Buffalo/Niagara Region
Golf
While the Rochester area may lay claim to being the best NY region for golf with it’s 20+ professional tournaments and legendary courses hosting the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship, etc., the Buffalo-Niagara region has a lot of great public golf courses to be played. Here are Top 5…
Seneca Hickory Stick - Lewiston
This is a fantastic, yet challenging course designed by one of the all time best course designers - Robert Trent Jones, Jr. With it’s Links Course design, a miss hit shot can lead to a couple of extra strokes trying to get out of the deep grass, but it is well worth it for the beauty and quality of this great course. The only thing that you could be disappointed by after an afternoon here is your score!
Course Stats - Par: 72, Blue Tee Slope: 128, Blue Tee Yardage: 6670 yards
Cost - Summer Weekday - $59 Ride Only, Weekend - $65 Ride Only
Food/Drink - The Hickory Grill menu has great appetizers, sandwiches and a couple of entrees including a Friday Fish Fry
Website - www.senecahickorystick.com
Diamond Hawk Golf Course - Cheektowaga
This is a great course that is well maintained. The amenities are top notch as well. The restaurant at the club even coined a new cuisine style for their food called Gastroque. Part Gastro Pub and Barbeque. It is great food.
Course Stats - Par: 72, Blue Tee Slope: 123, Blue Tee Yardage: 6267 yards
Cost - Summer Weekday - $48 Ride, Weekend - $65 Walk, $52 Ride
Food/Drink - Available at Restaurant and bar
Website - www.diamondhawkgolf.com
Harvest Hill - Orchard Park
This is a challenging but fair course that is in great condition and has some gorgeous views.
Course Stats - Par: 72, Blue Tee Slope: 106, Blue Tee Yardage: 6433 yards
Cost - Summer Weekday - $43 Ride, Weekend - $53 Ride
Food/Drink - Rooth’s Sky-Lite restaurant. Serves lunch and dinner with a beautiful view of the course and sunset
Website - www.harvesthillgc.com
Links at Ivy Ridge - Akron
The “ridge” in Ivy Ridge is a small ridge that runs through the course, but it and the course in general can put a canyon between the score that you hoped to shoot and what you really shoot. The course is links style and has a creative layout. It is very well maintained throughout the year and is worth the trip to Akron to play.
Course Stats - Par: 72, Blue Tee Slope: 130, Blue Tee Yardage: 7002 yards
Cost - Summer Weekday - $35 Ride, Weekend - $40 Ride
Food/Drink - A snack bar with burger and sandwich options.
Website - www.thelinksativyridge.com
Double Black Diamond Golf Course - Ellicottville
Although this course is pretty short from the Blues at 5603 yards, the hilly terrain on the back nine (it is at a ski resort) is pretty tight so this is still a challenging course. If you want to jack up the difficulty, you can play the Double Black Diamond tees where the yardage goes up to 6493 yards. Besides being a great course, the view on the back 9 is gorgeous and makes it worth the trip.
Course Stats - Par: 70, Blue Tee Slope: 115, Blue Tee Yardage: 5603 yards
Cost - Summer Weekday - $40 Ride, Weekend - $56 Ride
Food/Drink - A snack bar with burger and sandwich options.
Website - www.holidayvalley.com/summer/golf