The magic number for local golf is $36 or less

Transcription

1 The magic number for local golf is $36 or less By Rick Zurak Golf Editor We live a charmed life in Western New York and Southern Ontario when it comes to playing (and paying for) golf. There are not many places where there are so many good golf courses at such good rates. If you have traveled to Florida, the Carolinas, California, Arizona or out of the country, you know what I m talking about. Sure there are package deals and lesser courses you can play in other areas for a great rate, but the magic number in this area is $36, or less. We have been very fortunate to have at least eight new courses in the Buffalo area in the last few years and most of them are very affordable. Yes, there are Spring Specials as well as great rates in autumn when, at times, there is even a chance for snow, but this article is about playing primetime golf at less than prime time prices. We ll start with Glen Oak and Ivy Ridge. Glen Oak, located in East Amherst, was the number one public golf course in the area for more than ten years before the recent onslaught of new courses. The classic Robert Trent Jones design has long been known for its great layout and always-improving conditions. Well, if you like to play a great course for a great rate, how about $36 (including cart) Monday-Friday before 9 am. Better yet, if you are a senior, the rate is just Ravenwood hole No. 17. $33. You can also take advantage of these great rates weekends after 3 pm. You want one better, and I mean $1 better, get to The Links at Ivy Ridge in Akron. Entering its third The Links at Ivy Ridge hole No. 2. full season as arguably the best new public course in the area, Ivy offers a British Links flavor with some parklandstyle holes mixed in to make an excellent golf course. Hospitality is number one at Ivy Ridge and seven days a week starting at 3 pm you can enjoy the hospitality, eighteen holes of golf and cart for just $35. With the sun going down near 9 pm for the majority of summer, getting your full round in is not a problem. If you enjoy playing evening golf as much as I do, it s an ideal time to enjoy an picturesque golfing situation. The Buffalo Tournament Club opened all eighteen holes last year and Owner/Course Designer Tim Davis has done a wonderful job working his tail off to get continued on page 8

2 Golf equipment preview By Ronald Montesano As the 2008 golf season yawns and opens its eyes across the Buffalo-Niagara region, dreams of squareheaded drivers, gel and poly inserts, and golf shoes that enhance power transfer become reality. It s time again for Sports & Leisure Magazine s annual golf equipment review. As you can imagine, there is a lot to discuss, from clubheads and shafts to shirts and shoes to grips and golf balls. With your dollar becoming more precious, we ll try to wade through the PR and marketing campaigns and find what really works best for you. Golf balls Golf Channel commentator Nick Faldo got in a boatload of trouble a month back when he promoted the benefits of one golf ball over another on air. The fact is, not all golf balls are created equally, and what works for the best on the PGA Tour will probably not work best for you. We ll admit, the Titleist Pro VI, Brigestone B330, Nike One Tour, Srixon Z-URC and Callaway Tour I are very sexy golf balls. Prodigious professionals pound these orbs incredible distances on camera, upwards of 300 yards off the tee. Remember, though, that these are the world s finest golf athletes, blessed with incredible golf strength, timing, and coordination. They miss the center of the clubface once a decade, while you and I miss it at least once a hole. They boast club head speeds of 120 mph plus, while our club head s rarely garner the attention of the clubhead speed police, topping out at mph. The fact is the amateur golfer will be doing two favors by purchasing the softer golf ball lines from the major companies. These golf balls cost less and react better to average clubhead speeds. The Nike Karma, Precept Distance IQ, TopFlite Gamer, Pinnacle Platinum Feel and Titleist DT Solo will feel great off the tee and fairway, when chipping Nike Karma Golf Balls. and putting, and won t react as badly to mishits. Shafts The great equalizer, in the end, is the golf shaft. Names like Fujikura, True Temper, UST, Aldila, Harrison and Accu-Flex are not tossed around by most golfers at the 19th hole. Sadly, they should be. If more amateurs understood the importance of the golf shaft, they would better understand their games. The flex of the golf shaft determines the majority of the height and distance of the ball flight. A softer, less stiff shaft will kick or release earlier. For a slower swing (extremely young, old, or weak), the more flexible shaft helps the ball into the air. For a faster swing (stronger, age group), the stiffer shaft delays the release, storing energy for a greater kick at the bottom of the swing. Many top players still prefer to use metal shafts in their irons, depending on greater stability and consistency through the set. Most players have gone to composite shafts (titanium-graphite blends) in the driver and fairway metals. If you don t explore shaft options during your next club-purchasing experience, you re ripping yourself off. Clubheads may look pretty, but it s the shaft Photo courtesy Nike that powers your swing. Drivers and fairway metals Last season, Nike and Callaway debuted a new look to the geometry of the driver head, the square. Both the Sasquatch2 and the FT-1 made headlines for their forgiveness. In 2008, they are joined by two more square-heads from lesser-known companies: the HEX driver from Hippo and the Nickent 3DX Square and Tour Square. Depending on whose research you believe, the four-sided clubhead just might be the ticket to finding more fairways and fewer ponds, bunkers and outs-ofbounds. In 2008, Nike and Hippo are bringing their square technology to their fairway metals. Wilson rolls out the most unique look of 2008 with its Spine series of drivers. With a top crown that looks like a clamshell, Wilson is banking on the success of 2007 British Open champion Padraig Harrington to bring notice to its club. Wilson removed weight from the crown, placed it along the clubhead s perimeter, and found that the center of gravity was lowered, offering a more boring ball flight. Hybrids The most important advance in the last half-decade has been the appearance of hybrid clubs in golfers bags. A blend of long iron and fairway metal, the clubs replace the 3, 4 and 5 iron, ensuring that mid-long shots (from yards) see more flight time than bounce time. The Adams Company experienced a rebirth of sales when it refocused efforts on older golfers, sponsoring golfers on the Champions Tour and targeting amateurs who need help getting the ball in the air. Their Idea line of clubs tops the list of hybrid options in Other companies offering dependable hybrids include Callaway with the FT and X Hybrid series, Cleveland s HALO and HiBore lines, Cobra s Baffler series and the Nike Slingshot group. Nearly every major club maker made the decision to target the metalwood-based style versus the ironbased style. It was one of those VHS versus Beta decisions and, in this case, the better style won out. Irons Used to be that an iron was at least made of forged steel. Than came that bearded guy from Norway named Karsten Solheim and his cavity-back PING irons. If that was novel, consider the following quote from Titleist s press kit, concerning the new AP1 iron set: AP1 s high technology, multi-material construction features a precision cast #431 steel body, tungsten nickel box, elastomer cushion and aluminum cavity plate to deliver outstanding performance and feel. Huh? Tungsten nickel box? Aluminum cavity plate? Now that s technological advancement! Fewer and fewer blades hit the market these days (Mizuno is a notable exception) as research and development departments place cavity-backed irons in the bags of touring pros and beginners alike. With the diversity of offerings at your local pro shop, there s a cavity out there for everyone! Putters The most innovative introduction of 2008 relates not to the composition of the putter, but to its color. Nike has created the IC line of putters. Wilson Staff Spine Driver. Green in appearance, the supposition is that the elimination of color contrast between the putter and the grass will soften the visual demands on the eye musculature. Nike has retooled its aim lines on the putter, seeking to improve alignment and make more putts. Most putter makers have utilized polymer face inserts in some form or fashion. PING is the first company to place the insert behind the clubface. Photo by John Reed/Wilson Sporting Goods the cavity-back designs that are now considered classics, it is best know for its two-bar series, where two steel rods extend backward from the clubface. The Heavy Putter (from the company with the eponymous name) weighs a ton! Its premise is the heavier the club, the less you can jerk it off line. When you stand over that five-footer for all the skins, the last response you need from your nervous system is a spasm! Shoes Dressy golf shoes have gone the way of knickers and ties on the greens. The wing tips of yesteryear have been replaced by power platforms, quills and stability pods. In 2008, Nike offers its Power Platform series. Foot-Joy debuts stability PODS on the soles. Combined with a stability bridge, the shoe sole promises greater stability throughout the swing. Puma s quills suggest that improved traction is unavoidable when wearing their shoes. Unlike other facets of the golf equipment industry, half a dozen companies dominate the shoe arena. Callaway, Adidas, and Etonic also offer new Rife two-bar putter. Photo courtesy Rife. lines of shoes for your perusal. Making The ball never touches the eslastomer insert, yet its presence dampens the contact of ball and clubface. A softer exchange is the result, quieting the moment of contact. One of the great success stories inroads are smaller companies like Alias, ECCO, and Oakley. As with any equipment line, you never know who the next big name will be! Happy shopping. Ronald Montesano directs of the past five years has the been the emergence of smaller putter companies. Two of online guide to golf in Western New York. them stand out. Florida-based Rife has made an impact on the Champions Tour of older golfers. Although Rife offers

3 Golf medicine: A multidisciplinary approach By Chris Nentarz Whether you golf for recreation or competition, golfing is a sport. In fact, over 16 percent of the American population participates in this sport. Arnold Palmer once stated, Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated. It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening. It is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented. I think we can all agree with this statement. I have the fortunate experience of working with some of the top golf professionals and enthusiasts in our area. I always enjoy hearing the wonderful stories from their outings on the course. Furthermore, I love the eagerness the injured golfers demonstrate to get back to their sport from injury. The fact is that 53 percent of golfers suffer from pain, and, at any time, 30 percent of the professionals on the PGA tour are injured. When I first read this statistic, I was astonished. Upon further investigation, the fact becomes easier to understand given two facts. The first is that amateur golfers achieve 90 percent of their peak muscle activity when driving a golf ball. When was the last time you used 90 percent of your maximal strength? Let s not forget to mention that you are asked to do this repeatedly throughout a round of golf or trip to the range. As an aside, Olympic Power lifters are only asked to repeat a lift of this intensity for 3-5 repetitions, not times. The second consideration is that when driving, the head of the club may travel in speeds over 100 mph! This is accomplished through utilizing the summative powers of our big core muscles. I am always amazed at the performance of our anatomy! This is a lot to consider, especially when most of us are just happy to enjoy the outdoors and the company of friends as we attempt to hit a tiny ball towards a tiny hole. Golf injuries are an epidemic because our bodies are generally not ready for the amount of stress that golf places on them. The best way to avoid injuries during your golf season is to employ a multidisciplinary team. I am not writing today to inform you of common golf injuries, but I am here to tell you that most injuries are preventable. I am also here to tell you that employing a team will yield superior results, which means improved health, decreased pain, a better golf game and prevention of a potentially season ending injury. There are two major factors that lead to injuries on the golf course. The first is faulty swing and body mechanics. The second is poor conditioning. A team composed of a physician, physical therapist, golf professional and fitness professional can help remedy these problems. A physician is the first line of defense against debilitating injuries and pathologies. Most of us wait too long to seek the advice of a health care professional. As a rule of thumb, err on the side of caution and seek advice sooner than later. Your practitioner will then be able to make a judgment on what path you need to follow. A referral to physical therapy is a very effective treatment for golfers with pain. I recommend finding a physical therapist who is familiar with the specific needs of the golfer, biomechanics of the golf swing and functional biomechanics. Walter Brown, PT of Buffalo Spine and Sport Institute states, As with medical practitioners, a therapist or trainer with a strong background in function and athletic performance is essential to improving all the muscular and joint linkages required for a fluid efficient swing. Make sure you choose a therapist based on knowledge, experience Proper swing and body mechanics will help the golfer avoid those all too common injuries. and customer service, and not geographical convenience. Most personal trainers are great at enhancing strength and body composition, but most do not have enough experience with golf movement patterns. A trainer who understands the biomechanics of golf is key. For example, Bob Gosch of Discover Golf works specifically with golf fitness. He states, Today s golf game requires players to focus on both the mental and physical demands of the sport. We grow to be stronger individuals or life athletes, capable of greater personal accomplishments both on and off the golf course. A golf fitness professional will work directly to improve your body so you can perform your perfect swing over and over gain without fatigue. I also recommend finding a golf professional who is willing to work in conjunction with a health care practioner. Marlene Davis, LPGA Golf Professional states, It is extremely important that we recognize the importance of our clients health. I myself have had wonderful experiences with my team of professionals and refer clients to when there is a potential problem. Your golf professional should encourage you to seek outside advice when it comes to pain, muscle tightness or muscle weakness. In summary, a physician is available to screen us for complex medical pathologies. A physical therapist will help correct muscle and joint imbalance that cause pain and inhibit us from swinging efficiently. A golf professional will help correct our swing to prevent the overloading of tissues while enhancing our sport specific skill. A fitness professional will help condition our minds and bodies for the game of golf. When your team is working well together, you, your golf game and health will be at its best! Chris is a physical therapist and performance enhancement specialist who holds over eight years of experience working with athletes of all ages and levels. Chris is currently a consultant with many professional and elite teams and athletes in Canada and the United States, and is president of Koinetic Performance, LLC.

4 Public Golf Courses in and around Western New York Cattaraugus County Course Location Phone Daily/Weekend rate Birch Run, Allegheny (9 holes) $11/13 Cardinal Hills, Randolph $18*/20* Elkdale, Salamanca $43/53 inc cart Holiday Valley, Ellicottville $46/56 inc cart Ischua Valley, Franklinville (9 holes) $11/12 St. Bonaventure, Allegheny (9 holes) $12/15 Turkey Run, Freedom (9 holes) $11/11 Water Way Hills, Hinsdale */18* Chautauqua County Bemus Point GC, Bemus Point(9 holes) $10/12 Cassadaga Lakes, Cassadaga (9 holes) $11/12 Chautauqua GC, Chautauqua $50/60 inc cart Hillview GC, Fredonia $20/20 Peek n Peak Upper Course, Findlay Lake $109/119 inc cart Peek n Peak Lower Course, Findlay Lake $52/62 inc cart Rose Brook, Irving $20/25 South Hills, Jamestown $20/22 Sugar Hill GC (9 hole, exec.), Westfield, $13/15 Tri-County, Forestville $45/50 inc cart Erie County Arrowhead, Akron /59 inc cart Audubon, Amherst $13r,23nr/13r,23nr Audubon Par 3, Amherst $6r,10nr/6r,10nr Beaver Island, Grand Island $18/22 Bob-O-Links, Orchard Park (par-3) $12/14 Bright Meadows, Akron (18 holes) $20/26 inc cart Brighton, Tonawanda $15r;23nr/18r;27nr Buffalo Tournament Club, Lancaster $44/49 Cazenovia, Buffalo (9 holes) $9/11 Concord Crest, East Concord $28/28 inc cart Dande Farms, Akron $22*/26* Delaware, Buffalo $12/15 Diamond Hawk, Cheektowaga /59 inc cart Eden Valley, Eden $38/38 inc cart Elma Meadows, Elma $16/19 Evergreen, Amherst (9 holes) $11/13 Glen Oak, Amherst $42/52 inc cart Grandview, Angola (9 holes) $11*/13* Greenwood, Clarence (9 holes) $11/12 Grover Cleveland, Buffalo $14/16 Hamburg, Hamburg $16r;23nr/17r;23nr Harris Hill Par 3, Bowmansville (9 holes, par 3) $10/10 Harvest Hill, Orchard Park /57 inc cart Holland Hills, Holland $38/38 inc cart Kis-n-Greens, Alden $30/32 inc cart The Links at Ivy Ridge, Akron $48/55 inc cart Oakwood (9 holes), Amherst $6r,14nr/6r,14nr Pine Meadows, Clarence (9 holes) $11/13 Rolling Hills, Chaffee (9 holes, par 3) $9*/10* Rothland, Akron $30/38 inc cart Sheridan, Town of Tonawanda $15r;23nr/18r, 27nr South Park, Buffalo (9 holes) $9/11 South Shore, Hamburg $23/30

5 Genesee County Course Location Phone Daily/Weekend rate Bethany Hills, Bethany (Exec., par 69) $14/14 Batavia CC, Batavia $25/30 inc cart Chestnut Hill CC, Alden $29/39 inc cart Davis Countryside Meadows, Pavilion $16/18 LeRoy Country Club $15/26 Terry Hills, Batavia $37/44 inc cart Livingston County Beards Creek, Leicester closed for 2008 Brae Burn, Dansville (9 holes) $13/16 inc cart Caledonia, Caledonia $26(mon/tues) inc cart & lunch Conesus, Conesus $25/35 inc cart Fairview Golf Course, Avon $25/32 inc cart Lima (Charleston Pines), Lima $32/37.50 inc cart Lima (Island Oaks), Lima $32.50/37.50 inc cart Livingston, Geneseo /24 Old Hickory, Livonia $18/22 Sonyea (formerly Keshequa), Mt. Morris (9 holes) $13/14 inc cart Triple Creek, Nunda $21/26 inc cart Woodland Hills, Nunda $22/26 inc cart Monroe County Braemar, Spencerport $15/15 Brockport, Brockport $35/43 inc cart Buttonwood, Spencerport 18 hole (par 3) $13/13 Cardinal Creek, Clarkson $10*/10* Chili, Scottsville $18/20 Churchville, Churchville $16/17 Cragie Brae, Scottsville $25/30 inc cart Deerfield, Brockport $20/38 inc cart Durand-Eastman, Irondequoit $16/17 Eagle Vale, Perinton $42/47 inc cart Executive South, 9 holes (par 3), Henrietta $8/10 Genesee Valley, Rochester $16/17 Island Valley, Fairport (exec. par 3) $11/12 Lake Shore, Greece $45/45 inc cart Latta Lea (Par 3, 9 holes), Greece $8.50/8.50 Mill Creek, Churchville $39/49 Mill Creek Short Course, /10 Perinton, Perinton CALL Pinewood, Spencerport (9 holes) $12/12 Riverton, Henrietta (9 holes) $14/15 Salmon Creek, Spencerport $20/24 Shadow Lake, Penfield $27/33 Shadow Pines, Penfield $27/33 Shadow Lake, Executive 9, Penfield $12/12 Shore Acres Executive (9 holes), Greece $10/12 Southern Meadows (9 holes), Rush $10/11 St. John Fisher, Rochester (9 holes) $10/11 Twin Hills, Spencerport $30/40 inc cart Webster East, Webster $38/46 inc. cart Webster West, Webster $26/31 inc cart Wildwood, Rush $42/45 inc cart Woodcliff Golf Course, Fairport (9 holes) $13/15 Niagara County Deerwood, N. Tonawanda $13r;24nr/13;24nr Gothic Hill, Lockport (9 holes) $10/10.50 Hyde Park, Niagara Falls (18 holes) $16r;18nr/18r;21nr Newfane Pro-Am, Newfane (9 holes, par 3) $9*/9* Niagara County, Lockport $16/19 Niagara-Orleans, Middleport $30/34 inc cart Oak Run, Lockport $33/35 inc cart Shawnee, Wheatfield (9 holes) $12/12 Willowbrook, Lockport $39/45 inc cart

6 Ontario County Course Location Big Oak, Geneva Bristol Harbour, Cananadaigua Centerpointe, Canandaigua Ozzie s Corner Golf Course, Hamlin Parkview Fairways, East Bloomfield Ravenwood, Victor Reservoir Creek, Naples Victor Hills, Victor Victor Hills Executive, 9 holes (Par 3), Victor Winged Pheasant, Farmington Winding Creek Executive (9 holes), Victor Phone Daily/Weekend rate $23/26 inc cart $54/74 inc cart $27/39 inc cart $CALL $19/26 $48/58 $42/47 inc. cart $23/27 $9/9 $18/20 $8*/10* $20/25 inc cart $22/32 inc cart $20*/20* inc cart $7/8 Waterloo $25/28 inc cart Macedon Newark (9 holes) Walworth Wolcott Sodus Newark Lyons $25/30 inc cart closed for 2008 $51/58 inc cart $29/29 inc cart $45/50 inc cart $28/32 inc cart $35/40 inc. cart $10/10 $39/46 inc cart $32/36 inc cart $14.50/14.50 $26/28 inc cart $55/65 inc cart Orleans County Harbour Pointe, Hickory Ridge, Ricci Meadows, White Birch, Waterport Holly Albion Lyndonville (Par 3) Seneca County Silver Creek, Wayne County Crooked Pines, Erie Falcon, Greystone, Port Bay Golf Course, Sodus Bay Heights, Taranwould, Wayne Hills, Wyoming County Archie s Chip & Putt (11 Byrncliff, Ironwood, Quiet Times, Rolling Acres, hole, Par-3), Java Varysburg Cowlesville Attica (par 62) Pike Yates County Lakeside, Penn Yan

7 Canada Course Location Phone Daily/Weekend rate Beechwood, Niagara Falls $49/59 inc cart Coyote Golf & CC, Port Colborne $28/30 Eagle Valley GC, Niagara Falls (Par 63) $22/22 Fort Erie Golf Club, Fort Erie $23/25 Grand Niagara Resort, Niagara Falls $110/125 inc cart International, Stevensville $25/35 inc cart Legends on the Niagara (Ussher s Creek), N. Falls $125/125 inc cart Legends on the Niagara (Battlefield), Niagara Falls $125/125 inc cart Links of Niagara, Niagara Falls $49/59 inc cart LochNess Links (formerly Hunters Pointe), Welland $72.50/72.50 inc cart Niagara GC, Niag.-on-the-Lake (9 holes) $25/30 Niagara Falls GC, Niagara Falls $40/43 Oak Hall Par 3, Niag. Falls (9 holes) $11*/12* Oaklands, Niagara Falls $25/30 Peninsula Lakes, Fonthill $75/85 Queenston, Queenston (9 holes) $12/13.50 Rio Vista, Fort Erie (9 holes) $21/21 Rockway Glen GC, St. Catharines $44/54 Rolling Meadows, Niagara Falls $40/55 inc cart Royal Niagara, Niagara-on-the-Lake 866-ROYAL-18 $85/85 inc cart St. David s, Niag.-on-the-Lake (9 holes) $12/13.50 Thundering Waters GC, Niagara Falls $99/99 inc cart Whirlpool GC, Niagara Falls $68/78 Whiskey Run, Port Colborne $35/35 Due to space constraints, complete pricing information for each golf course could not be printed. Several courses offer season passes, senior and youth discounts and variable pricing throughout the day, week and weekend. Weekday fees are listed in front of the slash (/), followed by weekend and holiday rates. Some weekend prices are for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, while others are for Saturday and Sunday only. Fees which include carts are denoted by inc. cart. An asterisk (*) denotes 2007 prices, as not all golf courses are yet open for the season and could not be reached for their updated pricing information. Resident prices are indicated with an r, and most require an ID card. Non-resident prices are indicated by nr. Prices for 9-hole courses are for 9 holes only, but some courses offer discounted rates for completing the course twice. All prices for Canadian golf courses are in Canadian funds (Can).

8 Local golf from page 1 that course together. The BTC gets better every day the grass grows and will be one of the best courses/clubs in the area when the course gets built up including the new clubhouse. Right now they are attracting customers via their golf course and the internet. Go to BTCGOLF.com and become an E-Club member. The savings are huge with greens fees as low as $20! Some smart marketing from the course that offers, no lie, the largest greens you have ever played. I promise you one thing about the Buffalo Tournament Club; your average of greens hit in regulation will go up. I just hope you enjoy the long putts. It s a neat test. Moving south and east of Buffalo about twenty miles, Byrncliff Resort features rolling hills and plenty of challenge in the rural town of Varysburg. Stay and play packages are one way to go at Byrncliff (the get-away that s not far away), but for an enjoyable weekend afternoon of golf it s just $33 with cart after 2 pm. If you haven t played Byrncliff lately, you will be pleasantly surprised. In the Rochester area, Ravenwood has hosted U.S Open qualifiers and the New York State Open, so you know you are getting a good challenge. I love Cobblestone Creek Country Club in Victor, and right around the corner is Ravenwood. The difference is, Cobblestone is a private country club. You can play a very, very similar Ravenwood Golf Club for just $29. That is the spring rate and summer rate on weekends after 3pm while walking. Unlike many courses with huge areas between greens and tees, Ravenwood is one of the most enjoyable walking courses you ll ever play, especially at $29. Not far from Ravenwood is Parkview Fairways. A course that was developed in the 1990s and is a friendly, enjoyable layout that offers more than friendly greens fees. In fact, Parkview Fairways is a pretty well kept secret at the top price of $31 including cart. Check it out. Oh Canada! Unfortunately the U.S. dollar is not doing us any favors these days when it comes to skipping across the river and enjoying all the great Canadian courses just beyond the bridges. But hold on a second, there are still some excellent offerings at excellent prices. Keep in mind, more courses on the Byrncliff Resort & Conference Center. Niagara Peninsula are designed for walking (except the newest tracks). In fact, here s a good one, the owner of a local Canadian course recently told me about carts saying, Carts? Heck we walk here, we only have carts so the Americans have a place to put their beer! Funny, eh? So drive over the bridge and walk Beechwood in Niagara Falls for $33 after 3 pm, pay even less at Niagara Falls Golf Club (just off Lundys Lane near the Sundowner Hotel) or if you have to have that cart for your beer, play any 18 of the 27 holes at International Country Club in Stevensville (Ft. Erie) for just $25. For a quick nine there is Rio Vista in Fort Erie that will leave you plenty of money left over to stop by the horse track or enjoy a meal at the many Chinese restaurants. Back in the good ole U. S. of A. there are a number of courses that drop well below that magic number of $36 and offer a really nice day on the links at $25 or less. Some of players in this category include Batavia Country Club, Ironwood, Rothland, Hickory Ridge, Audubon, Elma Meadows, and the Tonawanda courses of Sheridan Park and Brighton Park. Brighton is another one of the courses that, if you haven t played it lately, will be a pleasant surprise. The watering system they added a few years ago has done wonders to create a very green and healthy golf course. I m sure I left off a few great deals, especially in the outlying areas where they need to charge less to attract golfers, like one of my all time favorites, Caledonia Country Club. Here is a private course, open to the public only on Mondays and Tuesdays, but talk about great greens, great elevation changes, and fun! How about all this for $27 including cart and lunch? OK, I m through passing on the deals. If I keep going, you ll all be out there taking my tee times. Enjoy!