The Monterey Drive stretches 17 miles and is home to some of the world’s most beautiful golf courses like Pebble Beach. While central New York does not have the Pacific Open for a backdrop, nor the cliffs and mountains that frame its courses, there are plenty of picturesque holes for local golfers to enjoy.

Most are found on the private courses that dot the landscape, but those are not available to the players of modest means. The Dispatch sports staff of editor Perry L. Novak and assistant David M. Johnson have selected their favorite 18 holes within 18 miles of the Dispatch that are as affordable as they are scenic.

Each week there will be a report about how they played three of the holes. You are invited to predict their score (they’ll play from the white tees) of the holes listed below. Johnson is relativly new to the sport and his best nine holes this year is 47 while Novak has yet to play, though his best nine-hole round last year was a 40. That should help readers have a better idea how to predict their scores.

The courses they will play are Rome Country Club, Beaver Creek Golf Club, Foster Ponds Golf Club, Pleasant Knolls Golf Club, Westmoreland Golf Club, Barker Brook Golf Club, Crystal Springs Golf Club, Heron Creek Golf Club, Casolwood Golf Club, Poolsbrook Golf Club, Woodcrest Golf Club and The Ridge Club (formally know as Skyridge). The 18 holes selected match actual hole number except for nine hole courses on the back nine. For example, Pleasant Knolls is only nine holes so we will play the ninth for number 18.

There will be two winners each week based upon who can most closely predict the scores. The winners win free rounds of golf at some of the courses featured in the contest. Winners will be drawn out of a hat in the event of a tie.

That’s a pretty nice prize for any golfer.

Hole                     Course                          Par

Hole No. 1: Rome Country Club                4

Hole No. 2: The Ridge Club                       3

Hole No. 3: Westmoreland Golf Club        3

Hole No. 4: Casolwood Golf Club             5

Hole No. 5: Barker Brook Golf Club         5

Hole No. 6: Beaver Creek Golf Club         4   

Hole No. 7: Woodcrest Golf Club              5

Hole No. 8: Heron Creek Golf Club           3

Hole No. 9: Westmoreland Golf Club        4

Hole No. 10: Heron Creek Golf Club (1)    4

Hole No. 11: Rome Country Club               5

Hole No. 12: Crystal Springs Club (3)        4

Hole No. 13: Woodcrest Golf Club             3

Hole No. 14: Poolsbrook Golf Club            3

Hole No. 15: Foster Ponds Golf Club (6)    5

Hole No. 16: Casolwood Golf Club            3

Hole No. 17: Rome Country Club               4

Hole No. 18: Pleasant Knolls    (9)             5