By Leigh Infield

There’s something enchanting about being out on a golf course on a bright sunny day. The beautifully manicured lawns stretching into the distance, the quiet except for the chirping of birds, the gentle thud of a golf ball breaking as it lands on a fairway, lull one into a sense of well-being—until it’s time to tee-up and take a swing with your driver. That’s when skill, patience and sheer strength come into play—all of which are sorely missing on my part.

When I take my first swing at the golf ball, I put my heart into it. I imagine it flying through the air and landing on the green, having safely escaped the threat of those lovely glistening ponds and sand traps. Imagine my chagrin, then, when I see the ball still safely atop its tee, or having dribbled only a foot from it.

In college, I had the choice of choosing golf as my mandatory physical education elective. In short, I had to learn to play the game. The instructor was a very handsome man in his thirties (how was I to keep my eye on the ball?). He was patient with me, but after many debacles on the course, decided that the only way I would learn to become proficient at the game (and incidentally pass the course) was if he followed behind me from green to green, adjusting my swing. I managed to pass the course, but my grade was anything but stellar.

So, when a friend of mine recently suggested that we visit the Meadow’s Golf Center in Margaretville on a lovely Saturday in June, I was filled with trepidation. Would I once again have to demonstrate my golf skills—or lack of them? No worries, he said. We’ll be eating instead of golfing.” That I could certainly manage. I let out a sigh of relief and we headed to the course for a night of the best barbecue I’ve tasted.

The Meadows Golf Center is a nine-hole, par-three golf course, driving range, miniature golf course and Southern barbecue restaurant extraordinaire.  Set in a beautiful meadow that once was farmland, the course is perfect for both the professional and average golfer.  I fell in love with it at first sight. (Maybe my golfing days weren’t over?).

The building was raised on cement pillars to be above flood level several years ago.  Floor-to-ceiling roll-back windows face the meadow, providing a stunning view of the course with the mountains in the background, covered in brilliant color as Fall starts to make its appearance.  Diners can catch a dramatic sunset in the evening.   The interior, made of reclaimed barn wood, gives the restaurant/clubhouse a rustic, homey, laid-back vibe. The owners, Russel Matson and his wife Julie Hernandez have recently reached out to artists in the area.  Local sculptor, Dirik Menting, has several of his sculptures on view in the restaurant—one a big pyramid made from 205 golf balls culled from the Center’s inventory.

The couple purchased the golf course in 2001 from a Margaretville couple—Stephen and June Weinstein.  Previously it had been a rudimentary golf course and a driving range. Russ and Julie modified the course and restaurant in 2002 and have had the business for over twenty-six years.

Growing up in Lynbrook, Long Island, Russ first came to the area on a trip with his sixth grade class to visit Mount Tremper.   He fell in love with the Catskills. “I knew right then and there that I wanted to live here. But, it took me until age forty to do so.”  Russ worked for EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) in New York City, leaving the corporate world to become the owner and impresario of the golf center.  Shy as a college student, he is an extrovert on his own turf—his mission helping people have fun and feeding them. “My goal in life is to put smiles on peoples’ faces.”  Russel also makes food with love at the restaurant. It’s his passion.

Meadows Golf Center owners Julie Hernandez and Russel Matson

On weekends, Duane Wilkins comes in to fire up the two barbecue smokers. He is a masterful barbecue chef, getting his interest in cooking from his father who was the chef at

Keybar in the Roxbury area for many years. As a young man, Duane had little interest in cooking, but when his father passed away he started to appreciate and cook from his Dad’s recipes. His Southern take on barbecuing is so good many repeat customers tease him that “Barbecue” is his middle name.

The night we were there, the smoked brisket was terrific—done to perfection and served with Southern sides—for my friend, Mexican beans with charred chunks of meat in them, and black beans dressed up Southern style for me. We washed down the dinner with a local IPA and pale ale from West Kill brewery and topped it off with another Meadow specialty, bread pudding with whiskey sauce. Everything on the menu is barbecued. We later returned for lunch and ordered a barbecued pulled pork on a brioche roll—another house specialty.

Meadows also has an eighteen-hole miniature-golf course, running along the scenic East Branch of the Delaware River. It brought back all those summer nights when my cousin and I played miniature golf when we were little kids. Meadows’ miniature golf course is a delight for kids and adults alike: Colorful metal figures of farm animals—pigs, roosters, cows—dot the course. The rooster so large, he towers over all of the other farm animals. A catchy fence made of vertical golf drivers stretches across one end of the course. Just looking at the course is fun! My cousin and I would have loved playing on this imaginative mini golf course.

The Meadows Center hosts special events. The night we were there lots of Knicks fans came to see the NBA play-off game, happily downing barbecue while watching it on the restaurant’s large TV screen. The Meadows also hosts tournaments. Russel taught my Andes neighbor to play golf.  He went on to win a Meadows tournament (Russel’s a good teacher).

The Meadows Golf Center is open Monday through Sunday for golf from 8 am to 8 pm.  Barbecue nights are from 12 to 7 pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday,  Saturday and Sunday. The Center’s season ends the last Sunday of October. So Hurry in y’all and don’t miss some real Southern barbecue. Phone: 845-586-4104.

Site: www.meadowsgolfcenter.com We advise that you consult the website for current operating hours.  ~