Crag Burn Golf Club
Crag Burn Golf Club opened for play in 1969. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
This Scottish links-style course has a few holes that are outlined by trees, but for the most part the holes are defined by the thick heather grass rough. "Golf Digest" rated hole #2, a 607-yard, par 5, as one of the toughest 100 holes in the U.S. Water hazards (seven ponds) come into play on eight holes. The course is closed on Mondays until noon. Unaccompanied guests may only play on Mondays.
Crag Burn, was the summer home of Frank H. Goodyear II, a prominent Buffalonian and his wife, Dorothy Knox, daughter of Seymour Knox, one of the founders of the Woolworth Corporation. Crag Burn gets its origins from Scottish words "Crag" meaning "top of the bluff" and "Burn", meaning "small stream."
By 1950, the land near was seeing very little use. Goodyear's son Bobby, had an idea to change the overgrown polo fields into a world class golf course. Bobby enlisted the help of family friend and golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones Sr., who agreed to design a golf course for the Crag Burn property. Bobby then enlisted the help of his sister and brother-in-law, Dottie and Clint Wyckoff, and their sons Peter, Ranny and Kevin to convince their friends to help fund the construction of a club where "a group of friends could play golf," and the course was on its way.
Bobby was adamant after seeing other Trent-Jones designed courses that Crag Burn was to be kept small and manageable. Given the combination of heavily-wooded sections and open fields, it was decided to build a course that would capitalize on the terrain of the property. The front nine would be a parks style course and run through the wooded section. The back nine would have more open, traditional feel of a links course. To add topographical drama, Trent-Jones said, "We'll make it interesting by adding ponds."
The clubhouse was fashioned from the original stable, immediately lending a sense of history to the new club. Many of the original details of the stable were kept.
By May 1, 1972 Crag Burn was ready for its first foursome. Today, Crag Burn reflects the original vision of Bobby Goodyear as the finest golf course in this part of the world. Far from pretentious, the club is simply a place where good friends can gather and golf on a world-class course.
Crag Burn Golf Club facility is a par-72 layout that measures 7,033 yards from the back tees. The course rating is 74.7 with a slope rating of 135.