WPCNR PRESS TENT. By John F. Bailey. April 20, 2004: Hudson Hills Golf Course in New Castle opened this morning with all tee times sold out, and just a few times left on the weekend as of noon. Golfers playing the tight, picturesque course gave it rave reviews, lauding the closely cropped bent grass fairways, the absence of draconian rough, the true-tracking greens,  the mountain top views, and the imaginative holes. One golfer described the course as "Challenging but in a comfortable way." Golfers felt they got their money's worth, calling it "gorgeous" and easily the best course in the county. One complaint: the golfers hoped for some young ladies to drive the refreshment carts.

HEADING FOR THE FIRST TEE: Westchester County Executive Andy Spano, and Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz (who oversaw the creation of the golf course),  head for the first tee at Hudson Hills today for the first official tee shot, followed by Donna Green, Susan Tolchin, County Legislators George Oros and Michael Kaplowitz (New Castle). Photo by WPCNR Sports

RIGHT DOWN BROADWAY: County Executive Andy Spano hits it dead, solid, perfect launching the first official Tee Shot at Hudson Hills. Executive Spano said building the course was a great thing because the course preserved wetlands, and allowed Westchester golfers for years to come to enjoy the spectacular setting, which otherwise, he said would have become an office building. (IBM had been planning to use the land for an office building.) Spano noted that the land had been acquired by the Andrew O'Rourke administration, and it was his vision to transform it into a golf course of "country club quality at county golf prices." Executive Spano said he had not played the course yet, but hoped to in coming months.  He added that the cost of running the golf course would be entirely paid for by golfers. Photo by WPCNR Sports

THE MAN WHO GOT IT DONE: Larry Schwartz, Deputy County Executive takes his drive. Mr. Schwartz noted to WPCNR that the course took one year to build,  then the grass was allowed to grow for a year, in order to give the bent grass time to gain strength, with the project taking 3 years in total to complete. Schwartz said bent grass was chosen to provide a country club, professional feel to the course. Golfers playing the course today, interviewed by WPNCR agreed, saying the course was magnificent. Every golfer we spoke to had nothing but kind words to say.  Photo by WPCNR Sports.

THE BIG THREESOME: County Legislator Richard Wishnie, County Executive Andy Spano, and County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, left to right, meet the media. Wishnie called Hudson Hills "The greatest achievement of the Spano Administration," noting how the Town of Ossining and the Ossining School Board had cooperated with the County to preserve the tax base by allowing land on the south side of the course to be used for housing to shore up the tax loss, and provide funds for the school district. County Executive Spano suggested to Mr. Oros that Hudson Hills "was one of the greatest achievements of his administration." He also praised his Deputy, Larry Schwartz for supervising the construction of the course, saying it was "a labor of love" for Schwartz. Mr. Kaplowitz said, as Legislator from New Castle, the course was a great resource for the residents of his district, and the rest of the county. Photo by WPCNR Sports.