Beautiful Hole 10

Byrncliff Golf Resort:

A Western New York Favorite for Fifty Years.

Buffalo has a unique place in the lives of many Canadians. The city is the launching point for shopping trips, vacations both on the road and in the air and has a wonderful sporting culture that draws thousands of us Canucks to the Queen City each year. We all have a Buffalo story to tell, from the great deal at the outlet malls, to enjoying a tailgate party at an NFL game. Our family is no stranger to Buffalo and when the Bills pre-season rolled around, we decided it was time to reacquaint with our beloved herd of football heroes. Taking the opportunity to partake in another sporting passion on the excursion was a welcomed addition to the itinerary. 

Buffalo has a rich golfing history, even if it doesn’t roll of the tongue when discussing great golfing cities. Western New York has long been a place for Canadians to go shopping and sample a little cross-border fun along the way. Having driven past it numerous times, the Byrncliff Golf Resort was always in the back of my mind as a place I would like to visit. It is located near the farming town of Varysburg southeast of the city along US 20A. The resort has been family-owned and operated since 1967 when patriarch Clifford Meidenbauer became enamoured with the Wyoming county landscape and decided that he wanted to dive into the golf and hotel business. After selecting a site beside the babbling Cayuga Creek straddling Humphrey Road, the rest as they say is history. 

The resort is now in the hands of son Scott and his wife Patty and grand-daughter Lindsay and her husband Brian. The facility still holds the philosophy instilled that guests are provided great customer service with the added family-friendly touch. The quaint property is home to large central lodge-style complex where the reception office and numerous banquet rooms are housed. It is also where access to the outdoor pool and hot tub can be found. A terrific mini-putt course surrounds the pool for added fun. The resort’s year-round restaurant known locally as “The Cliff” is the centerpiece for activities, both for guests and golfers. The menu is diverse and features a delicious blend of local favorites with traditional surf, turf and pasta options. 

Meidenbauer’s initial vision for the resort was to build a golf course for the masses to enjoy. Russ Tyron is created with the design according to owner Scott. He was an associate of William Harries, who is created with some of the more notable Buffalo area historic designs, including Brookfield and Niagara Frontier. The routing takes full advantage of the considerable slopes and Buffalo Hill Valley topography. The Cayuga Creek is a central feature of the design and provides a formidable obstacle on many holes on your way to challenging par. The courses has a mountain golf feel to it with the backdrop of steep distant ridges and rugged forested slopes. Plentiful ponds, significant elevation changes and wickedly contoured greens make for a delightfully visual round and one that will certainly challenge your abilities. Thankfully a full length practice range with enough space for over a dozen duffers is available prior to your round, for your game needs to be sharp to score well at Byrncliff. Full shotmakers here

Devious Green on Hole 13

The routing is a varied collection of holes; some playing along the flats of Cayuga Creek, many others over the subtle and severe slopes of the surrounding hillsides. The course opens with a mid-length par 4 that crosses the creek in front of the tees and then again short of the pushed-up and tricky green. A pair of uphill lengthy par 3 holes test your long iron or hybrid skills, while the par 4’s are a diverse drove of doglegs holes. The homeward nine features a bit of a different feel, with seven of the holes located across Humphrey Road. Many of the green complexes are less dramatic, yet still a formidable challenge. It opens with a downhill par 4 where the right side should be favored. The heavily sloped green is a tough target tucked behind the fronting waters of the creek. The par 3 holes on this side are long beasts, but at least downhill this time.  The dogleg finishing pair are no easy pars and require deft execution to keep the card clean. 

The resort has been a long time local favorite and has seen its fair share of Canadian guests. An easy drive from the border, the resort offers a terrific stay and play package that is both affordable and terrific deal, even with the exchange rate. Whether you select their one of two night packages, you get unlimited golf and cart on your arrival day and for the duration of your stay. A dinner and breakfast in “The Cliff” each day along with a stay in one of the 24 motel style rooms, featuring either a pair of doubles, queens and even one king suite that offers a hot tub option. For those with a family or large golf group, there is another option at the Byrncliff Maple Lodge. It is able to host a group of up to 12 and offers a sizable, self-contained  locale for golf groups or families alike. With options like this and the considerable value offered, Buffalo’s Byrncliff Golf Resort should be a consideration for your next golf vacation. 

Related Shot Makers Editorial: Arrowhead, Byrncliff, Hickory Sticks