2012 golf season gets off to best start ever By Rick Zurak We’ve all heard the saying, “what a difference a year makes”. Well that has never been more true when it comes to golf in Western New York than in 2012. The warmest March in history opened golf courses earlier than ever, got the grass growing earlier than ever and produced more income for the golf courses in any late winter/early spring than anyone can remember. “Last year we had such a horrible spring that we really didn’t get much play until the end of May,” said Cindy Diehl of Hickory Ridge Golf Course and RV Park in Holly. “This year March 15 was the earliest we ever mowed the fairways and greens. It has helped a lot because you can never really make up lost income from the spring. Thankfully it gives a good start to the year.” “Last spring we probably lost 30 percent of our annual business because the weather was so bad,” said Jim Fiske of the Links at Ivy Ridge in Akron. “It’s nice to get of to such a good start in 2012. Our course is in great shape and we are looking forward to a great year.” What does a good spring do for golf in WNY? It makes everyone happy. The golfers, course owners, superintendants, club manufacturers, ball companies. You name it
and the numbers are good all around. “The National Golf Foundation came out the other day and said rounds in New York and Pennsylvania were up 3800 percent in March,” said David Damaske, General Manager at Parkview Fairways in Victor. “For New England rounds were up like 400 percent and Virginia was 20-30 percent, but for NY and PA it was 3800 percent. That was a fantastic boost in business for everybody.” Expect better playing conditions throughout 2012 due to the 80 degree days in March. “Our golf course is always in good shape, but it got in good shape sooner,” said Mike Roeder, General Manager of Ravenwood Golf Club in Victor. “The course is maturing a lot quicker. It’s funny because people are expecting spring rates just because of the time of the year, but the course is almost summer-like. They can still take advantage of the great conditions though until Memorial Day weekend at a reduced rate so take advantage of it now.” What’s New for 2012? We would like to tell you there are ten new golf courses in the area for the new year, but we are just going to have to settle on the great courses that we had last year with some nice
changes. Some bigger than others, but here’s what we know of right now. Mill Creek in Churchville is sporting a new 200-person tent facility perfect for tournaments and weddings, but even bigger news is that the 10th hole, the highest point of elevation in Monroe County is now a par three and 14 is now a par five. That takes away a blind shot off the tee on ten and makes for an interesting par 3 down into the valley. Ever hit an 8 iron from 200 yards??? Well, the new #10 plays anywhere from 160 to 243 and it is doooooooown hill. Have fun. A new owner, new management, new attitude. That’s the new saying at Timber Ridge in Brockport. Formerly Cardinal Hill, Timber Ridge is featuring new carts, cart paths, a newly paved parking lot and has the welcome mat out.”We invite you to visit Timber Ridge Golf Club for a wonderful experience and a great day of golfing.” You have to admit it, their new attitude is inviting! Hunter’s Pointe in Welland is back. It never really went away, but after a couple of years as Lochness Links, the only real links course in the WNY/Southern Ontario area is back to its original name. If you continued on back page
With a great start to the season, you’ll find lush greens at Beechwood (hole No. 12) and Byrncliff hole No. 17 (below).
Innovative, fun golf gear By Pam Borges The “Buzz” at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show focused on the Golf 2.0 Strategic Plan, which promotes programs and initiatives to grow the game of golf by increasing participation, thus growing the business side of golf. The goals…make golf more welcoming, accessible and fun for both genders and all age groups! Over 1,000 exhibitors followed suit. Cobra Puma had an adult-sized slide, while Travis Mathew had a blackjack table. However, the real life of the party was the wide variety of the latest and greatest inventions. RocketBallz (TaylorMade) Of the big equipment companies, TaylorMade dominated the scene with the introduction of their RocketBallz (RBZ) line. The polarizing name not only captures interest, but captures the distance performance of the product. “Like a rocket,” is how Dustin Johnson described its performance as he was blown away at how far the Rescue prototype hit. “Strap a rocket to your ball”—New RBZ Drivers are fast, lightweight and adjustable at $299. Key to performance is the Flight Control Technology with 8 loft/lie angle settings, aerodynamically shaped thin crown, outfitted with a lightweight shaft and grip resulting in overall club weight of 299 grams. The RBZ Fairway Woods and Rescues combine all the RBZ technology plus improved sole geometry with “Speed Pocket” to improve face flex at impact to increase ball speed while reducing spin. Due to this innovative design, TaylorMade claims that their RBZ Fairway Woods will promote up to 17 yards of added distance and testers from major golf publications agreed. Taylormadegolf.com AMP (Cobra/Puma) Bringing fun, color and attitude to the game, Cobra/Puma couldn’t help capture attention to their new AMP line of clubs, which sports Rickie Fowler’s colors. The AMP Fairway Woods and Driver sport a black PVD with vibrant orange details on the club head and shaft accentuated by vivid orange or green grips. Eye-striking, with its “100 percent pure, fresh, juicy, sweet technology”, the $299 Driver features a titanium club head, E9 Face Technology with dual roll design to provide more distance to shots above and below the centerline. The AMP has 3 face-angle settings, but the trick is in the Aldila Speed Tuned shafts which have progressive weight design and flex profiles that customize performance for various swing speeds. Cobragolf.com XCG5 (Tour Edge) In the Exotics tradition, the XCG5 Driver and Fairways feature Tour Edge’s one-of-a-kind combo-brazing process to join the crown, sole and face of their clubs, which produces a stronger joint and significant weight saving. Most drivers weld face plates to the body to save cost and time. Unique to golf, the XCG5’s advanced head design features a titanium face and body brazed to an ultra-thin beta titanium crown, which is lighter than the previous car-
bon crown found in the XCG4 for longer more powerful drives. The face is 12 percent larger than previous models to bolster ball speeds. One of the lightest drivers on the market at 271 grams, it offers three shaft options with varied weights. The XCG5 Fairway Wood is the only fairway on the market that features a beta titanium cup face and tungsten sole plate brazed to a titanium body. Just like in drivers, titanium offers exceptional distance and this highoctane combination is said to deliver “driver-like distance”. Tour Edge guarantees the XCG5 Fairway will be longer than your current wood or return it within 30-days for a refund. Touredge.com The Pearl Putter is a unique first time putter that allows you to change to the lie angle of your putter so the head is square to the ground. The Barefoot BERBES shoe promotes itself as the lightest shoe in golf giving you the feeling of playing barefoot, but with tracksion. Ladies will enjoy Abigale Lynn’s Ball Marker Bracelet.
Secret Grip Boccieri Golf, makers of the Heavy Putter, is sharing the secret to better golf by introducing a new way to improve your game by simply changing your grips. The “Secret Grip” is really not a secret since they’ve been incorporating this grip on all their “heavy” technology clubs. The patented grip has a 16g tungsten weight in the top end that raises the balance point of the club which promotes better body mechanics, improved consistency, greater control and distance. Easy to install on most clubs, the grips are one-inch longer than standard, allowing players to choke-down further. Stephen Boccieri invites everyone to experience the benefits of their back-weighting technology through his offering of one free grip to try out. Secretgrip.com Pearl Putter Since we’ve seen club adjustability become a key feature in game improvement, it was only a matter of time before someone saw the need to invent a putter that customizes the lie angle for the golfer’s stance. Pearl Pro Sports has pioneered and patented the first adjustable lie
putter that conforms to USGA rules. Pearl Putter’s patented gear system allows you to adjust the lie angle from 6080 degrees so the head is square to the ground for greater consistency and accuracy. Its centershafted design channels the stroke force directly into the back of the golf ball for improved balance and feel and the shaft geometry allows for better visibility of the thick, contrasting sight line for easier alignment. The CNC milled billet aluminum head features milled grooves on the face for better ball grip and more consistent roll. Pearl Putter combines “custom ergonomics with personalized aesthetics”. Available in traditional colors or an array of dazzling “retro” colors, lengths (32-37”) and a variety of customized grips, it’s easy to find the fit, feel and look to suit you. Pearlprosports.com Perfect Release How do the pros swing so effortlessly and produce club head speeds that produce long distances? I always thought the secret is in the swing mechanics? Partly true…the answer, I’ve been told, is in the perfect release. What I didn’t know is that there are two club head speed producers in the golf swing — the proper rotation of the left hand and the proper rotation of the body through impact. Synchronizing these speed producers is the key to a proper release. I’ve tried several training aids that help develop the proper swing components, but none have been as simple to use, portable, affordable and effective as the Perfect Release. The Perfect Release is an easyto-use, innovative speed training aid that teaches you to feel the proper release of the golf club, which is the most important part of the golf swing. The two main components include an arm band and bright elastic cord that attaches one end to
the arm band and the other end to any club. The colorful cord also acts as a visual aid for identifying the proper swing plane. How does it work? The tension of the cord along with its alignment to the clubface helps you feel the proper path and plane the hands and golf club should travel. The goal is to keep the elastic cord taunt throughout the swing sequence. If it’s more distance or more accuracy you’re looking for, “Feel what the pros feel…Perfect Release”! perfectrelease.com Barefoot B.E.R.B.S. A catchy name for a shoe built on science, this ergonomically correct minimalist golf shoe is the first cleated “barefoot feeling” golf shoe with a zero heel drop. Barefoot B.E.R.B.S. claims to provide a more evenly balanced foot and better stability throughout the golf swing. These flexible, light-as-a-feather, waterproof, foot huggers sport a ultra-thin outsole, unique five spike design with replaceable soft spikes that support better balance. Velcro straps over the top and back eliminates the need for shoelaces and promote a more customized fit. The neoprene and leather uppers come in five color combinations to suit both sexes. So, if you prefer ‘barefootin’ then step forward and try Barefoot B.E.R.B.S. for Better Energy Recovery, Balance Stability. barefootberbs.com TipTeeToe Some people just aren’t comfortable with a flat-foot design shoe and need that heel lift to improve posture. TipTeeToe is the world’s first wedge sole lady’s golf shoe that helps achieve correct posture, better balance and stability when addressing and hitting the golf ball. The new low wedge design (1.5 inch heel) promotes proper positioning (weight on the balls of your feet), eliminating swinging from the heels and playing off balance. Spikeless and stylish, TipTeeToe shoes take women from the golf course to the concourse. They come in an array of vibrant colors, jazzed
up with colorful straps and built-in ball marker. tipteetoe.com Insta Golf Shoes Forget the costly golf shoes and transform any shoe into a high performance golf shoe with Insta Golf Shoes. Like a pair of rubbers, slip them over your shoes and you’re ready to go! Lightweight TPE Elastomer construction holds them in place while the traction tread outsole, heel and forefoot replaceable cleats provide traction and stability while walking and swinging. They are available in white, black, and gray or jazz it up with their fashion colors. Each pair fits a 2.5 shoe size range and they fold up easily for storage in the accompanying nylon zippered carry bag. Instagolfshoes.com Magicool For you hot-blooded Americans, die-hard summer golfers/athletes and laborers who toil in blistering heat, Magicool is a simple, economical, reusable product that will provide long lasting coolness. By dipping it in water this flat strip of cotton tubing filled with superabsorbent-polymer magically plumps up and provides continuous cooling by vaporization heat effect. Wrap it around your neck and secure with velcro strip. When dried, just soak again for continuous cooling that lasts over 20 hours! It’s available in four colors…navy, light blue, pink and camouflage. Daisaku-shoji.co.jp Ball Marker Bracelet Abigale Lynn’s newest golf fashion accessory for ladies is their eye-catching, one-of-akind interchangeable Ball Marker Bracelet. Fashioned like a wristwatch the leather bands come in red, ivory, black and gray metallic assembled with a choice of snazzy, crystallized ball markers that magnetize to the band. Gift sets are available featuring assembled bracelet with additional ball marker and visor clip. abigalelynn.com Pam Borges, a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and International Network of Golf, is a Rhode Island-based freelance writer and a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly.
MAY 2012 • SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE • WWW.HUGESPORTZ.COM
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE • WWW.HUGESPORTZ.COM • MAY 2012
Coach Steve the Motive8 Guy
Motivation is a Two-Way Street You might have heard the saying, “believe it and you will achieve it.” Many people assume that this motivational statement is about positive thinking only. But motivation is a two-way street; negative thoughts can influence our lives just like positive ones can! Imagine you are a golfer approaching the tee, and you notice there is water ahead to the left. You might say to yourself, “I don’t want to hit the ball in the water.” You might be so nervous about the water that the water becomes your focus as you prepare to swing your club.
Despite the desire to land on the fairway, your current dominant thought is about the water. That might lead you to send the ball right into it! There is a simple solution to this problem, and it works in golf as well as many other challenges in life. The key is to focus on the positive. Think about where you want to be instead of what you hope to avoid! As a golfer facing a water hazard, the focus should be on the fairway rather than the water. Using principles of positive motivation, you should say to yourself, “I will hit the ball onto the fairway.” Visualization is also very important. Rather than just saying what you want, picture it happening in your mind. Imagine the flight of your ball and see it landing on the fairway. In this way, you build up your confidence even before taking the first swing …because in your imagination, you never miss! “Coach Steve” is a BreakThrough Performance Coach who works with executives, professional athletes, families and youth. He bases much of his work on Dr. Denis Waitley’s highly-acclaimed The Psychology of Winning, and is the only licensed facilitator of this program. If you would like to learn how Coach Steve can help you with your own motivation, whether in golf, career or other areas of life, please visit his website at www.motive8inc.com. You can also call him at (716) 810-4660 or reach him by email at coachsteve@motive8inc.com
MAY 2012 • SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE • WWW.HUGESPORTZ.COM
Public Golf Courses in and around Western New York Cattaraugus County (www.EnchantedMountains.com) Course Birch Run (9) Cardinal Hills Elkdale Holiday Valley Ischua Valley (9) St. Bonaventure (9) Turkey Run (9) Water Way Hills
Location Allegheny Randolph Salamanca Ellicottville Franklinville Allegheny Freedom Hinsdale
Phone 716-373-3113 716-358-5409 716-945-5553 716-699-2345 716-676-3630 716-372-7692 716-492-2888 716-372-9144
Daily/Wknd rate 27/29 inc cart 30/35 inc cart 44/54 50/60 inc cart 11/12 12/15 12/12 30/30 inc cart
716-386-2893
12/14
716-595-3003 716-357-6211 716-679-4571
12/13 55/65 inc cart 18/20 inc cart
716-355-4141
99/119 inc cart
716-355-4141 716-934-2825 716-487-1471
49/59 inc cart 25/40 inc cart 21/23
716-326-4653 716-672-7888 716-965-9723
13/15 10 (unlimited golf) 45/50 inc cart
716-648-4410 716-542-4653 716-631-7139 716-631-7124 716-773-4668 716-662-4311 716-542-4653 716-695-2580
17r;22nr/19r;23nr 39/54 inc cart 13r,23nr/13r,23nr 5r,8nr/5r,8nr 18/22 13/18 22/22 inc cart 15r;25nr/15r;25nr
716-681-4653 716-825-9811
35/44 inc cart 10/12
716-592-7636 716-542-2027 716-835-2533
29/29 inc cart 37/42 inc cart 13/16
716-651-0700 716-337-2190 716-652-5475 716-688-5454 716-549-4930 716-741-3395 716-836-7398
49/59 inc cart 24/26 inc cart 18/21 44/54 inc cart 11*/13* 10/12 16/18
716-684-4653
11/11
716-662-1980 716-537-2345 716-937-4741
44/59 inc cart 35/35 inc cart 30/34 inc cart
716-542-6342
45/55 inc cart
716-689-1421
6r,12nr/6r,12nr
716-496-5016 716-542-4325 716-875-1811 716-825-9504
10/10 29/35 inc cart 15r;25nr/15r, 25nr 10/12
716-649-6674
38/46 inc cart
Chautauqua County Bemus Point GC (9) Bemus Point Cassadaga Lakes(9) Cassadaga Chautauqua GC Chautauqua Hillview GC (9) Fredonia Peek’n Peak Upper Course Findlay Lake Peek’n Peak Lower Course Findlay Lake Rose Brook Irving South Hills Jamestown Sugar Hill GC (9 hole, exec.) Westfield The Vinyards (9) Fredonia Tri-County Forestville
Erie County 18-Mile Creek GC Hamburg Arrowhead Akron Audubon Amherst Audubon Par 3 Amherst Beaver Island Grand Island Bob-O-Links(par-3) Orchard Park Bright Meadows Akron (18 holes) Brighton Tonawanda Buffalo Tournament Club Lancaster Cazenovia (9) Buffalo www.bfloparks.org Concord Crest East Concord Dande Farms Akron Delaware Buffalo www.bfloparks.org Diamond Hawk Cheektowaga Eden Valley Eden Elma Meadows Elma Glen Oak Amherst Grandview (9) Angola Greenwood (9) Clarence Grover Cleveland Buffalo Harris Hill Par 3 (9 holes, par 3) Bowmansville Harvest Hill Orchard Park www.harvesthillgc.com Holland Hills Holland Kis-n-Greens Alden The Links at Ivy Ridge, Akron www.thelinksativyridge.com Oakwood (9) Amherst Rolling Hills (9 holes, par 3) Chaffee Rothland Akron Sheridan Tonawanda South Park (9) Buffalo www.bfloparks.org South Shore Hamburg
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE • WWW.HUGESPORTZ.COM • MAY 2012 Genesee County Course Location Bethany Hills (Exec., par 69) Bethany Batavia CC Batavia www.bataviacc.com Chestnut Hill CC Alden Davis Countryside Meadows Pavilion LeRoy Country Club LeRoy Terry Hills Batavia
Phone
Daily/Wknd rate
585-591-2763 585-343-7600
15*/15* 27/32 inc cart
585-547-9699
32/42 inc cart
585-584-8390 585-768-7330 800-825-8633
23/27 inc cart 21/26 inc cart 37/44 inc cart
Livingston County Brae Burn (9) Caledonia
Dansville Caledonia
585-335-8840 585-538-9956
Conesus Fairview Golf Course cart Lima (Charleston Pines) Lima (Island Oaks) Livingston Old Hickory Sonyea (9) Triple Creek Woodland Hills
Conesus
585-346-2100
15/16 inc cart 27 (mon/tues) inc. cart/lunch 27/33 inc cart
Avon
(585) 226-8210
23.50*/29.50* inc
Lima
585-624-1490
34/39.50 inc cart
Lima Geneseo Livonia Mount Morris Nunda Nunda
585-624-1490 585-243-4430 585-346-2450 585-658-4545 585-468-2116 585-468-5010
34/39.50 inc cart 38/40 inc cart 30/35 inc cart 13*/14* inc cart 22/28 inc cart 22/26 inc cart
585-352-5360 585-638-2266
28/30 inc cart 25/35 inc cart
585-352-4720 585-889-9325 585-293-0680 585-392-8080 585-266-0110 585-377-5200 585-424-2920 585-586-1300 585-663-0300
13/13 30/32 inc cart 30/31 inc cart 27/35 inc cart 30/31 inc cart 42/46 inc cart 30/31 inc cart 11/12 36/36 inc cart
585-663-9440 585-889-4110
8.50/8.50 39/49 inc cart
585-889-0739
10/10
585-223-7651 585-352-5314 585-334-6196 585-352-4300 585-385-2010 585-385-8550 585-385-2010
CALL 12/12 22/22 35/40 inc cart 40/45 inc cart 42/47 inc cart 40/45 inc cart
585-385-2010
12/12
585-621-1030
10/12
585-533-2440 585-385-8458
10/11 10/11
585-637-2582
25/25 inc cart
585-352-4800 585-265-1920 585-265-1920 585-334-5860
30/38 inc cart 40/49 inc. cart 26/30 inc cart 42/45 inc cart
585-248-4880
11/13
Monroe County Braemar Spencerport Brockport Brockport Buttonwood 18 hole (par 3) Spencerport Chili Scottsville Churchville Churchville Deerfield Brockport Durand-Eastman Irondequoit Eagle Vale Perinton Genesee Valley Rochester Island Valley (9) Fairport Lake Shore Greece Latta Lea (Par 3, 9 holes) Greece Mill Creek Churchville www.millcreekgolf.com Mill Creek Short Course www.millcreekgolf.com Perinton Perinton Pinewood (9) Spencerport Riverton( 9) Henrietta Salmon Creek Spencerport Shadow Lake Penfield Shadow Pines Penfield Shadow Lake Penfield Shadow Lake Executive 9 Penfield Shore Acres Executive 9 Greece Southern Meadows (9) Rush St. John Fisher (9) Rochester Timber Ridge Golf Club, LLC Brockport www.timberridgegolfing.com Twin Hills Spencerport Webster East Webster Webster West Webster Wildwood Rush Woodcliff Golf Course (9) Fairport
MAY 2012 • SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE • WWW.HUGESPORTZ.COM Niagara County Course Location Deerwood N. Tonawanda Gothic Hill( 9) Lockport www.gothichillgolf.com Hyde Park (18 holes) Niagara Falls Newfane Pro-Am (9 holes, par 3) Newfane Niagara County Lockport Niagara-Orleans Middleport Oak Run Lockport Seneca Hickory Stick Lewiston Shawnee( 9) Wheatfield Willowbrook Lockport
Phone 716-695-8525 716-438-5477
Daily/Wknd rate 14r;26nr/14;26nr 11/11
716-297-2067
17r;20nr/19r;23nr
716-778-8302 716-439-7954 716-735-9000 716-434-8851
10/11 28/32 inc cart 30/34 inc cart 34/36 inc cart
716-754-2424 716-731-5177 716-434-0111
59/69 inc cart 13/13 30/33
315-789-9419 585-396-2200 585-924-5346
26/29 inc cart 59/75 inc cart 30/40 inc cart
585-964-5440 585-657-7539
24/26 inc cart 28/36 inc cart
585-924-5100
53/63
585-374-8010
42*/47* inc. cart
585-289-8846
28/35 inc cart
585-924-0280
8/10
585-682-3922 585-638-4653
20/25 inc cart 25/30 inc cart
585-682-3280
22/25 inc cart
585-765-2630
7/8
315-539-8076
25*/30* inc cart
Macedon Macedon Walworth
315-986-5888 315-986-4455 315-524-0022
40/50 inc cart 25/30 inc cart 52/61 inc cart
Wolcott Sodus Lyons
315-594-8295 315-483-6777 315-946-6944
29/29 inc cart 39/49 inc cart 38/54 inc cart
Ontario County Big Oak Geneva Bristol Harbour Cananadaigua Centerpointe Canandaigua Ozzie’s Corner Golf Course Hamlin Parkview Fairways East Bloomfield www.parkviewgc.com Ravenwood Victor www.ravenwoodgolf.com Reservoir Creek Naples Winged Pheasant (27 holes) Farmington Winding Creek Executive (9) Victor
Orleans County Harbour Pointe Waterport Hickory Ridge Holly www.hickoryridgegolfresort.com Ricci Meadows Albion White Birch (Par 3) Lyndonville
Seneca County Silver Creek
Waterloo
Wayne County Blue Heron Hills GC Crooked Pines Greystone Port Bay Golf Course Sodus Bay Heights Wayne Hills
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE • WWW.HUGESPORTZ.COM • MAY 2012 Wyoming County Course Location Archie’s Chip & Putt (11 hole, Par-3) Java Byrncliff Resort & Conference Ctr Varysburg www.byrncliff.com Ironwood Cowlesville www. playironwood.com Quiet Times (par 62) Attica Rolling Acres Pike
Phone
Daily/Wknd rate
585-457-9505
10/10
585-535-7300
39/48 inc cart
585-805-0350
34/39 inc cart
585-591-1747 585-567-8557
16/16 27/29 inc cart
315-536-7252
60/66 inc cart
Phone 866-883-3633
Daily/Wknd (Can.$) 49/59 inc cart
905-295-2240
16/18
905-374-2110 905-835-2234 905-991-8883
26/26 30/30 25/25 inc cart
905-384-4653
95/105 inc cart
905-714-4659 905-382-2000
59/59 inc cart 30.97/39.83 inc cart
866-465-3642
85/100 inc cart
866-465-3642 905-468-3424 905-358-5846 905-358-6418 905-295-6643 905-892-8844 905-262-4528 905-871-0921 877-762-5929 905-384-9894 866-ROYAL-18 905-262-4522
85/100 inc cart 31/35.50 inc taxes 30/35 5/5 27/33 89/99 inc cart & tax 13.25/14.75 18/18 63/72 inc cart 44/54.15 inc cart & tax 72.50/87.50 inc cart 13.25/14.75
905-357-6000 905-356-1140 905-835-6864
79.99/94.99 inc cart 65/80 inc cart 37/37
800-790-0912
50/60 inc cart
Yates County Lakeside
Penn Yan
Canada Course Location Beechwood Niagara Falls www.beechwoodgolf.com Chippawa (9) Niag Falls Eagle Valley GC (Par 63) Niagara Falls Emerald Pines Port Colborne Fort Erie Golf Club Fort Erie www. www.forteriegolf.ca Grand Niagara Resort Niagara Falls Hunters Pointe (formerly LochNess Links) Welland International Stevensville Legends on the 0Niagara (Ussher’s Creek) N. Falls Legends on the Niagara (Battlefield) N. Falls Niagara GC (9) Niag.-on-the-Lake Niagara Falls GC Niagara Falls Oak Hall Par 3 (9) Niag. Falls Oaklands Niagara Falls Peninsula Lakes Fonthill Queenston(9) Queenston Rio Vista (9) Fort Erie Rockway Glen GC St. Catharines Rolling Meadows Niagara Falls Royal Niagara Niag.-on-the-Lake St. David’s (9) Niag.-on-the-Lake Thundering Waters GC Niagara Falls Whirlpool GC Niagara Falls Whiskey Run Port Colborne Willowdel Golf Club (formerly Links of Niagara) Niagara Falls
Due to space constraints, complete pricing information for each golf course could not be printed. Several courses offer season passes, spring and fall rates, senior and youth discounts and variable pricing throughout the day, week and weekend. Weekday fees are listed in front of the slash (/), followed by weekend and holiday rates. Some weekend prices are for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and Holidays, while others are for Saturday and Sunday only. Fees which include carts are denoted by “inc. cart.” An asterisk (*) denotes 2011 prices, as not all golf courses are yet open for the season and/or could not be reached for their updated pricing information. Resident prices are indicated with an “r,” and most require an ID card. Non-resident prices are indicated by “nr.” Prices for 9hole courses are for 9 holes only, but some courses offer discounted rates for completing the course twice. All prices for Canadian golf courses are in Canadian funds (Can) and do not include tax unless noted.
2012 golf season have never played there, put it on your bucket list for 2012. You can thank me later. And be sure and stop by the restaurant at HP, aka Swing Smokehouse, it’s very golfer friendly with a great bar plenty of BBQ and smokehouse selections. Mmmmmm. Speaking of new bars/golf restaurants in Canada, Thundering Waters, the John Daly design in the Falls, has just that. It’s a new sports bar with a fun menu. If you want to stay longer the Thundering Waters Village now boasts single family and executive loftstyle town houses. That’s taking stay and play packages to a new level. Staying and playing at Byrncliff in Varysburg will be easier in 2012. They have added a new rental cottage right on the golf course for groups of 8-12 players. Here’s a plan, play 18 in the morning, retire to the cottage for a mid day nap, wake up and play another 18 and enjoy the sweet sunsets on the hills of Wyoming County. Nice! If you want to stay and play in the Rochester area, Ravenwood in Victor is the place. The two-time home of the New York State
from front cover
Amateur and numerous USGA and national qualifiers, Ravenwood wants you to take advantage of their great “day trip” package. It includes an all inclusive package of golf, cart, range, a sleeve of balls, GPS live leader board, lunch and dinner all for less than $100. Throw in the Holiday Inn Express of the Best Western along with Bristol Harbour Resort, Greystone or Mill Creek and you could be part of the Finger Lakes Golf Trail. It’s the best golf Rochester has to offer. Rob Horak is a new addition to Ravenwood for 2012. The former head pro at Blue Heron Hills is now part of the teaching staff. Good hire. Jim Furlong is the new man at Willowbrook in Lockport. The former Director of Golf at Diamond Hawk is now the leader of the sweet 27 holes complex on Rt. 78. Be sure and make the newest nine, the north course, one of your choices playing there. Great layout. Gas and electricity are out at Parkview Fairways in Victor and solar energy is in. After three years of research and development and over $200,000 in solar generator equip-
ment, Parkview Fairways is now the local leader in going green. A total of 230 solar electrical panels are producing 54 kilowatts of power, enough to power the clubhouse, irrigation system and 63 power golf carts. “I would say it’s going to take 6-10 years to get our money back on the project,” said GM Dave Damaske, “but the solar panels are guaranteed to produce 80 percent after 25 years and they should last 40.” Add to that plenty of course trimmings to make it easier to find your golf ball and you have a green atmosphere to hit your white golf ball. If it’s night or indoor golf you are interested in, Cyber Creek in Elma (formerly Springbrook) has 9 new high-def simulators. After playing outside during the day, you can work on your game at their night lighted driving range, then go inside to the bar for a beer and bite to eat, and end up playing another nine at one of the greatest courses in the world. Not a bad day and night on the links. If you like golf exhibitions, there are few better than the Dennis Walters Show, coming to Harvest Hill in Orchard Park on July 15. Dennis lost use of
his legs years ago, but his passion for golf never waivered and he puts on a show second to none. He gets his dog involved too. Hey what better animal to tell you that when your ball is not on the fairway it’s in the “ruff”. The comedy is just part of the show. The trick shots are where it gets really entertaining. Batavia Country Club is sporting a new look pro shop. GM Chris Pompa tells us he has totally remodeled the pro shop and is now offering more golf goods than ever before. Chris also offers the best tournament package in WNY with golf, cart, lunch, steak dinner and a keg at lest than $50 per person. The rolling fairways of Batavia have never been better giving you a great tournament golf experience. Some one liners for the road… The NYS Jr. Tour (halfpricegolf.com) out of Buffalo will feature 7 parent-jr tournament in the Spring and Summer and a $6,000 scholarship individual Tour August through October. Diamond Hawk in Cheektowaga and Gothic Hill in Lockport both have new chefs. Two great places to eat,
golf or not. WNYPGA Pro Mike Judy took care of my son and I on a trip to the Dominican Republic a few years ago, now he welcomes you to Braemar Country Club in Spencerport where he says they have made many improvements for a great golf experience. LeRoy Country Club has two excellent finishing par 3’s. They now have excellent new tee boxes for your enjoyment. Glen Oak in East Amherst has featured GPS in the carts for a number of years, now the Robert Trent Jones layout has new carts and a new GPS system to make it even better. Hickory Ridge in Holly now has 54 RV sites with 16 more in store. RVing and golf are a popular combo according to Owner Cindy Diehl. Add to that a new in ground pool, pond, fishing, boating and Hickory Ridge is becoming quite the resort. GM Fran Roach is leaving Seneca Hickory Stick in Lewiston for a job in the middle east. Casey Kim has joined the Robert Trent Jones Jr course staff as Superintendent. Rosebrook in Silver Creek will be more entertaining this year. They have a new
enclosed heated patio with live bands every Friday and Saturday. There’s a new patio and awning at the clubhouse at Winged Pheasant in Ontario County to go along with the new par 5 on the back 9. Eagle Valley in N. Falls, Ont welcomes the U.S. Kids Tour to Ontario April 29 through June. Six courses will host events. Beechwood in N. Falls, Ont. is adding a 5th set of tee decks and replaced the bunkering on 3 holes and is continuing to make changes on other holes. Beechwood is a favorite of small and large outings. For more info give John White a call and tell Whitie I said hi! Power carts are now available at South Park and all Olmstead Parks, and The Vineyards in Fredonia has added 2 holes. Have a great season and remember…we PLAY golf. Have fun ! Rick Zurak is the host/producer of the Western New York Golf Report TV Show, Tuesday at 6:30 on Time Warner Ch. 20 in Buffalo and the Director of the NYS Jr Golf Tour (halfpricegolf.com). Email Rick: zurakgolf@adelphia.net.