We were driving from Albany to Buffalo, and needed a break, pulled off at Exit 43, south to Canadaigua to find Bristol Harbour, which we’d heard about for a while. We showed up mid-day on Wednesday, without a tee time, and were treated like kings. The layout was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr, and opened in 1972. It is part of an overall housing and resort development 40 miles southeast of Rochester, and the course is open to the public not staying at the resort. The course is situated on a hillside overlooking Canadaigua Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in the region. The front nine is fairly open with the usually Jones’ design touches of heavily guarded greens with contours and undulations. The backside is more tightly routed through stands of mature trees and rolling hills. The course measures 6662 yards from the tips with a handicap rating of 73.4, and a slope of 136. The course is a pleasure to play, and the setting is well worth the trip. Great views out over the lake, I always return here first when in the area again.
