Front Nine: Buffalo’s Composite Golf Course

After two months of campaigning, encouraging, rallying, and counting, it is our pleasure to release the front nine of Buffalo’s Composite Best Course 2024, as voted by BuffaloGolfer’s fan base. Some might call it the First Nine, or the Outward Half, but we’re going to utilize the most common appelation for the first half of a round of golf.

You told us that you play golf at public and private courses/clubs. You informed us that you like a geographic variety of layouts, and that you also like easier holes and more challenging ones. The front nine of this eclectic mix measured a wee 2948 yards, but we’ll challenge any and all to play it in even numbers. In fact, that sounds like a fun, Solstice endeavor!

The par of the course thus far is 34 strokes. The only par five featured comes from Varysburg’s Byrncliff, while the par three holes span 100 yards. The tiny 3rd at Terry Hills East measures a scant, 120 yards. In contrast, the thick 5th at Park Club is 228 yards of carry over Ellicott Creek.

Oh, goodness! We almost forgot the most famous par-three hole in the area, and one of the most challenging. Whether you call it Pulpit (its given name) or Volcano (its nickname), the 6th at Country Club of Buffalo is known everywhere.

When you do the math, 2948 yards for 34 strokes equals 86.7 strokes per shot at par. If you go to par 35, it’s 3035 yards. If you go to par 36, it’s 3122 yards, but who cares about Old Man Par? If you haven’t played Tri-County, the southernmost representative on the card, you should. You’ll play two stout holes for openers, then a drop-shot, par-three over a creek. All that will prepare you (maybe?) for the tricky, par-four fourth hole.

We understand your loyalty to your home club or course. Friends are there, you played your best round there, and it feels like home. Sometimes, appreciating home means traveling far and wide (or near and narrow) to see what else is out there. Coming home is usually wonderful.

Make an effort to tour the other courses and clubs across the Niagara Frontier. We always are, whether it be Quiet Times or Attica’s 10th Hole; Niagara Frontier or Deerwood; Pendleton Creek or Moonbrook. There’s so much golf to play!

Some Stats