Grover Cleveland Golf Course

Grover Cleveland Golf Course in Amherst, New York, is one of two golf courses owned by Erie County. Located at 3781 Main Street, it was founded as The Country Club of Buffalo on February 11, 1889. The 18-hole course is 5,621 yards (5,140 m) (from the back tees) and is a par 69. It has a course rating is 65.5 and a slope rating of 102. The course hosted the 1912 U.S. Open, won by the defending champion, 20-year-old John J. McDermott, Jr., still the youngest-ever champion and the first American to win the title.

The course was sold to the City of Buffalo in 1925, when the Country Club of Buffalo moved to its present location in Amherst, near Williamsville. Norman Leising manages the course as the Superintendent.

It was originally located at the intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Nottingham Terrace, near the present day Delaware Park and SUNY–Buffalo State College. Noted architect E.B. Green designed the first clubhouse, which opened in August 1889. The club relocated in 1899 to make way to the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. The clubhouse became the Women’s Center during the Pan American Exposition.

History

In 1900, The County Club of Buffalo acquired land at the intersection of Main Street at Bailey Avenue at the City of Buffalo’s border with the Town of Amherst. The club began construction of a golf course at that time and constructed a clubhouse on the site in 1901. George Cary, who also designed the Buffalo History Museum (a National Historic Landmark), designed the clubhouse. The 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and a polo field were completed in 1902. In 1910, A.L. Pfitzner, a pilot from Curtiss, made the first airplane flight in Western New York from the club’s grounds. In 1910 and 1911, Walter J. Travis renovated the course in anticipation of attracting a major golf tournament. The Country Club of Buffalo hosted the 1912 U.S. Open, which was won by John McDermott with a score of 283

The City of Buffalo purchased the club in 1925 for $800,000 and the site was renamed Grover Cleveland Park to honor the former Mayor of Buffalo, Governor of New York State, and President of the United States. The County of Erie now owns and operates the challenging 18-hole golf course, known as Grover Cleveland Golf Course.

The Country Club of Buffalo began the acquisition of a new property in 1922, and completed its relocation to its present location in the Town of Amherst at 250 Youngs Road in Williamsville, New York in 1926. The 6,600-yard (6,040 m) (from the back tees), par 72 Donald J. Ross, ASGCA designed golf course also opened in 1926. The course rating is 71.8 and it has a slope rating of 127 on Bent grass. Timothy P. Minahan, CCM manages the course as the General Manager. The clubhouse, which overlooks the eighteenth green, was designed by Duane Lyman and opened in 1927.

The present course has hosted the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1931, the Curtis Cup in 1950, the Carling Cup Matches in 1960, and the National Junior Girls Championship in 1962.

References

Coordinates: 42°57′29″N 78°48′40″W / 42.958°N 78.811°W / 42.958; -78.811

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