WALLKILL, NY. — Turtle Creek Golf Course general manager and part-owner Jennifer Salemo has been involved with the family-run business for the past 25 years. Located in the hamlet of Wallkill in the southernmost part of Ulster County, Turtle Creek advertises itself as the “Hidden Gem in the Hudson Valley.”

Salemo, who arrived at Turtle Creek in 1999, after five years of managing a deli in Westchester County, dabbled in politics for two years as the supervisor in the Town of Plattekill. But before her two-year term was up at the end of 2023, Salemo declared she wouldn’t seek re-election because she wanted to concentrate on running Turtle Creek.

“As much as I love the role as a public official, it’s taking away a lot of my time from the business,” Salemo said at the time.

In an interview with Salemo and head golf professional Andy Crane on Wednesday, the duo told the Freeman that the picturesque nine-hole golf course offers an opportunity for golfers of all levels to enjoy the course.

Late Wednesday afternoon, the parking lot was nearly full with Turtle Creek’s Ladies Golf League just finishing play and the Southern Ulster Rotary Club holding a meeting. There would also be Trivia Night later in the evening at The Grille at Turtle Creek, the golf course’s restaurant and bar.

Salemo’s father, Howard Lee, built the golf course in the 1990s. The golf course borders the northbound lanes of the New York State Thruway between the Newburgh and New Paltz exits.

“When he built it, he was thinking of building his own private golf course,” Salemo said. “Then people started noticing it driving by the Thruway and finding their way to us and asking if they could play. So much of that happened that my dad finally said, ‘Let’s make this a public golf course.’”

A new pro shop and driving range were opened within the past seven years. In addition to public play and four leagues, Turtle Creek is the home course for the Wallkill and Cornwall high school golf teams and the practice facility for the Mount Saint Mary College men’s and women’s golf teams.

In addition to golfers from Ulster County and nearby Orange County, Salemo said Turtle Creek has been attracting golfers from the New York metropolitan area.

“Ulster County and the Hudson Valley have become such a big tourism area that a lot of people coming up from the city, from Westchester and from Queens find us,” Salemo said. “We’re seeing newer faces all the time, especially on the weekends.”

Rates for Turtle Creek are $55 during the week for 18 holes of golf, including a cart. The weekend rate is $60 for 18 holes, including a cart. Walking 18 holes is $32 during the week and $37 for 18 holes on the weekend. There are $2 discounts on greens fees for seniors (60 and older) and the military.

Season passes for singles cost $1,300 and the season pass is $1,000 for seniors. There are preseason discounts available.

“We’re the most affordable season pass in Ulster or Orange counties,” Crane said.

Salemo said Turtle Creek would like to expand its catering next year and is considering adding lunch at The Grille in 2025.

Crane, who was the head golf pro at West Point Golf Course for 12 years,  has been the head pro at Turtle Creek for the past four years and a PGA member for 21 years.

“Turtle Creek is a unique golf course that can be played by golfers of all levels and all abilities,” Crane said.

Though the par-35 course measures just 3,013 yards from the men’s championship tees, Crane said it isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination.

“Distance isn’t everything,” he said. “You have to be a shot maker. You have to control your golf ball and know where it’s going. You have to hit a lot of different shots. And there are undulating greens that can trick you every now and then.”

Although the downhill par-4 ninth hole is listed as Turtle Creek’s signature hole on its website, Crane said the par-4 first hole is probably the one that most golfers remember the first time they visit Turtle Creek.

The New York State Thruway runs parallel to the 405-yard opening hole that bends gently to the left. Tee shots must avoid a large tree that guards the left side of the fairway and the approach shot to a small green must be precise to avoid a penalty area just short of the putting surface.

“I think it’s one of the harder opening holes in the game of golf,” Crane said. “It’s definitely not a gentle handshake like Ben Hogan used to say to kind of start things.”

Crane said the third hole — a 505-yard par-5 — is his favorite hole.

“It’s one that if you hit two good shots you have an eagle chance,” said Crane, who is also the Mount Saint Mary College men’s and women’s golf coach. “And the par-3 seventh hole is a very challenging par-3 over water that can play up to 220 yards.”

Crane said many golfers are amazed by the design of the 315-yard par-4 downhill finishing hole that is left of the roadway that goes to the clubhouse and restaurant.

“From the tee box, the green and the adjacent bunkers resemble a turtle,” Crane said. “The turtle of Turtle Creek.”

Crane, who has also been a race car driver and a broadcaster during his career, said Turtle Creek requires appropriate golf attire and each player must have a set of clubs, a bag, proper golf shoes and must wear a collared shirt.

“We welcome everybody, but we’ve definitely tried to change the image of the golf course from a basic muni to a really good municipal golf course,” he said. “There are some rules that go with that. We’ve met some challenges with it. You have to have a golf shirt on when you come and play golf. For some players that’s something they’re learning.”

Each group is responsible for its pace of play, which is two hours for nine holes and four hours for 18.

Turtle Creek also has several statues throughout the golf course, which Salemo’s father used to bring back to the course after his travels.

“He had a story how to play the course,” Salemo said. “He said there are statues that are students and there are statues that are warriors. There are statues that are gods. His story behind the course is you have to be a student to learn, but with certain shots you have to be a warrior. Take a chance and be a bit aggressive. But most of the time you have to hope for the best. That’s what the gods are representing.”

In addition to Turtle Creek being visible from the Thruway, Wiltwyck Golf Club, a semi-private golf course in Kingston, can also be seen by northbound travelers just a couple miles from the Thruway’s Kingston exit.

“We’re certainly the first one you see along the Thruway traveling north,” Crane said. “We like to say we’re the best one for everybody. You can come out and enjoy yourself as an absolute beginner and you can definitely be challenged as a seasoned pro. We invite everyone to come out and play The Turtle.”

Originally Published: August 17, 2024 at 3:20 p.m.