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Bonavista State Park Golf Course

7194 County Road 132

Ovid, NY 14521

607-869-9909

Services: J,L,M,Q,Y,BB,CC

Location

Overlooking Seneca Lake, the park is located just off State Rt. 96A on the east side of the lake between Sampson State Park and Seneca Lake State Park. It is near the City of Geneva and many of the Seneca Lake wineries. The park was named for the lovely lake view visible from the second hole.

History of the Park

The park was once the property Willard Asylum for the Insane and was farmed by the residents. You will find on the property numerous apple and pear trees, the remains of the hospital's orchard. Willard Asylum for the Insane no longer exists, but some of the land next to the park is a state prison and some is a drug rehabilitation center.

Facilities

The main focus of the park is its 9-hole, par 36 golf course, which can be played twice from different tees for an 18-hole round. The course offers a mixture of long and short holes with numerous bunkers, water hazards, and roughs providing an interesting and challenging game.

Fairways vary greatly in length and are lined with a variety of trees including many Scots pines for those golfers who would like to imagine themselves at St. Andrew's.

The roughs are huge patches of unmowed grasses that wave gently in the wind. Don't lose your ball there, you'll never find it.

Hole 2 is the "hole with the view." Standing at the tee you can see all the way down the fairway to the green with the lake beyond. Unfortunately there is no direct access to the lake, so you won't be able to dock your boat and go golfing.

Hole 3 is unusual as you must shoot over a gully to the green, which is on a rise. Between holes 5 and 6 is as lovely pond surrounded by cattails.

There is also a rustic clubhouse/restaurant that has a small pro shop and serves alcoholic beverages. The park also has a driving range and a putting green. Carts and clubs may be rented. Open from April to the end of October.

Course design (pdf)

Besides the golf course, the park offers many opportunities to commune with nature. Red foxes, coyotes, deer, gray squirrels, and a variety of birds, including turkeys, Canada geese, mallards, woodpeckers, warblers, thrushes, and catbirds to name just a few, can be seen at the park.

The park has a wood creek on the north side and a woods on the Walking the course during golf season is at the discretion of the park manager. Out of season, walking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are permitted at any time.

About 250 acres, no camping

Key to Services

A-Beach

B-Biking

C-Boat Launch Sites

D-Boat Rentals

E-Cabins

F-Camper Recreation

G-Campsites

H-Dockage

I-Dumping Station

J-Empire Passport Accepted

K-Fishing

L-Food

M-Hiking

N-Marina

O-Nature Trail

P-Pavilions

Q-Picnic Tables

R-Playground

S-Playing Fields

T-Powerboats

U-Recreation Programs

V-Showers

W-Sledding

X-Snowmobiling

Y-Snowshoeing

Z-Tent/Trailer Sites

AA-Vacation Rentals

BB-X-Country Skiing

CC-Scenic Views

DD-All above

Updated 22 October 2012