Event Brings Top Local Amateur Talent to Grover Cleveland Golf Course July 5-6

ERIE COUNTY, NY— Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz was joined by Commissioner of Parks, Recreation & Forestry Troy P. Schinzel and Executive Director of the Western New York PGA  Joe Bertino at Grover Cleveland Golf Course in Buffalo to announce the upcoming 36-hole Erie County Amateur Golf Championships, which will be held on July 5-6 at Grover. The 2013 Amateur Championships, held at Elma Meadows Golf Course, attracted nearly 60 of Erie County’s top amateur talents to compete for the men’s and women’s titles.

The site of 1912 U.S. Open, and designed by 2 of the giants of golf course architecture, first Walter Travis at the turn of the 20th Century and then redesigned by Donald Ross, the architect of Pinehurst No. 2, the location of this week’s U.S. Open, Grover Cleveland’s subtleties and diabolical green complexes held their own against the area’s best golfers in 2012.

“The Erie County Amateur Golf Championships are returning to Grover Cleveland this year, the site of the 1912 U.S. Open and the sudden-death playoffs in both the men’s and women’s brackets the last time the event was here in 2012. While not a long test of golf, the fast, Donald Ross-redesigned greens offer golfers of all skill levels a stern test and confounded many of the participants in the 2012 tournament,” said Poloncarz. “I want to thank Joe Bertino and our partners at the WNY PGA who have been incredibly helpful in assembling the top-flight talent in this competition. The field is full of potential champions and we are looking forward to another exciting tournament this year.”

Handicap requirements for the Championships allow a maximum handicap of 8.0 for men and 20.0 for women; golfers must provide proof of a verifiable and valid USGA handicap index, or have their PGA Professional verify their ability in writing. In the event of a tie or ties for Champion in either the men’s or women’s division, as happened in 2012, a sudden death playoff will determine the Champion.

Parks Commissioner Troy P. Schinzel added, “The Erie County Parks Department is once again excited to be hosting the Erie County Amateur Championships, working with our partners from the WNY PGA and building on the success we’ve seen in the past two years. Historic Grover Cleveland Golf Course hosted the 1912 U.S. Open, and the course is ready for more high-level play as the top amateur talent in Erie County comes here for the Championships.”

“The Western New York PGA is pleased to be coordinating this event once again with Erie County,” said Joe Bertino. “Last year’s tournament provided some great shots and memorable moments, and we look forward to more this year at Grover.”

During the tournament, players will have the choice between using a cart or a caddie, but will not be able to use both during play. Players who do not have caddies will be permitted to walk as well if they so desire. All play is governed by the Rules of Golf of the United States Golf Association, and the competition will be conducted by officials, staff, and members of the Western New York  PGA.

New for this will be electronic recording of player’s scores in real time which will allow anyone with access to the internet, either on the course or at home, to instantly check the leaderboard at the internet site of the WNY PGA.

For more information:

On the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry visit   http://www2.erie.gov/parks/

On the PGA WNY Section, visit   http://www.westernnewyork.pga.com