Buffalo Golf Course: Have shirt and $18 will play well in Western PA

By Chris Baldwin,
Senior Writer

SARVER, Pa. - Buffalo Golf Course's brochure tells a story all its own. All you have to do is look past the rates, the standard age restrictions on driving a golf cart and the student and senior rules to find it.

There it is, revealing Buffalo Golf Course's unique character in sparse green type.

Gentlemen, shirts are required at all times.

Not collared shirts. Shirts, period. It gives you the idea Buffalo had a bunch of shirtless guys out on the course, hacking away. Yet on the other hand, shirtless women are not against the rules and are likely mighty good for business. And you thought Buffalo's ridiculously low $18 for 18 holes weekday walking fees (it's $29 with cart) are what brought them in!

Okay, that's an exaggeration. No one can ever recall a shirtless woman on Buffalo's course. Shirts for women are not mandated in the rules simply because they usually hold the good sense to keep them on. The written shirts-on requirement for men provides a good sense of Buffalo's decidedly anti high-brow atmosphere, though.

"One of my best friends is a really good golfer, but he likes to come out here and play in his sweats," said Ken Waldron, the second-generation owner of Buffalo. "I don't see anything wrong with that and I don't want to dictate how people should dress. Our goal is to make golf more accessible and friendly for everyone.

"If my friend goes to (private Pittsburgh area U.S. Open institution) Oakmont, he'll dress up fine. But here, he can just be himself."

Buffalo Golf Course is light years from Oakmont even if it's just a short drive away in Butler County, Pennsylvania. This is about as unpretentious a golf experience as you'll ever find.

Only, in this case, low-brow does not equal low class. Buffalo is establishment enough to have secured 3 1/2 stars from Golf Digest's 2004 Places to Play. It just doggedly remembers its roots and the value of the local customers who've kept it going since 1967.

Ken Waldron's chemist mother Marge and civil engineer father Harry came up with the idea to convert an old dairy farm into a golf course in the 1960s. Harry and Marge Waldron designed the course themselves using topographical maps and the layout's largely the same today at its 6,504 yards and 120 slope rating.

Who says a chemist cannot concoct serious golf?

For while Buffalo is a largely wide open layout that's forgiving enough for even the most chronically wayward duffer to keep most of his golf balls, it has several interesting holes. No. 4 has two fluffy trees in the middle of the fairway that a long hitter must clear or fade around off the tee. The green is up on a ridge flanked by a few skinnier pine trees. So much for that 317-yard par-4 being an easy no-sweat muscle.

And so it goes at Buffalo. There is just enough variation to keep your game on edge. The 198-yard par-3 fifth plays 10-12 yards longer because of its uphill run, deceiving many a first timer. The No. 1 handicap 446-yard, par-4 15th features an oak tree in the fairway and water to the right to catch those who get too caught up in tree-trunk avoidance.

All the while, you'll never forget you're in the middle of the woods. Gun shots ring out in the near distance as you play No. 7 and even Ken Waldron, the owner, wonders what the heck the neighbors are up to now. No. 9 brings the much more welcome view of a 150-year-old barn, restored by the Amish whenever the Waldrons need work done.

They might have to ask for shirts at Buffalo, but character's never in question.

The Verdict

Ken Waldron said the course was probably "in the worst shape it's ever been" at the time of this visit, due in large part to the drought Western Pennsylvania's been through this summer. There was plenty to take issue with, including an all-seed and dirt 12th fairway that made it impossible to find a decent lie even if you hit it straight down the middle.

Still it's hard to scream too much over these lapses when you're paying $23 for 18 holes on the weekends. Buffalo is still much better than muni quality at prices that many munis would balk at. Besides No. 12, none of the brown spot issues affected play. The greens rolled true and amazingly consistent over all 18 holes.

Buffalo is one of those charming places you'll be glad you played. Even the clubhouse art speaks of an operation appreciative of golf history, with the biggest display being a collection of golf course pencils from around the world glued into wood cases. Simple, but worldly. That's Buffalo.

Stay & Play

The Pittsburgh Marriott North ( (724) 779-4201) in Cranberry is your best high-end option in the area by far. It's one of the nicer Marriotts you'll find with extremely comfortable beds and large sized rooms. The kitchen even produces better dishes than you get in most chain hotels, showing that who's running the individual location still matters these days.

If you want to stay on a golf course, Conley Resort ((800) 344-7303) in Butler fits the bill. It's rooms are very 1970s-ish, large and clean but old fashioned. Conley will soon be converting to city water, but until it does, make sure you're comfortable with well water for bathing.

Dining Out

There is a counter in the Buffalo clubhouse that serves sandwiches, some decent chocolate chip cookies and the like. This is a comfortable place to hang out post round for a quick bite or drink.

For something more expansive, the Harmony Inn ((724) 452-5124) in historic downtown Harmony offers a menu that ranges from German to Mexican specialties, ghost stories complete with sighting pictures and a surprisingly happening bar scene.

If You Go

Buffalo Golf Course
201 Monroe Road
Sarver, PA 16055
Tee times: 724-353-2440
Info on Butler County golf: 866-856-8444
visitbutlercounty.com

January 5, 2006

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.