By Katharine Dyson

Most certainly had Mark Twain played golf courses in the Syracuse neighborhood, he never would have called the sport "a good walk spoiled." Twain, who lived in nearby Elmira, would have appreciated the delicate beauty of feathery fescue brushing his knees if he happened to stray into the rough; he would have soaked up the beauty of the ribbons of lush grasses winding through openings in the tall pines and maples; and paused on an elevated tee to enjoy the uniquely stunning landscape molded by great glaciers during the Pleistocene Ice Age.

Twain would have tipped his hat to architects like Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones and Geoffrey Cornish for respecting the integrity of the land as they built their courses and he no doubt would have looked forward to sharing a pint or two in the clubhouse, swapping stories and laughter with wonderful characters like Joe, 58 of Syracuse, who insists on wearing his garish pink and green plaid pants in every important tournament — his "lucky pants."

If ever there was a place to play where the quality of the golf experience far surpassed the amount you paid for green fees, it's in and around Syracuse, New York. With more than 40 public courses and about a dozen private layouts, the Syracuse area may just be the last unsung golf mecca in America.

You'd expect that golf courses in a predominantly hilly, snow belt region would be rugged with dramatic elevations, carries over wetlands and water, and tree-lined fairways channeling course direction. And you'd be right. Still while many courses run along the valleys and climb age-worn hills, others are more links-like like the one bordering the Erie Canal.

From perky par 3s and executive courses to park courses and challenging championship tracks with designer pedigrees, in Syracuse you have choices. And with green fees typically running $40 or less including a cart, you can try them all.

If you share a passion for great golf and great golf values, the New York Thruway and Routes 20 and 81 are perfect conduits to places where you can find both. Along the way, there are plenty of places to stay, whether you bunk in at a simple, no nonsense motel, a warm and fuzzy inn or B&B where you start your days with pancakes with fresh fruit and homemade banana bread or prefer a larger full-service hotel. Again. You have choices.