to 520 yards and is reachable in two, but features some strategically positioned bunkers and is well-protected by trees. No. 15 plays to 610 yards and is the longest hole and the #2-handicap on the course. One of the three lakes comes into play on this hole, and approach shots must find a very narrow green. When combined with the length, par makes for a thrilling score on this hole for most golfers.

Branton Woods Golf Club has received many honors and awards since opening, including being named Best New Public Course by Suburban Golf in 2002-2003, one of the Top 35 Golf Courses Open in the U.S. by GOLF Magazine in 2002, and ranked as one of America's Best Courses by Golf Digest, also in 2002.

Practice facilities at Branton Woods include a driving range with full grass teeing area and five target greens, a 3,000-square-foot putting green, and a chipping and bunker-practice green.

The course also features a 14,000-square-foot, Adirondack-style, natural-cedar clubhouse that includes a fully stocked pro shop, full locker rooms for men and women, and the Grille & Pub restaurant for dining and drinks. There's also a 150-seat pavilion that offers panoramic views of the course.