73.212.166.72: /* History */

2025-06-09T18:41:51Z

History

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{{short description|Historic golf course in Buffalo, New York, U.S.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox park
|name = Grover Cleveland Golf Course
|map = New York
|map_alt =
|coords = {{coord|42|57|40|N|78|48|33|W|region:US-NY|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|location = 3781 Main St, [[Buffalo, New York]] 14226
|type = County Park}}

The '''Grover Cleveland Golf Course''' is a historic [[golf course]] located in [[Buffalo, New York]] that hosted the [[1912 U.S. Open (golf)|1912 U.S. Open]]<ref name="1912Open"/> that was founded as '''The Country Club of Buffalo'''.<ref name="Mancini 2016"/> It is one of two courses owned by [[Erie County, New York|Erie County]].<ref name="erie"/>

==Course==
The golf course is located at 3781 Main Street. The 18-hole course is {{convert|5621|yd}} (from the back tees) and is a par 69.<ref name="GolfLink">{{cite web|title=Grover Cleveland Golf Course, Amherst, NY|url=https://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=790945|website=GolfLink.com|publisher=GolfLink|access-date=11 October 2017|language=en}}</ref> It has a course rating of 66.5 and a slope rating of 107.<ref name="erie">{{cite web |title=USGA Course Rating and Slope Database |url=https://ncrdb.usga.org/courseTeeInfo?CourseID=9300 |access-date=30 August 2024 |website=USGA |publisher=United States Golf Association |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
The course was founded as '''The Country Club of Buffalo''' on February 11, 1889, and was originally located at the intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Nottingham Terrace, near the present-day [[Delaware Park–Front Park System|Delaware Park]] and [[SUNY]]–[[University at Buffalo]]. After purchasing the 1823 [[Schenck House 1823|Samuel Schenck House]], which included the Old Stone House, farm and orchard at 3781 Main St, they moved from their site on Elmwood Ave.<ref name="buffaloah"/> The CCB built the original club house, polo field, archery field, tennis courts and lastly the 18 hole golf course. Noted architect [[E.B. Green]] designed the first clubhouse, which opened in August 1889.<ref name="buffaloah">{{cite web|last1=LaChiusa|first1=Chuck|title=Schenck House|url=http://buffaloah.com/a/main/3781/gc.html|website=buffaloah.com|publisher=Buffalo Architecture and History|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref>

In 1899, the club relocated to make way for the 1901 [[Pan-American Exposition]]. The clubhouse became the Women's Center during the Pan-American Exposition. The club acquired land at the intersection of Main Street at Bailey Avenue at the City of [[Buffalo, New York|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 (architect)|George Cary]], who also designed the [[National Historic Landmark|landmarked]] [[Buffalo History Museum]], 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 Aeroplane and Motor Company|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.<ref name="ccofbuffalo">{{cite web|last1=Buffalo|first1=Country Club of|title=Home - Country Club of Buffalo|url=http://www.ccofbuffalo.org/|website=www.ccofbuffalo.org|publisher=Country Club of Buffalo|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref>

In 1912, the course hosted the [[1912 U.S. Open (golf)|1912 U.S. Open]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Staff Writer at Buffalo Rising|title=McDermott’s mid-iron Mashie, used to win the 18th US Open in Buffalo, goes up for auction.|url=https://www.buffalorising.com/2017/04/mcdermotts-mid-iron-mashie-used-to-win-the-18th-us-open-in-buffalo-goes-up-for-auction/|access-date=11 October 2017|work=[[Buffalo Rising]]|date=4 April 2017}}</ref> won by the defending champion, 20-year-old [[John McDermott (golfer)|John J. McDermott, Jr.]],<ref name="Barkow2000">{{cite book|last1=Barkow|first1=Al|title=The Golden Era of Golf: How America Rose to Dominate the Old Scots Game|date=2000|publisher=MacMillan|isbn=9780312252380|page=24|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tm2DBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA24|access-date=11 October 2017|language=en}}</ref> still the youngest-ever champion and the first American to win the title.<ref name="Donnelley2010">{{cite book|last1=Donnelley|first1=Paul|title=Firsts, Lasts & Onlys of Golf: Presenting the most amazing golf facts from the last 500 years|date=2010|publisher=Octopus Books|isbn=9780600622550|page=1910|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mC4YAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1910|access-date=11 October 2017|language=en}}</ref> McDermott won the tournament with a score of 283.<ref name="1912Open">{{cite news|title=M'DERMOTT WINS OPEN GOLF TITLE; Atlantic City Professional Repeats Last Year's Performance -- Travis Finishes Tenth.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1912/08/03/archives/mdermott-wins-open-golf-title-atlantic-city-professional-repeats.html|access-date=11 October 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=3 August 1912}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=MASKED GOLFER CHALLENGES; Britisher Will Play McDermott, "Pro" Champion, for $1,000 a Side.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1912/11/08/archives/masked-golfer-challenges-britisher-will-play-mcdermott-pro-champion.html|access-date=11 October 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=8 November 1912}}</ref>

===Sale===
In 1922, the Country Club of Buffalo began acquiring new property, and in 1925, the existing course was sold to the City of Buffalo for $800,000{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}. In 1926, the club completed its relocation to its present location in the [[Amherst, New York|Town of Amherst]] at 250 Youngs Road in [[Williamsville, New York]].<ref name="Mancini 2016"/><ref name="1926Par">{{cite news|title=PUBLIC LINKS FIELD BEGINS TO GATHER; William Serrick of New York Equals Par in Practice Round at Buffalo.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1926/08/02/archives/public-links-field-begins-to-gather-william-serrick-of-new-york.html|access-date=11 October 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2 August 1926}}</ref>

When the club moved to its present location in Amherst, the existing site was renamed [[Grover Cleveland]] Park to honor the former [[Mayor of Buffalo]], [[Governor of New York]], and [[President of the United States]].<ref name="1926CityGolfers">{{cite news|title=CITY GOLFERS AWAIT START OF PLAY TODAY; Ford of New York, With 71, Tops Those Who Practice at Buffalo for Qualifying Round.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1926/08/03/archives/city-golfers-await-start-of-play-today-ford-of-new-york-with-71.html|access-date=11 October 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=3 August 1926}}</ref> It was at this time, that the Main St. property was rezoned from being part of [[Amherst, NY]] to becoming part of Buffalo, NY.<ref name="Mancini 2016"/>

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.<ref name="Mancini 2016">{{cite news|last1=Mancini|first1=Tara|title=The Story of the Buffalo Golf Club|url=https://www.buffalorising.com/2016/10/the-story-of-the-buffalo-golf-club/|access-date=11 October 2017|work=[[Buffalo Rising]]|date=14 October 2016}}</ref>

===Country Club of Buffalo===
The transported Country Club of Buffalo, located in the [[Amherst, New York|Town of Amherst]] is a {{convert|6600|yd|-1|adj=on}} (from the back tees), par 72 [[Donald Ross (golfer)|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.<ref name="ccofbuffalo"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Protected areas of Erie County, New York}}
{{U.S. Open golf venues}}

[[Category:1889 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Golf clubs and courses in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1889]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Buffalo, New York]]

Grover Cleveland Golf Course - Revision history

73.212.166.72: /* History */