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April 2008--Senior PGA Championship Comes To Oak Hill Country Club
One of the funniest moments of my brief reporting career came at the 2003
PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Jeff
The Senior PGA
Championship comes to Oak Hill this May, specifically the week of the
19th to the 25th. The weather
Oak Hill East is a classic northeastern golf course. It moves
through alleys of trees, along pitched and sloped fairways,
I've been to Ravenwood, Greystone, Mill Creek and Bristol Harbour in the
Rochester area. They are all wonderful golf courses
December 2007--Golf Courses and Clubs in Western New York
It has been a while since I checked in with an article, so I decided to
start from scratch. With snow on the ground
Public Courses
Harvest Hill--With all
due respect to its peers, Harvest Hill outshines the web sites of all
other public courses in WNY.
Municipal Course Clubs
Audubon--A club I
played as a younger adult, a course I know like the back of my hand.
From the time
Private Courses
Niagara Frontier,
Niagara Falls, and
East Aurora stand out.
The first seems to be a laid-back club in Niagara county
Brookfield,
Westwood,
Orchard Park and
Park give you next to nothing.
If you're not a member, hit the road. September 2007: Turning Stone Resort Championship Photo Galleries
August
2007-- Results From The 30th Annual Niagara Falls City Youth Golf Tournament Last week, 82 youth golfers and as many parents, grandparents and friends, took over the Hyde Park golf complex. The 30th annual Niagara Falls Youth Golf Tournament was played under partly sunny skies and in mild summer temperature. Teeing off at 8 am was the 15-17 year old bracket playing the North 18 hole course. With a shot gun start at 10 am, the 7-10 year old youngsters teed off on the Red nine while the 11-14 age group played the White course. To View The Travelin' Duff Photo Gallery, Click Here. All golfers received a bag full of golf tidbits from tees to coupons to a sleeve of balls. Golfers also received golf prizes ranging from ball retrievers, to free greens fee certificates to books about golf. In addition, entertainment centers, IPods. a TV set, putters, golf clubs, golf bags and gift certificates for the hot air balloon by the falls, local restaurants and even a 2 hour limo ride were given away. This year the United Steel Workers of America, local # 9434, was the main sponsor. Representatives from the Niagara Falls local were on hand to present awards and prizes after a hot dog and pizza lunch which was served to and enjoyed by players, parents, grandparents, friends, sponsors, course staff and volunteers. Can you imagine? Golf, prizes, lunch and giveaways for only $5.00 per player. Other municipalities with public golf courses should use the Niagara Falls Youth Tournament as a model program. To View The Travelin' Duff Photo Gallery, Click Here Thanks to Marc Stott, the Hyde Park Golf Director, the fantastic staff at the course and the terrific volunteers who organize and run the tournament. A special thanks to the many sponsors who donate prizes and gifts for the young golfers. Also kudos to Robin and JennieLee for gathering and organizing all the gifts and prizes. BuffaloGolfer.com readers who would like information or to donate items for the 2008 Tournament should contact Marc Stott at 716-297-2067 or e-mail at marc.stott@niagarafallsny.gov . The Duff is proud to be a volunteer photographer providing photo memories on the BuffaloGolfer.com website as well as a photo collage at the Hyde Park clubhouse. To View The Travelin' Duff Photo Gallery, Click Here
August 2007-- The 30th Annual Niagara Falls City Youth Golf Tournament The 30th annual, City of Niagara Falls, Youth Golf Tournament will be held at the Hyde Park golf complex on Tuesday, August 14, 2007. Entry is open to boys and girls ages 7-17 and residence in Niagara Falls is not required. Last year the tournament attracted more than 100 youth golfers from all over Niagara & Erie counties, Niagara Falls, Ontario and other areas of western NY. Two years ago one of the age group winners was a young man from Pennsylvania on vacation with his parents at Niagara Falls. All young golfers regardless of ability are given a chance to compete and enjoy the Hyde Park course and staff. Beginner, Intermediate and Experienced categories have been set up to accommodate all youth who register. To View The Travelin' Duff Photo Gallery, Click Here Every young golfer will receive at least one gift along with the opportunity to win other locally donated items of youth interest. Last year, golf clubs and equipment along with bikes, stereo systems, televisions, etc. were awarded to the youth participants due to the generosity of local and western NY donors. Pre-tourney breakfast food, a post tourney hot dog roast, prizes and golf greens fees are included in the $5.00 entry fee. Parents, grandparents and friends are welcome to come and see the youth tourney. Registration forms are available at the Hyde Park Clubhouse at 4343 Porter Rd. in Niagara Falls or on-line HERE. The form must be returned to the clubhouse with the $5 entry fee by August 10, 2007. For more information or questions, please call Marc Stott, Director of Golf, at 716-297-2067, or email him at marc.stott@niagarafallsny.gov. Come on out to a great golf event for youngsters. The Duff will be there rooting on the young golfers and shooting candid photos of the participants, parents, grandparents and friends. To see a photo gallery and summary of the 2005 tournament, please check out the Travelin' Duff column of August 2006 on www.buffalogolfer.com. The Hyde Park staff, the City of Niagara Falls and all the volunteers and sponsors should be applauded for providing this tournament for the youth in the community and surrounding areas for the past 30 years To View The Travelin' Duff Photo Gallery, Click Here. CONGRATULATIONS ! ....... The Travelin' Duff July 2007--Ten Thing You Need To Know About Harvest Hill The next seven days will see a flurry of activity on Old Transit Road in Orchard Park. Harvest Hill will join the ranks of top-notch area golf courses open to the public on July 25th. To keep it simple and keep it real, I, the Travelin' Duff, will list ten important items that you need to know about Harvest Hill. In keeping with my track record, there is no order of relevance to my list. 1. Harvest Hill is a privately-owned, public-access course. That means, no public traffic on bikes, horses, foot, or motorcycles. The course IS NOT owned by a municipality. 2. Although the Hurdzan-Fry design firm is the designer of record, the lead designer was David Whelchel. A similar scenario unfolded at Diamond Hawk in Cheektowaga, where the lead designer from Hurdzan-Fry was Bill Kerman. 3. Harvest Hill is a 21-hole facility, with three "short" holes complementing the 18-hole championship course. 4. The First Tee of Western New York owns the course and sponsors golf, recreation, and educational programs at the facility. 5. Green fees at Harvest Hill range from $30 for twilight golf (M-F, after 4 PM) to $52 for golf and cart on weekends. 6. If you join the Harvest Hill E-Club, you will receive coupons for $5 a twilight round of golf. 7. In addition to the 21 complete golf holes, Harvest Hill also contains a practice range and a short game facility. 8. Walking rounds of golf are allowed and encouraged at Harvest Hill 9. In addition to the programs offered at Harvest Hill, The First Tee of Western New York operates satellite locations at Cazenovia Park in south Buffalo, and Concord Crest Golf Course in Concord, NY. 10. The course offers five sets of tee decks, stretching from 4961 yards to 7010 yards in length. The longest hole is the 575-yard thirteenth (Black tees), with the shortest weighing in at a mere 48 yards, number five, from the blues.
Looking for a different 19th Hole to relax after golf? Want to surprise your golfing buddies, spouse or entire family? Look no further than Waterbike Adventures at Gateway Harbor in the Tonawandas.
A few years ago, Jim Chilton, an enterprising entrepreneur and North Tonawanda NY native, had a dream to bring some water fun to the Twin cities area. Today, his dream has evolved into a small business (ad)venture. Waterbike Adventures is located on the Tonawanda side of the canal off of Main and Young St.. Hourly rentals are available for waterbikes for individuals and the electric boat, from Florida, for group outings. Open daily from 11am till dusk.
Stop by and see Jim at his "adventure" or call him for information at: 716-316-3905. Tell him "The Duff" sent you. Check out the photo gallery below to see what Waterbke Adventures has to offer.
June 2007--Nationwide Tour & Peek'N Peak Classic: Day One Although an early rain and fog delayed the first round yesterday, sun and cooler temps prevailed for the rest of the day. The Duff watched some of the first round players including early leaders Bryn Parry from British Columbia and Jeff Wood from California each at 5 under par , Joe Daley from Arizona at -4 and Greg Chalmers from Australia at -3 respectively. Leaders after the first day are Paul Claxton of Georgia and Michael Letzig of Missouri. Both shot a sizzling 6 under par 66 finishing in the afternoon under windy but sun filled conditions. Nick Thompson, currently #2 in the Nationwide Tour rankings, shot 73 while Tim Fries, local Transit Valley Country Club pro, shot 80 in the last group of the day. The Duff's sentimental favorite Nationwide Tour player, Esteban Toledo shot a 1 under 71. Esteban is currently 25th in the rankings. His son, Nicholas, is now caddying for Dad. Plenty of terrific golf and weather remains for the Peek'n Peak Classic at Findley Lake, NY through Sunday.. Get out and see these promising golfers. Look for the Duff, the Mouth that Roars and Mo' Golf on Sunday and say hello to the BuffaloGolfer.com team. See the Duff's Photo Gallery below.
June 2007--Out & About at Springbrook Greens on Lake Ontario OUT & ABOUT....... For the past few weeks, the Duff has been enjoying the summer like weather which finally arrived in western NY. As usual there were many graduation, reunion and retirement events to attend, but there was still plenty of time, and daylight, to focus on recreational activities. Of course, GOLF was uppermost in the Duff's mind.
The Oswego State University alumni reunion dangled the treat of playing golf at a course the Duff had never seen before.... SPRINGBROOK GREENS STATE PARK GOLF COURSE, located in Fair Haven, NY. The course is situated adjacent to Fair Haven State Park on Lake Ontario which provides public access to many recreational activities for Finger Lakes and central NY residents.
So, the Duff (class of '66) twisted some arms and managed to find 3 other golfers to play in this Captain & Crew event. Playing with the Duff were Jerry Oberst '77 and Associate Director of Admission at Oswego, Justin Culkowski, Alumni Director at SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse and Dick Atkins, Oswego city alderman and dear friend. Although the Duff's group played well and tied for first, a foursome from the 1962 reunion class was awarded the fruits of victory after a tie -breaker was invoked.
SPRINGBROOK GREENS was purchased in the spring of 2006 by the NYS Dept. of Parks and is evolving into another beautiful and affordable public course. The front nine opened for play in 1995 and the back nine in 1998. Alan Tomlinson designed the layout which was owned and operated by Ms. Pat Cooper of Fair Haven until the state took ownership last year.
Mary Gregg, the course manager, brings college degrees in Turf & Course management along with experience from Bethpage State Park on Long Island to Springbrook Greens. She is a vibrant and knowledgeable young woman who has been given the opportunity to develop the course into another gem in the state park system. · Check out SPRINGBROOK GREENS on the web at www.nysparks.com · Call 315-947-6115 for tee times and greens fee information.
May 2007--Blueberry
Hill Golf Club There is much truth to the assertion that environment and ambience make the golf course. Those who are fond of seaside golf have their fill along oceans and lakesides. Those who prefer the desert atmosphere move inland to Arizona and California. And those who enjoy highland golf, especially the wooded variety, should make a beeline for northwest Pennsylvania, to the small town of Russell. The bucolic home of Blueberry Hill Golf Course sits 20 miles southeast of Jamestown, NY, near the NY-PA state line. With your focus on Blueberry Hill’s 6700 yards of fairway, tees and greens, there’s little need nor opportunity for interruption.
Blueberry Hill was developed in the early 1960s as a nine-hole track, and was expanded to its present 18 a decade later. The original, lowland holes, play like a museum piece, with throwback sculpting around the greens, and hazards with the high side facing the golfer, and, oh yes, the occasional blind shot. Bells on 1 and 18 are rung when the fairways have cleared. Availing themselves of the heave and ho of the hilly terrain, the designers placed tee boxes high above and deep below target areas, and aligned fairways along natural drop-offs and hillsides. The result is a six-hole stretch of short par fours, lengthy par fives, and a breath-stealing, downhill par three, all with a common narrowness. Expect beautiful surroundings and numerous strategic changes during the opening stretch.
The tee box of the seventh hole lies across the road, and brings the upper meadow and woodland into play. This stretch of a dozen holes mirrors its predecessors in the heaving spirit, if not in the tightness, of the fairways. The remaining par threes beg mid to long iron shots to fair greens, while the par four holes have a tendency to require a right to left shot shape for optimal positioning. The par fives are split, with fourteen reachable in two at 490 sloping yards, and twelve quite difficult at 550, with a large pond occupying fairway acreage some 250 yards from the tee.
One of the most attractive features of Blueberry Hill is the guest house. Built to accommodate 2 to 12 persons, this comfortable if humble cabin renders the search for housing moot. Three, four and seven day rentals are available, averaging from $45 to $60 per day.
April 2007--FORT MYERS BEACH GOLF CLUB, Fort Myers Beach, Florida Fort Myers Beach Golf Club
The Island Paradise Golf
Course
If you are staying at
"the Beach"
and you want to play golf, the
Ft. Myers Beach Golf Club
is the only game in town. Located at the southern end of Estero
Island, this Gordon Lewis designed 18 hole layout offers a short but
challenging level of play. By golf standards.
FMBGC
is an executive or par 3
course with a length of 3091 yds from the
Blue Tees and
2632 yds from the Reds featuring 4 mid length par 4's and 14 par 3's. Log onto www.clubcarusa.com/ or call 239-463 2069 for tee times & membership information.
Ft. Myers Beach Golf Club
March 2007--CORAL OAKS GOLF COURSE, Cape Coral, Florida
A well stocked pro shop, as
well as a full service restaurant, Knickers Pub, are also available and
will meet the needs of every golfers needs. Championship Yellow Tees 73.3/139 Back Blue Tees 70.0/133 Middle White Tees 67.8/124 Front Red Tees 68.3/115 · The Director of Golf is Allen Magnuson, PGA Professional and the course superintendent is Jim Foster. For information, directions, greens fees, and outings contact the Pro Shop at 239-573-3100 or log on to www.CoralOaksGolf.com .Questions can be directed to Allen Magnuson at http://coraloaksgolf.com/contact.html or Fred Cook at fcook@capecoral.net
March 2007--Nationwide Tour to remain at Peek'N Peak Resort through 2011
PEEK’N PEAK RESORT AND PGA TOUR ANNOUNCE (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) – Peek’n Peak Resort & Conference Center and the PGA TOUR today announced an extension of the Peek’n Peak Classic tournament agreement through 2011. Tournament officials also announced an increase in the purse from $560,000 to $600,000 this year, escalating to $725,000 in 2011. The 2007 edition of the Nationwide Tour event will be played June 25 – July 1 at the Peek’n Peak “Upper Course” in Findley Lake, NY, near Erie, PA. GOLF CHANNEL will televise the event, one of 16 Nationwide Tour tournaments they will air in 2007. “This tournament is one of the most significant events we do at Peek’n Peak. It brings national exposure to our resort and to the region, and it’s a real pleasure for all of our staff members to work with the PGA TOUR staff and players,” said Brad Gravink, General Manager of Peek’n Peak. “Winning at Peek’n Peak helped my career a great deal,” said former champion and current PGA TOUR member Kevin Stadler. “It did wonders for my confidence. I didn’t have much of a career prior to winning there, so it launched the career I now have. I love the area around Findley Lake and the whole week is so nice. The community does a wonderful job embracing the tournament and making the players feel welcome.” “The Nationwide Tour has enjoyed an excellent relationship with Peek’n Peak Resort since 2002 and we are very pleased to announce we will return through 2011,” said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. “The players love the golf course as well as the wonderful hospitality that is extended to them. With two playoffs and two other single-shot victories in the first five playings, the tournament always provides great drama and excitement for the fans and I’m sure this year will be no different.” The Peek’n Peak Classic was first played in 2002. Its past champions include Stadler, Patrick Moore, Guy Boros, Esteban Toledo and John Merrick last year in a playoff. All five were played on the “Upper Course”. The tournament’s charitable recipients are the American Cancer Society and The Foundation for Cancer Research and Education. They are two of the hundreds of organizations that benefit from Nationwide Tour events across the United States and contribute to the PGA TOUR’s umbrella support of charity.
About Peek’n Peak Resort Established in 1964, Peek’n Peak Resort & Conference Center, in Findley Lake, NY, is a regional destination for golf and snow sports, 30 minutes east of Erie, PA. The resort features two highly acclaimed golf courses, 27 ski slopes and trails, 10 miles of cross country terrain, fine dining, and a vast selection of accommodations and other amenities, as well as a prestigious RCI Gold Crown rating. A new, full-service day spa is slated to open in April 2007, which complements other recent renovations, totaling about $8 million, including 150 new electric golf carts with Global Positioning System (GPS), the complete renovation of 70 hotel rooms, a $2 million snowmaking system expansion, two additional terrain parks and a new half pipe cutter. Each year, the Peek welcomes about 200,000 visitors. For more information, visit www.pknpk.com. December 2006--A Visit To West Virginia's Oglebay Resort
OGLEBAY RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER Nestled in the mountains of the northern panhandle of West Virginia is the picturesque Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling. Started as the summer estate of Earl W. Oglebay over 100 years ago, it has evolved into a 5 star, 1700 acre year round recreational and lodging paradise. One of the numerous events scheduled is Oglebayfest annually held the first weekend in October. The festival celebrated its 29th anniversary this year and attracted over 100,000 people during the 2 1/2 day event. In an exerpt from the October 2006 Oglebay newsletter, "A juried Artist Market opens on Friday afternoon in the Mansion Woods as does Oglebay's Harvest Market featuring fall's bounty. Guest's can dance the night away in Wilson Lodge on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. A parade opens the festivities on Saturday and a fantastic fireworks display climaxes the day." The Duff and his wife made the 5 hour, 270 mile journey through New York's southern tier, the western mountains of Pennsylvania and into West Virginia's northern most tip to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary at Oglebay. Fortunately for us, the weather on the weekend of October 6-8 was fantastic. A little cool in the morning but sunny and warmer each afternoon. The fall foliage on our trip was breathtaking and was even more dramatic as we entered the grounds of Oglebay. Of course, in addition to celebrating our wedding anniversary, the Duff's attraction to Oglebay was GOLF and the three 18 hole golf courses and a par 3 layout and a beautifully landscaped driving range overlooking the ski area. Fortunately, a Saturday morning of golf for the Duff coincided with the opening parade, the Harvest Market and the Craft Show which my bride eagerly wanted to attend. What more could you ask for than a married couple happily doing the things each enjoys. The Duff is lucky to have such a wonderful woman as his wife. Oglebay has 2 championship courses at the Spiedel Golf area. The newest is the Arnold Palmer designed layout and the older is the traditional Robert Trent Jones designed course. The 3rd 18 hole course is Crispin a par 71 regulation layout which offers numerous elevation changes from tee to green. Although it only plays 5627yds. from the men's and 4993 yds. from the women's tees, the course provides each golfer with many challenges. A few years ago, the Duff and son-in-law Garrett Wadosky, from North Tonawanda, NY, played the Crispin course during a family Oglebayfest weekend retreat. However,it was time for the Duff to take the challenge of either the Jones or Palmer designed championship courses. Mo' Golf suggested the Arnold Palmer course. A few years ago the Duff played and reviewed Rivers Edge Golf Club and Plantation in Shallotte, NC which was an Arnold Palmer design. (See the 2005 Travelin’ Duff Rivers Edge article). Mo’ thought it would be interesting for the Duff to compare the two Palmer designs. A tee time was arranged through Lou Perini, Director of Golf Operations at Oglebay, and the Duff was set to tee off at 9am on Saturday. It was a cool morning at 36 degrees but the sun was shining and the forecast called for temps in the 60’s by midday. The Duff was ready to test his skills, or lack of, at the Palmer course. Approaching the Spiedel complex was a treat in itself. The courses are a short drive from Wilson Lodge just past the driving range and the par 3 layout and near the ski tow and slopes. The Spiedel Clubhouse is home to both the Palmer and Jones courses and offers a fully functional pro shop and restaurant with spectacular views of both courses and the surrounding mountain areas. After being greeted by Lou Perini, the Duff made his way to the starter’s shack. Greeted in true southern hospitality, the starter introduced the Duff to 2 gentlemen from Washington, PA and a doctor from Huntington, WVa who nicely rounded out the foursome. He also invited our group into the starter’s shack to warm up a bit and to describe the layout of the Palmer course. Instructions and score cards in hand the foursome headed to the 1st tee. The par 71/72 Palmer course offers 5 tee boxes suggested by handicap: Black tees for men scratch golfers at 6725 yds, Blue for males 9 and under at 6498 yds, White for lady scratch golfers and men 10-24 at 6055 yds, Red for ladies 9 and under and men 25-34 at 5125 yds, and Gold for ladies 10+ and men 35+ at 4569 yds Having played the Palmer course in Shallotte, NC, the Duff was hoping that 35+ indicated the chronological age of the golfer allowing this aged duffer to hit from the gold tees. Unfortunately, the rest of the foursome decided on the white tees much to the Duff’s chagrin. The photographs of the Palmer course included in this article will show the majesty, difficulty and beauty of Arnie’s design. At times however, the foursome was wondering what Arnie had in mind when he dropped 18 teeboxes and greens onto the hills and valleys of Oglebay. The course is very difficult and demanding although if you play your ball in or near he fairway and land your approach shot close to the flag the course is a piece of cake. After the round the Duff was greeted by Jay DeBolt, the supervisor of SpiedelGolf Club. The Duff told Jay that golf at Oglebay was like playing in paradise or heaven to be specific and that John Denver had to be thinking of golf and the Oglebay Resort and Conference Center when he wrote and recorded, “Almost Heaven, West Virginia”. Accommodations for lodging at Oglebay include the Wilson Lodge and over 40 deluxe cottages Facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa, a health and fitness club, ball fields, tennis courts, nature and walking/hiking trails, horseback riding, a lake for paddle boating and fishing with a dancing and musical water display, a zoo, lots of local wildlife and much more. Oglebay is open year round and offers signature weekend and seasonal themes for all ages and interests. A listing of all events throughout the year and accommodation availability can be found on the Oglebay website. If interested, contact Oglebay on the internet at www.oglebay-resort.com. ,by telephone at 1-800-CALLWVA, or in writing at Oglebay Resort and Conference Center, Route 88 North, Wheeling, WV 26003. Post Script The Duff and his wife thoroughly enjoyed the weekend at Oglebayfest. The accommodations at the new addition to Wilson Lodge are outstanding offering a studio apartment arrangement with a gas fireplace, a balcony and beautiful furniture. The food at Oglebay restaurants and weekend venues was terrific and reasonably priced. The staff at Oglebay were accommodating and friendly. The Duff and his bride give the Oglebay Resort and Conference a 5 Star rating.
September 2006--Rebirth of Holiday Valley The Holiday Valley Golf Course used to be one of the answers to a truly enigmatic human puzzle: why, when presented with 17 bounties and 1 horror, do we choose to remember the horror? That old, 390 yard par five at HV used to drive people crazy! 6 Iron, wedge, wedge down a bowling alley-wide fairway, over a gorge, to a well-sloped green. Never mind the fact that the front nine ran along beautiful pastures beneath the fabled ski slopes, or that the back side traversed the foothills of those same trails. Forget the slick, true greens, the delightful pro shop, restaurant and resort. One hole was all it took to distract people from all that was right about the Ellicottville, NY course. Well, readers, all of that is in the past. Beginning in 2006, Holiday Valley began a three-year renovation under the watchful eyes of Paul Albanese. If the name doesn't exactly jump out at you, think Mill Creek in Rochester. Ah-hah, now you begin to drool! Albanese came in and revamped no fewer than five golf holes. Now, for those of you who have played the course in many of its reroutings, the hole numbers may not be designated in a familiar fashion. To begin, Albanese took the old 10th/12th hole, the little par three that ran away from the clubhouse, next to the halfway house, and moved the tee up to the right, on a ledge above the hill. What used to be a slightly uphill hole is now a gorgeous, mid-iron downhill par three to a green fronted by a pond. Left and right are trouble, so be accurate both horizontally and vertically. Next Albanese tackled the "memorable" hole, the little dink par five. He chopped out trees behind the tee, leaving a great view of the hotel, which also allowed more sunlight in to the tee deck. Down the fairway, he removed stands of trees along the left, affording more room for the approach shot. Finally, the hole was renamed a par four. All it takes is a 220-yard shot to reach the 150, from which a mid- to short-iron approach will clear the cavern and reach the green. Sure, it's narrow, but that's what hybrids are for.
The par three that follows (old 12 or old 14, depending on your memory) has a new tee deck, a bit up and right from the old one. Still a solid short hole. The biggest change comes on the fun, downhill par four that follows (old 13 or 15). Gone is the tree line to the left. That area has been re-landscaped as a second fairway, giving the hole a split-fairway look. It's still bombs away, only now you have twice the room! AS if that weren't enough, the cart path flows between the two fairways. Aim there...if you hook or slice, you're in the short stuff. If you hit it straight, you hit the path and bounce to the green. Climb all the way to the top tee and yodel down before you hit. It may just be the most fun hole in western New York. The par three 15th/17th has a funky new bunker on the right, to prevent caroms down into the resort. As another downhill shortie, it's fun to fire away against the Ellicottville backdrop.
The old 10th and 11th (or 17th and 18th, again depending) were par fours that ran up, then back down, the western slope of the course. They were separated from the other 16 holes, and were two of the tougher pars on the course. They will once again play as 17 and 18, but with completely different character. Now, strap yourself in, as this will take some imagination. Imagine the Yodeler quad chair. That's where the new 17 tee sits. Instead of playing down that fairway, you now play up. The hole is an uphill, right-bending par five. It measures around 495, but with the extreme uphill nature, plays around 540. A fabulous new green sits at the top of the slope.
Number 18 will play down the old 10th/17th fairway. I don't know about you, but I rarely encountered the uphill, ball-below-your-feet shot as often as I did on my approach to this hole. Playing downhill as a dogleg right, you will tee off by the old green, then float downhill, approaching the old 11th/18th green that sits across the creek, next to the base lodge. All in all, it's an exciting finish. As if that weren't enough, there are more changes in store for the front. Since that nine is, well, flat (compared to the back), the direction is to give it a slight Scottish feel with stacked-sod bunkers. 9 of 10 shots will get out, but if you're faced with one up by the face, change direction away from the hole! In addition, the second hole has had trees cleared out along the right side, opening up the drive a bit. The fourth will be changed from a 400 yard par four to a 500 yard par five, with a bit more length. The seventh will move its tee back up and to the left, on the hill below the condos. Finally, in the shadow of hotel expansion, the short, par four ninth will lose its tee boxes, and be reborn as a 180-yard par three. With the pond still in place, it will be wonderful!
The most impressive aspect of the
redesign is the continuity of the course. All 18 holes will remain
open during peak season, with the entire project scheduled for completion
in 2008. With the addition of so many fine new courses in western
New York, the feel at Holiday Valley is beyond a facelift...it's seems
that a new track has been laid over the old one, with smiles all around.
August 2006--Another fine city championship for Niagara Falls, New York The first week of August brought the 29th annual Niagara Falls Youth Golf Tournament to the Hyde Park Golf Course complex. More than 80 youngsters, ranging in age from 7 to 17 participated in the event sponsored by the Cataract city and representatives from the staff and men and women from the golf leagues at the course. Marc Stott, Hyde Park Clubhouse Superintendent, and the many volunteers and sponsors provided the youngsters with a day they will not soon forget. Each player received a golf utility bag which included various donated golf sundries and a gift ranging from a ball retriever to a sleeve of golf balls, to name a few. Along with the gifts, the $5 registration fee afforded the young golfers with greens fee, a hot dog lunch, and a chance to win a trophy and many door prizes. Parents and all volunteers were invited to participate in the supervision of the three player divisions and to enjoy lunch at the end of the tournament. The 3 divisions included nine hole play for youth ages 7-10( Red Course) and 11-14(White Course) while the 15-17 year olds played the North 18 hole course. After the tournament and lunch, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies were awarded to boys and girls in each division. As a finale, the door prizes, which included golf bags, putters, drivers, and golf balls, were awarded to those youngsters whose registration form was picked by random. The trophies and door prizes were awarded by Niagara Falls mayor, Vince Anello and Marc Stott. The Duff was invited to follow the 11-to-14 year old group in which his grandson Michael was playing. This division was the largest group participating and they played the nine hole White course. The White is a terrific layout and in great shape for a MUNY course and a city with little financial backing for golf course maintenance and development. Unlike a recent Niagara Falls Gazzette sports editor's review of the White course, the Duff was pleasantly surprised with the condition of the tee boxes, the fairways and the greens. Albeit, there are some rough spots here and there but the layout is challenging from any tee and certainly affordable for common golfer. Hyde Park is not a Country Club. It is a municipal layout with limited finances. Instead of degrading Hyde Park, maybe the Gazette would be interested in being a financial supporter of the only golf course complex in the city of Niagara Falls, at the moment. Photos of the event follow this article and many printed photos will adorn a wall at the Hyde Park clubhouse in the near future. Thanks to , Marc Stott and all the volunteers, especially Robin and Jennie Lee, the sponsors and Mayor Anello for making this a CLASS event for the youngsters of Niagara Falls and the surrounding communities. Next year will be the 30th annivesary of the Youth Golf Tournament. Sponsors, prizes and youth golfers are needed to make the 30th anniversary a very special one for the City of Niagara Falls, Hyde Park Golf Course and the young golfers in the community. Contact Marc Stott at 716-297-2067 or email at marc.stott@niagarafallsny.gov if you are interested. Click Here for the Travelin' Duff Tournament Photo Page August 2006--Down the 33 to Buffalo Tournament Club The Buffalo Tournament Club was referred to me by my good friend, Mo' Golf. Mr. Golf and I had played the front nine of the course last year, and enjoyed the tremendous roll of the par fives (numbers 4 and 7), the deception of the short holes (numbers 5 and 8), and the raw strength of the backbone of the nine the par 4s (1, 2, 3, 6, and 9). My scores ranged from fantastic to un-oh, especially when I saw that tee shot from up high on number nine. That lake, beautiful as it is, scared the heck out of me. I also vaguely recall losing a shot short of number three, in that ravine or barranca or whatever type of canyon you want to call it. What I remember most, though, are two thoughts: I couldn't wait to see this course as it matures, nor could I hold out long enough to see the back nine. 2006 has arrived, and the back nine at BTC opened on schedule, in early July. I made my tee time for a quiet Friday evening, the perfect way to relax after a long week. The new nine opens with a reflection of number one, a gentle dogleg right, with a fairway bunker along the right side. The green is quite wide, and finds protection in the form of a mid-deep sand pit front left. Similar sand traps protect the short sides of numbers 13 and 17, but for the most part, the architect lets you make the decision. Buffalo Tournament Club, more than most other courses in western New York, gives me a sense of the links game, if not the links look. Unless the course is saturated with water (which it usually is not), it allows for, and seems to encourage, the run-up shot. Even holes with a front-side bunker leave half a green surface to accommodate the player who likes to bounce it in. I was able to do so on 11, 12 (more on that later) and a host of other holes on the new side. The eleventh is a medium-length par
five that moves slightly from left to right. Trees line the entire
right side of the hole, forcing play to the left, against the natural
curvature. The fairway runs out some thirty yards short of the
green, but the rough that protects the front, while testy, is not as thick
as some of the heather and gunga we see on television. The putting
surface is deep and narrow, demanding a precise yardage on the approach.
Twelve is a wee par three, measuring between 129 and 213 yards. Wee,
you ask? That's right, as it usually plays downwind and downhill.
Once you see what's behind the green, you'll favor the front of the
putting surface every time. Twelve is so open, you get lost in the
amplitude of the shot. It seems to be a hole cut from the America's
heartland, from the plains of Nebraska or Kansas. It plays just as
firm, so take two clubs off and allow for the bounce. The wide green
accepts any runner, although a shot hit off-line way right will find a
drainage pond.
The course turns northward on 13, and
presents a most visually-stimulating tee shot. Driving over the
front-side barranca, the hole beckons you right. As the hole turns
in the other direction, a left-moving tee ball is more propitious.
The fairway and green are protected on the right side by sand, although
the bunkers are in no way too deep for recovery. 14 is the collosus
of the course, topping out at 588 yards from the tips. It is
surprisingly playable; with the advantage of a bounding landing off the
tee, the first shot tends to roll a bit more than anticipated. The
tee shot is played across a lovely little pond, more functional and
decorative than hazardous. The second shot must avoid a second water
course up the left side (I found it!) Play the hole center-right and
you'll have a run at the green on your third, and perhaps a putt for
birdie. 15, the second of the short holes on the inward nine, plays
one club shorter than its par-three predecessor. Shielded from the
wind by trees on both sides, it plays closer to its measured yardage than
number 12.
The penultimate and anti-penultimate holes run through an old quarry, and each has a feature unique to this type of land. Number 16 seems to run forever, at 459 yards from the tips. Moving from open to closed, from wide to narrow, the hole rebuffs you on the right off the tee (pond), then closes you in as the green approaches. The 17th hole plays counter to this strategy, escaping the minor woodland off the tee, then moving toward more open spaces as the putting surface draws near. The major concern on this hole is the pond, whose grandeur is felt at the front and left of the 17th green. Playing anywhere from fifty to seventy yards shorter than the preceding hole, 17 is best approached with caution.
The final hole of BTC's new nine is a unique styling for western New York. The tee shot is played past a left-side bunker to a flat zone in the optimal driving area. The green sits below the hole, shielded on the front by a bunker (left) and some minor mounding (right). The approach must be on yardage, as short might remain below the green surface, while long will bound up the backing hill, leaving a testy flip wedge for recovery. The final putt did fall, and my thoughts drifted back to the entire course. Having played both nines, I found that I enjoyed the close to the front a bit more than the back, and might flip the nines to bring a more dramatic ending to the course. No matter which nine you begin on, however, you will find many shots worth remembering, and many holes to enjoy.
The 29th annual, City of Niagara Falls,
Youth Golf Tournament will be held at the
Hyde Park golf complex on Tuesday,
August 8, 2006. The tourney
is available to boys and girls ages 7-17 and residence in Niagara Falls
is not required. Congratulatons to the Hyde Park staff, the City of Niagara Falls and all the volunteers who annually provide this tournament for the youth in the community and surrounding areas. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK....... The Travelin' Duff July 2006--The Travelin' Amigos (Part 1) On a cold and rainy afternoon at the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend, three amigos from buffalogolfer.com set out for the golf trip of their lives. We were heading to "cheese country", better known as the State of Wisconsin, for a 3 day and 4 rounds of golf weekend. Mo' Golf volunteered his aging van to make the 1400 mile round trip to Kohler, WI. The Scrambler, the Duff and Mo' managed to squeeze 3 golf bags, 6 duffle bags of clothing, food and beverages for at least a weeks stay, a box full of golf books, magazines and other sundries, 2 lap top computers, 3 cell phones, a package of breathe rite strips and a box of earplugs, and 3 hangers full of "formal attire" in case we needed to dress up. All the planning and packing and no where could be found a map of our journey. Of course, Mo' and the Scrambler had computer generated directions to aid us in this journey. Thank goodness the Scrambler's directions were more lengthy and informative. As we left the familiar confines of western New York, we headed west through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and finally, into Wisconsin. Our goal was to reach Kohler, WI within 11 hours which would make our arrival time at approximately 11pm, Central Standard Time. We shared the driving duties and drove through some of the worst weather each of us had ever seen. Seems like the mid west was sending a weather pattern filled with heavy rain and hot weather to the east. After frequent stops to eat fast food, gas up and to allow the Duff to drain his aging bladder we were in Wisconsin. Of, course, Kohler was still another two to three hours away but we made it to the state line and the rain has stopped. Since we left Buffalo many long hours ago, the Duff enjoyed finding memorabilia from previous trips in Mo's van. A plastic cup from the 2002 US Open at Bethpage, a media pass from the 2004 US Open at Shinnecock Hills, many score cards from courses, most notably the Conklin Players Club and the Links at Hiawatha Landing from the Binghamton area, Irondequoit Country Club in Rochester (site of the annual Nationwide Tour's Xerox Classic), many copies of Buffalo Spree magazine featuring Mo' Golf ( Ron Montesano) articles over the past year or so, lots of candy and water bottles left behind by Mo's kids and a full-sized spare car battery (just in case they don't sell any along the road we travel) and many, many unrecognizable items. We finally reached Kohler at 12:30am CST or 1:30am DST, some 13 and 1/2 hours since leaving Buffalo. The next objective was to find the American Club where we will lay our collective heads during our stay. Mo’ was navigating and the Duff was driving as we entered the darken town of Kohler. Of course, the navigator missed the turn in to The American Club which woke up the Scrambler from a deep sleep of golf dreams. Even late at night, The American Club is a sight to behold. A beautiful spread of lighted, landscaped and ivy covered buildings was beckoning our tired bodies. Mo’ told us to stay in the van as he slid out to register this motley trio. The Scrambler and the Duff sat in the van like children wondering if Mo’ was trying to sneak us in because of the way we looked after 13 ˝ hours or because he had only booked the room for one. Once registered, the Three Amigos entered a beautiful guest room with 2 queen size beds, a full sized cot, 3 sinks, a bathroom with a spa, and all the trimmings were Kohler products. Even the hook on the bathroom door was unique. It was in the shape of a keg spigot and shiny as gold. The two younger Amigos gave the queen sized bed nearest the bathroom to the Duff since he is the oldest and in most need of rest and closeness to bladder relief. The Scrambler opted for the cot in front of the TV with the golf channel playing as soon as we entered the room while Mo’ Golf, by default, got the other queen sized bed since it was closest to the internet port and electrical supply. By this time, we were all zombies and looking to arise at 6am for an 8am tee time at the Whistling Straits Irish course. The Duff headed for the shower and then to bed. Of course, with two night owls as room mates, I came prepared with ear plugs and breathe rite strips for everyone. The Duff wanted to sleep at least a few good hours and did so after installing the sleep equipment. PART 2 TO FOLLOW SOON June 2006--!Vamos, Esteban! The NATIONWIDE TOUR makes it's annual stop in western New York this week for the Peek'n Peak Classic held at the resort in Findlay Lake. This will be the first time in a few years that the Duff will be unable to attend any of the week long events. He did however, have the opportunity to play the the upper course in the middle of May during the media day festivities. Needless to say the 18 hole championship layout was in fine shape that day and will be in tournament shape beginning Thursday when the players take the course. Traditionally, the Classic directors bring back the winner from the previous year for media day. Esteban Toledo, the 2005 Classic champion who shot 274 (14 under par which was 2 strokes better than runnerup Jeff Gove) , was on hand at media day this year. Each media foursome had the opportunity to play one hole with him. Esteban and our foursome played the 14 th hole, a trecherous par 5, which the Duff believes is the signature hole on the upper course. It was amazing to watch Esteban hit 2 irons and a wedge to 10 feet of the flag which he promptly holed for birdie. Check out the photo of our foursome which included from left, Jeff from Peek'n Peak, the Scrambler from www.buffalogolfer.com, Esteban, Garrett from the Tonawanda News, and the Travelin' Duff. We had the opportunity to speak to Esteban during our play and also at the luncheon held in his honor at the resort. Not only was Esteban's play last year impressive but he also had great rapport with the gallery. He had been on the PGA Tour twice before and the Duff wanted to know more about him. Questioning my colleague, Mo' Golf, regarding Esteban's background, he mentioned the book "Tin Cup Dreams....A Long Shot Makes It on the PGA Tour" by Michael D'Antonio. "This book, Mo' said, " is the life story of Esteban Toledo and I happen to have a copy of it for you". Over the next few days, Esteban's life from his poor childhood in Mexicali, Mexico to his first trip to the PGA Tour unfolded. Without a doubt, this book is a must for all golfers and for anyone interested in reading a story about dedication, perseverence, love, and undying loyalty to a dream. So, good luck to all the players in the field at the Peek'n Peak Classic this week and a special cheer for last years winner..... "!Vamos Esteban!" (Let's go Esteban). This past week the Duff was playing at Deerwood Golf course in North Tonawanda, NY. Luckily, I was teamed with 2 very nice local gentlemen, Jeff and Warren. We played the Buck nine first and all had decent scores. Standing in the tee box of the beautiful ninth hole on the Doe course, Warren said, "Beware of the Bird Houses in left rough!". He further explained that last summer, his tee shot, on this long dogleg left hole, landed close to two bluebird houses in rough on the left side of the fairway. Believing that the bird houses were not in his line of flight , he hit his fairway wood. Unbelievably, his ball hit directl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Travelin'
Duff's 19th 
