Specialties
Hillendale Golf Course is an 18 hole, public golf facility located in the middle of the beautiful Fingers Lakes region of upstate New York.
Whether you are visiting Western New York, for business or pleasure, you are bound to be intrigued by the natural beauty of Hillendale Golf Course nestled in the middle of the Finger Lakes Region. Beyond the nearby wonderland of waterfalls, gorges, lakes and rolling hills, those of you who have a passion for golf, nature, life, and "Time Well Spent", will find Hillendale, an 18 Hole Public Golf Facility. Playing a perfect round of golf could not be more enjoyable. Hillendale will surely leave an impression you will not soon forget
History
Established in 1982.
Frank Novickas, a member of the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America, has been entrusted with Hillendale's care since 1982. He oversees the maintenance, operation and management of the course, including safety and environmental standards. He has taken this nine hole very poorly conditioned golf course with dandelions covering the fairways and gravel roughs through many renovations. His work on the front nine is legendary to those who remember the old course. Once construction of the new nine started, Frank and his staff were called on once again to construct, grow and maintain the new addition. He now takes care of all 18 holes and Frank and his staff take pride in winning the Tompkins County Top Course Award since 1992
Meet the Business Owner: Mary D.
Mary Novickas,
General Manager & Director of Golf
A Class "A" Member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, Mary, in 1979, became the Owner and General Manager of Hillendale after purchasing the course. Her experience in the golf industry aided her in making many changes in the golf operation and her education in agronomy assisted her to make many improvements in the golf course.
Mary dreamed of expanding to an 18-hole layout but had her work cut out for her on the old nine, where she oversaw many years of physical changes as well as aesthetic ones. Hillendale completely turned around under her management, and grew from a 9-hole "not so nice" golf course to the #1 ranked 18-hole golf course in Tompkins County.
In 1989, Mary was finally ready to be the construction contractor for the back nine expansion project. The course was opened to rave reviews in 1991 and continues to be honored by the Ithaca Journal reader's poll each year as the "best golf course in Tompkins County".