highlands country club

Nice scenic views. The catered buffet was good. The layout is a little weird due to the fact that if something is going on in one of the other rooms the guest have to walk through the center room to get to the bathroom making your event a little less private.

I got married here in May and everything couldn't have been more exceptional. The Highlands is the perfect setting for a small wedding (we had 75 people). The reason we chose the place was because there are multiple options in case of poor weather, but we fortunately had a beautiful day; ceremony and cocktail hour outside, reception in the main room. Danielle West, our day of coordinator was extremely accommodating and did not miss a beat on any of my special requests for the day. I didn't get to taste the food too much but I heard good reviews from my guests!

My favorite short nephew just got married here. The outdoor area for the ceremony was truly beautiful. You overlook the Hudson Valley, the mountains and the river. The banquet hall is wide open, large and floor to ceiling windows allow you to see the beautiful scenery while you party. The staff was fantastic, never had to wait for more water, they even refolded you table linen napkin when you left your chair. I would highly recommend this wonderful venue for any type of celebration.

We loved the tavern located on site. It has a changing menu. we have been there several times and always enjoy it. cozy setting in the winter with a roaring fire. The staff is always pleasant and aim to please.we also visited the rest with a prix fix menu and wine tasting. Call for deatails or go online.

Wonderful food and a greatplace to sit and sip a drink

When I moved to the area 3 years ago, I was immediately enchanted. I am still enchanted. After many memorable & artful meals near their original fireplaces, it is the kind of place you can feel at home in. Kind and familiar servers are happy to inform where all of the locally sourced foods and beverages come from (they even recycle their food scraps back to the pigs!) I've even had a few history lessons (Highlands was one of the first fitness clubs in the area, built on protected land, it is a late 1800's building with many of the original features.)Both the restaurant and the events team have left me smiling from ear to ear. Last November I was married in front of the fireplace and hosted my family and friends to a sustainable candlelit dinner under the grand chandelier... it was better than i had imagined such a special day could be. Adrienne was so helpful an kind throughout the whole process. I truly feel she was part of my family. I recommend this place to anyone. I also recommend making a reservation in advance! Especially during the summer and fall... I know their schedule changes due to private parties... but i have to say its ALWAYS worth the wait!!!

I really WANTED to like this place, and had read pretty consistently positive reviews. Mine is the antithesis, unfortunately.The positives: nice location. The place has a lot of potential, as the building which houses the Tavern has a lovely veranda, a nice lawn, and pretty glass-enclosed room, and all is surrounded by nice grounds.The negatives: everything else! First, the Mother's Day brunch had two seatings: 11:30 and 1:30. We arrived for the 1:30 at about 1:25, with a reservation, and were told they were setting up, and to simply sit out on the veranda and they would come get my mom and me. We sat outside about 15 minutes, and I decided to check out what was going on. Well, people were already seated and lined up for the buffet! So, when I tapped the hostess who told me to sit outside, she said "oh, good you're here" like it was the first time she saw me. Then, she sat us in the glass enclosed room on a HOT day, with no air conditioning. A restaurant of this caliber should have the rooms air conditioned. We asked to move into the main room which WAS air conditioned, and that was accommodated. The food was average - not bad, but nothing stood out as impressive or original. The service was AWFUL. There was never a time when there were ample plates, silverware, cups, etc, fully stocked for guests. Everyone needed to ASK for any of the above. The help, while friendly, were generally clueless. My honest opinion is this is a struggling country club (on a beautiful Sunday, it seemed like there were very few guests golfing, or doing anything else) that is trying to make a go at the restaurant for the general public. But, to me, the experience is that it is more of an after thought, and not a genuine attempt. I am disappointed, as I really wanted to enjoy this, as I shlepped up from Jersey City to meet my mom who lives further upstate.

Middle of the road. Nothing memorable. Nothing terrible, either.

My husband and I were married at the Highlands on November 5, 2011. From the minute I spoke to Adrienne it was like I had known her forever and she treated us like we were her only clients. She treated me like a "friend" and not a client. Anything I asked for she provided with a smile and pleasure and she made our wedding the wedding of our dreams!! Adrienne understood our style and added our personal touches in just the right places! The ballroom was amazing and when I walked in for the first time I started to cry, it was everything we wanted and more. All evening our guests complimented on how warm, inviting and spectacular the wedding was. Food was amazing, ambiance was breathtaking and the staff there truly are no words for. From the bottom of our hearts we thank Adrienne and the staff at the Highlands!!! It was absolutely perfect! John & Meredith Hutt

I was married at the Highlands Country Club on June 19, 2010 and I cannot stop talking about how flawless, beautiful, organized, and WONDERFUL the entire wedding was!!Just a note about myself: I am THEE most organized person I know. I'm extremely detail-oriented, and the thought of putting someone else "in charge" of the details of the day was hard. Once we began to work with Jennifer O'Toole, I realized we were in good hands. My husband and I worked with Jennifer from day one—she answered every question (no matter how insignificant), she alleviated all of my fears, she turned our wedding day into an organized work of art, and she did everything with a smile on her face!Before the day of the wedding, I had worried: When would the ceremony chairs be removed? How would everyone know where to go, and when? Who will make sure the rabbi has a table for the kiddush cup, etc? And all of those worries were for nothing. In the almost 2 months since the wedding, I've had family members tell me that everywhere they turned, Jennifer or another Highlands staff member was there to help. They made sure my 92-year-old grandmother had a seat when she needed, they kept my husband and I hydrated the entire night, they brought us hors d'oevres after the ceremony so we could actually eat something! They packed up our untouched dinners and gave them to us before we left for the night. They even walked around the grounds to find my father (who was on a smoke break) so we could do our Father/Daughter dance.Now on to the other stuff: The Highlands ballroom is GORGEOUS. I spent so little money on flowers because that room needs so little. If your taste is natural and elegant, this is the place for you. The beauty of the Hudson Valley came across in every way. And don't even get my started on the food! Of course we didn't eat anything that night (because who has time for that on your wedding day?!) but we've eaten there numerous times before and everything is finger-licking amazing. My guests' plates were CLEANED. Some people said it was the best steak they've ever had--let alone at a wedding.We had 114 guests and there was more than enough room for everyone, and a giant dance floor in middle.I am still blown away by how perfect of a venue the Highlands is. If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me. Choosing the Highlands is the best decision you could make--for real.

My husband and I just had our incredible wedding reception at the Highlands Country club on May 8th, 2010. We were married down the road at the Chapel at St. Basil's Academy. The Highlands was actually the very first location that we looked at for our wedding. We thought that we should keep looking, so we did, for 3 more months, only to realize that we new all along that we wanted to have our wedding at the Highlands! So, let me start by saving you some time--if you are thinking about booking there, DO IT! And make sure that you work with Jennifer O'Toole. She is the on-site wedding planner and she was really incredible. I quickly realized that she was very different then all the other on-site planners that we met at the other locations--she really cared and did all that she could to make our day special. I had quite a few unusual requests, including some incredibly time-consuming set ups and Jennifer bent over backwards to make sure that all of my requests were met. I feel truly blessed to have worked with her and my husband feels the same. As soon as we arrived, Jennifer met us with two glasses of champagne and she made sure that the staff kept finding us and bringing us food at the cocktail hour. So, as soon as the reception began, I felt like I had nothing to worry about--everything was under control. It was an incredible feeling to see our vision come together--we really relaxed and enjoyed every single moment of our wedding. The location was absolutely perfect. We had our cocktail hour outside on the North veranda and dinner in the ballroom. Dancing was in the new south veranda, where we had both a DJ and a Greek Band. Having use of The Tavern (the restaurant at the club that is attached to the ballroom) was really great too. We used it as a separate room for candy, sweets and spirits. The staff were incredibly nice and accommodating. Service was excellent and the food was unbelievable. Hands down the best wedding food I have ever had. The Chef, Eric, is incredibly talented and the food on our wedding night was even better than when we ate in the tavern months prior. We have received so many compliments on the setting, service, food, location, etc....One of the greatest compliments was when my best friend, a woman who has had her wedding planned out since she was a little girl, told me that she would have her wedding at The Highlands! That warmed my heart! It was truly the greatest day of our lives, and I really need to thank Jennifer O'Toole, Chef Eric and the entire staff at the Highlands for making our wedding magical.

Last September, my husband and I were married at the Cadet Chapel at West Point but had our wedding reception at the Highlands Country Club. There could not have been a more perfect day nor a more perfect location for a wedding celebration!From day one, Jennifer O'Toole did a fantastic job working with us and being flexible. Both my husband and I are in the Army, and we actually booked the HCC while we were in Iraq - we hadn't even visited the venue before! I knew I needed to book soon and after reading the reviews and seeing the photos of the ballroom, I contacted Jennifer and she assured me that it was a great location for a wedding. Even though I had gone to school nearby at West Point, I never noticed the intimate club in Garrison so I really wasn't sure what I was getting into. We took a blind leap of faith and we were so glad we did! Jennifer kept in constant contact with us and promptly answered any questions we had. When we finally got to visit the HCC, we were blown away. It was even more beautiful in person! We had dinner at The Tavern that night to get an idea of what we could expect at our wedding, and we were extremely pleased with the quality of the food. From then on, we knew we made the right decision.On the day of the wedding, everything went like clockwork. When our guests arrived, they were greeted with a wonderful cocktail hour on the veranda. The firepits were going and there was never a shortage of incredible hors d'oeuvres or drinks. In fact, our guests mentioned how wonderful the hors d'oeuvres were and how they never had to go searching for food, there was always someone ready with a platter. The dinner was equally as wonderful and the timeline of events once the actual reception started was perfect. We had a Korean wedding ceremony as well, and Jennifer and her staff made sure that it took place without a hitch. The cake that we ordered from The Pastry Garden in Poughkeepsie (which works with the HCC for weddings) was delicious and the design was just what I had asked for. At the end of the night, our guests even enjoyed s'mores by the firepits near the veranda! Another plus was the large "bridal suite" where the wedding party could go to escape for touch ups, change of clothing (which was important since we had a second ceremony), etc.The ballroom is such a wonderful space. It has a gorgeous classic Victorian style to it, but at the same time, it is a space that can be decorated in a number of ways. The incredible chandelier glittered with the candlelight throughout the room and made for some beautiful photos! Even the furniture in the club is noteworthy. At most venues they have plain plastic tables that you need to cover up with tablecloths. At the HCC, the tables had such a beautiful distressed, antique look to them that we didn't even consider covering them up! We had to take advantage of the unique furniture! There is just so much to love about the ballroom.I'll occasionally hear a bride talk about how she didn't have time to enjoy her own wedding because she was always worrying about things, but I definitely cannot say that I was one of those brides. I had such a blast, and it was all because Jennifer was on top of everything. Our guests are still talking about how much fun they had at the wedding, how beautiful the venue was, how great the food tasted, etc. We've received so many compliments, and many have even said that it was one of the best weddings they have been to! I know that this is a testament to the staff. They are true professionals and it was a pleasure to work with Jennifer in planning our special event. Thanks to them, we had the most magical day of our lives!

It is exactly a year ago today that my wife and I got married and we still recall how beautiful that day was. We fondly remember our reception hall at the Highlands Country Club. The place is so understated and elegant that we felt proud and honored to host our event there. The perfect fall weather allowed us and our guests to enjoy the fire pits in the lawn, the two fireplaces on each side of the hall and the endless french doors open to beautiful views of the Hudson Valley. Without question Jennifer O'Toole was on top of all our arrangements months before the "Big Day." She made everything come together so smoothly that we felt very comfortable actually enjoying the reception and being able to have fun. Between her and her amazing staff our guests still talk to us about how great everything was. Our florist, Lee, was the perfect compliment to this ballroom. She understood the space and created a beautiful, unique design that was elegant and rock n roll at the same time. We found her through Jennifer's list of florists.The chef, Eric, was also amazing. He was able to cook for over 100 people and still make delicious, full flavored plates and appetizers. Between the location and the staff, this is a perfect place to have a very memorable wedding reception. PS- Definitely rent out the Tavern restaurant attached to the ballroom. It's a cute, rustic room that will make a nice lounge with an additional bar for your guests.

My daughter's wedding reception at The Highlands Country Club was idyllic. This beautiful historic building was perfect for our event. The high ceiling, abundant glass, and enormous fireplaces at either end of the room make the venue grand. It is on an active golf course, but the physical location and organization give the impression your group is the only party on site. We are so very happy we found this beautiful location in the Hudson Valley, but we are even more pleased we found Jennifer O'Toole. Jennifer is the Banquet Sales Manager for the Highlands and their adjacent Garrison property. Jennifer facilitated an incredibly successful and painless planning process. She thought of every detail and supported a very thorough preparation effort. Jennifer saved her best for the day as her and her staff executed the evening flawlessly. Her goal was to ensure everyone, including the hosts has a great time and she exceeded beyond our greatest expectations. Jennifer is the person you want planning your next social event! Complimenting the event organizer was the chef - Eric. He is amazing. He and his team prepared and served a gourmet meal for over 100, including very special appetizers. This team and the location are unbeatable for a wedding reception!

My wife and I were married in Garrison, New York in October a few years back. We loved the area and it's proximity to New York, just over an hour away to the north in the Hudson Valley. We held our reception at the Highlands Country Club and I can't say enough about what an amazing experience we had. The ballroom has a timeless, classic feel to it, with two large fireplaces on either end, a huge chandelier in the middle and gardens and terraces on both sides with massive windows. We set up our tables for our guests so that our area for dancing was at one end, in front of a huge fireplace. Our wedding was black tie and the atmosphere of the ballroom was perfectly suited to what we wanted - Candles, chandeliers, fireplaces. On many occasions at weddings I have been to, the food tends to be an after thought, or tasted catered - this is really what sets the Highlands apart from other locations you may look into. They have a history of working with the local Culinary Institute of America, our chef created a menu using local produce and game and our family and friends loved this element of our wedding. Our fall inspired menu was: butter nut squash soup, mixed greens with goat cheese and roasted pecans, choice of cornish game hen or macadamia nut crusted salmon - (I think) and mint chocolate cupcakes we brought from a baker in new york. Jennifer O'Toole is the best, she made everything easy, we started off the night with an hour or so of various wines, cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres - she helped us with every aspect of the event and it couldn't have gone more smoothly. For our music - we opted for a small jazz band, bass, trumpet, piano to play sinatra, ella fitzgerald, etc, then had a DJ play the hits -I don't think paying a big band a lot of money is the way to go. That is a key area where you can save. Finally, for our ceremony we all met around 5pm at a spectacular castle nearby, Cat Rock, where we were married (you can see the NYC skyline far away), followed by champagne planned by Jennifer, with a bus down to the Highlands after. Jennifer can give you the contact for Cat Rock - Hank Osborn, the owner is great. A dramatic, mountaintop, chic location. Our photographer was excellent, Maggie Heinzel - Neel: Her website:http://www.photosforyourwedding.com/ - I really can't say enough about her, this is an area you should not try to really cut on, she is reasonably priced and very worth it. I think our wedding is listed under 'slide shows' if you want to see the Highlands and Cat Rock more. Here is a press item with more photos: http://www.manhattanbride.com/romancestories/RealWeddings/RW15/RWHighlands15.htmlHighly Recommended. If you want to take a look, go to the small Tavern restaurant that is part of the Highlands and take a look, try their amazing food. Make sure to say hello to Jennifer if you make it. Sincerely,Brett Fahlgren