Risk / Reward Hole 15

Byrncliff Golf Course:

A Western New York Favorite for Fifty Years.

Western New York is blessed with a number of fine golfing locales, some designed by the monarchy of golf architecture, namely Donald Ross, A. W. Tillinghast and Robert Trent Jones. This collection of noted designers is complemented by a number of local architects who have rounded out the collection of routings that make the American side of the Niagara River a worthy golfing destination. 

One of the number of “B” Tier architects with a hand in the Buffalo area golf scene is William Harries. Credited with more than a half dozen of the region’s golf routings, Harries worked with associate Russ Tyron to create a variety of golfing locales, from the municipal facilities to the private and widely acclaimed and historic Brookfield C. C. Tyron has been credited with the initial design at Byrncliff that has seen a few tweeks over the years. Easily described as a creative and challenging routing, Byrncliff features a number of stand-out holes. 

The par 5 holes at Byrncliff are a strategic and diverse quartet. The first “long hole” is found on the second tee deck. The straight-away hole seems like a push-over looking at the yardage, but is clearly not an easy feat to conquer. The drive is uphill and has OB along the right side all the way to the hole. A steep ridge bisects the fairway in the landing area, most likely leaving a blind approach to a two-tiered green set in a bowl cut into a hillside. The dogleg left seventh is a dream for those who love to drive the ball. Playing considerably downhill off the tee, the tee shot must avoid the pair of bunkers on the near side of the landing area. A ball in the fairway will leave you a choice between a mid iron lay-up shot short of the creek, or a fairway wood to clear the turbulent stream and end up in the landing area short of the tricky green. 

The homeward nine has the rarity of back-to-back par 5’s that are vastly different from each other. The gargantuan 14th plays as the longest hole on the card. Approaching 600 yards from the tips, the tee shot must be threaded through a chute lined with thick hardwoods to find the gentle dogleg left fairway. A sidehill lie should be your reward as the fairway cants slightly left for your approach options. A mighty whack with a fairway wood might get you close, but a wide strip of rough interrupts the fairway short of the amply-sized green. The tricky 15th climbs uphill from the tee. The green is totally unseen, as it lies at the base of a steep fall-off at the end of the fairway, tucked amid tall trees and behind a menacing bunker at the bottom of the slope. Birdie or even an eagle can be had here, with enough courage and precision in your execution.   

Byrncliff’s par 5 holes test all facets of your game. Accuracy, length, precision and creativity are all required to conquer this quartet. These holes are a varied blend that complement the entire routing. Each of the holes has a multitude of shot options and will be a memorable search for par along your round.