By Carol Fisher-Linn
Maplehurst Golf Club, Lakewood, NY.
According to GOLF: “Maplehurst CC is a public regulation golf course with 18 holes, spanning 6147 yards with a par of 70. It was established in 1934 and offers power carts, a driving range, and allows walking on the course. The course has a rating of 69.1 and a slope of 114.” The course also has three ponds that come into play on three holes. The joy of golfing in Chautauqua County is the hilly terrain and in the case of Maplehurst, the bonus is that on some of their elevated and bunkered greens on those hills you can see Ashville and the lower end of beautiful Chautauqua Lake. What a view!
When golf pro, Royce Swan, was asked why people play at Maplehurst, his immediate reaction was “The views. We are situated on the top of the hill so the lake is easily seen and, in the fall, the foliage views are beautiful.” Indeed, golf and nature are connected. “We have something to offer for all skill levels” and he seemed particularly excited about the clinic for kids 8-18 coming up July 27-31st. Sign up ends July 20 and it sounds like just the mid-summer activity for kids already getting bored with summer. He chuckled as he talked about substituting golf balls with tennis balls, playing tic-tac-toe (chipping), distance contests, hitting balls into buckets, etc. A young father himself, he understands that variety is the only thing that will hold kids attentions. He also offers one-on-one for adults on their basic or more advanced skills.
Remember to check out their banquet hall for your next event and go online to check out their flyover feature. You can reach them by calling (716) 763-9058 or visit online maplehurstcountryclubwny.com.
Concord Crest, East Concord
Imagine yourself on a quiet early morning golf round, spotting a momma deer bringing her babies out for show, tom turkeys strutting their stuff, squirrels and chippies scampering about, and the biggest treat, a majestic eagle soaring elegantly across the misty morning sky. As this non-golfer continues to write this golf series, I am discovering another reason why golf is so important to so many. Golf and nature are very much connected.
According to an April 2024 article in USGA, “Golf courses are ecologically valuable, well-cared-for green spaces that offer clear environmental benefits to our communities. Those benefits often equal or exceed what is offered by other types of green spaces, and golf courses offer vast environmental value when compared to roads and buildings.” Consider the goings-on at Concord Crest Golf Club in East Concord. I’ll give you a hint – Bluebirds!
Celebrating twenty-five years since its founding by residents Don and Gail Ploetz, Concord Crest Golf Club has morphed from the scenic, open agricultural land the Ploetz family farmed for generations into 18 beautiful, pastoral golfing holes. The Ploetzes literally joined with Mother Nature to create this course, working with wetlands, creeks, ponds and copious numbers of sugar maple trees. Golfers are invited into Mother Nature’s domain on this NYS Bluebird Society designated “Bluebird Trail,” with bluebird houses scattered around the course.
The greens are plush, the tee boxes spacious, and the picturesque fairways leave nothing to be desired. Views are an important part of the game and there are very few homes and no condos to break a perfect view. As they say on their website, “a round at Concord Crest is a retreat into nature.” Of course, greens need to be top-notch. Their greens are consistent throughout the year and the dedicated team of over 30 staff members always keeps the course in perfect condition. The club offers a three-hole, par 10 practice facility, same rates every day, lessons, clinics and camps for all ages. “Close to Home…Far from Ordinary!”
Delaney, the very cordial receptionist at the club, couldn’t say enough about how family-friendly Concord Crest is. Known for offering good, old-fashioned hospitality and partnering with charities, they have donated hundreds of golf passes each year for local fundraising efforts. In our geographic region, that generosity is a BIG DEAL. The club participates with Make-A-Wish Foundation, last year donating over $40,000 through their annual Make-A-Wish Golf outing. They tell us on their site, “Concord Crest is a strong advocate of promoting all aspects of the game of golf. We offer a variety of programs to improve your game. We are dedicated to serving the area’s golf community with excellence as we promote life enhancing values such as integrity, judgment, perseverance, confidence and sportsmanship.”
Concord Crest is in E. Concord NY, 9255 Genesee Road 14055. You can reach them by calling (716) 592-7636, or visit them online: concordcrest.com