Also the two-line system means there are lines on both sides of the fairways which will stretch to the roughs. So the browned-out areas off the fairways that afflicted many courses this summer will not happen at Tarry Brae and Lochmor in the future.

“This will make a huge difference in the conditioning of both courses as well as our staffing efficiency,” said Glenn Sonnenschein, director of golf of both Tarry Brae and Lochmor. “The old system at Tarry Brae was 30 years old and in bad shape. Around the greens we could only water a lot on certain nights [instead of a little every night] and we had guys here until midnight watering.

“At Lochmor, we didn’t have any fairway watering and were still dragging hoses on the greens. In bad drought years, the course was burnt to a crisp and we were losing money because people didn’t want to play.”

The automated system will allow hard greens to be watered more and soft greens a little less. It will also monitor water usage on sloped fairways and control runoff so there are no collection areas. Four years in planning and implementation, the new irrigation system is currently operational at Lochmor and near completion at Tarry Brae.

The two courses complement each other perfectly – Tarry Brae is longer, tighter and tougher than Lochmor, catering to the better players. Lochmor is well-suited for the recreational, higher handicapper, though it can sneak up and bite. Both are well-run courses with scenic views of the surrounding countryside and lakes.

Tarry Brae Golf Course
True to William Mitchell’s architectural style (he also designed Kutsher’s), Tarry Brae ascends and descends some hilly, mountainside terrain. Doglegs are prevalent as tree-lined fairways bend around well-placed bunkers. Many greens slope back to front, requiring approach shots under the hole. Get above the hole and things can get dicey.

The signature hole is the short, par-5 sixth where the green is beautifully framed by Echo Lake in the background. The clearing of trees several years ago opened up stunning views of the lake from the top of the fairway. The sixth is more captivating than difficult – long hitters can easily reach the hole in two with a mid-iron. The difficulty at Tarry Brae comes with a solid collection of par-three holes. Three of them stretch more than 200 yards from the back tees, with Nos. 4 and 11 working uphill and No. 17 traversing water.

The par fours can play long and tight so good ball-striking is recommended when playing Tarry Brae. The greens are generous in size and in excellent condition.

Top three reasons to play Tarry Brae Golf Course:
1. Great value
2. Variety of holes
3. Course invests in improving conditions

Lochmor Golf Club
Perhaps Golf Digest’s Places to Play described Lochmor best: “a good municipal course – up one side of the mountain, down the other.” Yes, Lochmor plays over hilly terrain which provides great views of neighboring Morningside Lake. In fact, holes, No. 14 and No. 15 play along the lake, with the 15th green surrounded on three sides by water. Standing on the 17th tee and looking down at the 16th green and the lake beyond is one of the area’s most scenic spots.

Though some holes on the back nine go back and forth and the course doesn’t occupy a lot of acreage, Lochmor doesn’t seem to get boring – especially for the mid-to-high handicap player. It’s not overly long or confining, but the fairways do pinch in some spots. The greens are not as sloped as Tarry Brae, but much smaller.

Perhaps the best player ever to come out of Sullivan County grew up playing Lochmor and Tarry Brae. Bobby Heins, the former New York State Open and Met Open champion, worked at both courses in the late 1960s before going on to play the PGA Tour for a couple of years. Heins is now the head professional at Old Oaks Country Club in Westchester.

Top three reasons to play Lochmor Golf Club:
1. Value
2. Fair and fun
3. Scenic