Sean Michalski is the director of the Buffalo Golf Tour, a fledgling series of events making its debut in 2015. The tour will provide a competitive outlet for aspiring tournament competitors in western New York. Seven events are currently on the tour schedule. The website can be accessed here.
1. What is your connection to golf, how did it develop, and how did it bring you to the Buffalo Golf Tour?
I have playing golf my whole life. I currently hold a two handicap, most of my closest friends are either mini tour players or club pro’s around the country. I spent the past few seasons working at Rothland Golf Course as the Assistant Golf Pro. I decided to move forward with the tour because I felt like Buffalo was lacking a tour like this. This is the only tour where both pro’s and amateur golfers can play side by side for either cash payouts or pro shop credit. I see most amateur tours in our area charge way too much, and the players doesn’t receive anything really in return. We want our players to make money, have fun and compete.
2. What makes the Buffalo Golf Tour different from other organized tournaments?
The thing that separates us the most is we are only tour in Buffalo that allows both pro’s and amatuer golfers to play against and aside each other for cash payouts or pro shop credit. Our tour is a pro/net golf tour, which means amatuer golfers can use their handicaps during the events. We are truly an OPEN golf tour. We allow all skill levels to come out and play. Each event will have two winners one Gross and one Net. This gives both pro’s and amatuer golfers a reason to come out and compete.
3. What can you tell us about the tournament sites that you have selected?
This season our goal was to keep entry fees low as possible for the payers. Our tour is a players first tour. We are trying our best to give back to our tour players. We decided on these course because each course really worked with us on pricing. I also feel these venues give all of our golfers a fair chance to compete against each others. The pro’s will all play to a zero handicap.
4. How will the points list work and what will the top finishers receive?
The Buffalo points system is very cool, at each event we awarding points to players that finish inside the top 10. Also points will be awarded to the golfer that wins the low gross portion of the event. Just like the Fed Ex Cup we want drama come the Tour Championship!
5. How many tournaments will you hope to have by the end of the inaugural season?
In our first season we will run a total of eight one day events. This will include one Major and our Tour Championship. We are looking at hosting our Tour Championship at Harvest Hill this year.
6. Are there any rules that you feel will make a special difference in the way that the Buffalo Golf Tour will be run?
We will follow all USGA rules for the whole season. The biggest difference is we offer both cash payouts or pro shop credit it’s the golfers choice. We also run a few optional games like gross skins, closest to the pin, Long drive contest and a 50/50 drawing at each event. This again will give our golfers a chance to make even more money.
7. Which courses in the region would you like to target for future events?
Right now our first event has 22 players already signed up or max is 30 golfers for this event. I truly believe we will get there. To run an event we will need as little 8 golfers, our goal is much higher than that though. Our goal is to have 30 players at each site.
8. How large a field will you need for each tournament to run?
Right now our first event has 22 players already signed up or max is 30 golfers for this event. I truly believe we will get there. To run an event we will need as little 8 golfers, our goal is much higher than that though. Our goal is to have 30 players at each site.
9. What questions haven’t we asked, that you would love to answer? Ask them and answer them, please.
When does our season start? Our first event is May 23rd at Rothland Golf Course. Like I said the field is filling fast. Our schedule is now up on the site where you can sign up for future events, Buffalogolftour.net. Come out and gives us a try meet new golfers compete for real prizes and trophies. Oh and yes women can play.
Purse breakdown based on 30 golfers for first event
Low Gross- $120.0
1st Place $200.00
2nd Place $150.00
3rd Place $90.00
4th Place $75.00
5th Place $50.00
6th Place 35.00
7th Place $30.00
23-May Rothland Classic Rothland Golf Course 9:00am 13-Jun LeRoy City Championship LeRoy Country Club 8:30am 20-Jun Victor Open Ravenwood Golf Club 9:00am 12-Jul Batavia Open Batavia Country Club 9:00am 25-Jul The Willy Willowbrook Golf Course 8:45am 22-Aug Terry Hills Open Terry Hills Golf Club 8:00am 29-Aug Chestnut Hill Shotgun Chestnut Hill Country Club 8:10am 13-Sep Rothland Open Rothland Golf Club 9:00am
