Conley Resort makes sure everything's green and nothing's too hard in Butler

By Chris Baldwin,
Senior Writer

BUTLER, Pa. -- It does not take playing a round with Wayne Conley, watching him replace ball marks on the green with the steady zeal of an obsessive compulsive, to realize that Conley Resort is a course where conditioning is taken seriously. Most course owners would be savvy enough to make a show of their care when playing with a golf writer after all.

What separates Conley Resort is the fact that obsessiveness is apparent throughout the course itself.

At the end of a long, dry western Pennsylvania summer, when many neighboring courses are showing the grind of a much hotter than normal season, Conley is still green throughout, still delivering good lies and consistent greens hole after hole.

This is why you'll find so many groups from Buffalo , Toronto and Akron, Ohio coming back to this low-key resort in Pittsburgh's shadow year after year after year. Conley is like that reliable old car that's served you well. There might be flashier models out there, but sometimes the wise move is sticking with what you know is going to deliver.

Conley Resort puts out consistent quality golf for reasonable prices in the largely undiscovered, off-the-beaten-golf-path area of Butler County, Pa. Its standard greens fees run $28 walking weekdays ($38 weekends) with a $14 cart charge. Most Conley players seem to staying at the resort though where unlimited golf comes in packages with the room rates. For that, you can largely be assured of what you're going to get.

There is little spectacular about the Conley course. It's not particularly hard (120 slope rating), not particularly long (6,475 yards from the backs), not particularly anything. Except a pretty fun play. Whether you're a hopelessly high handicapper lofting a spectacular, out-of-nowhere recovery shot from below the hill, just up over a tree and within a few feet of the pin on the par-3 No. 3, or a near-pro watching that under-par round dissolve in the back-to-back water havoc finish of 17 and 18, Conley has a way of providing something memorable.

"It's a place you go with your buddies to get a few stories and drink a lot of beer," said Gary Connors of Ontario. "Sometimes you don't want to be looking for everyone's ball all round long. Know what I mean?"

Wayne Conley certainly does. The owner openly laments the fact that No. 18 is such a tough close. The par 3 that can vary from 190 to 130 yards from the back tees alone depending on pin placement has water crammed against a sliver of a fairway and a large pond area just beyond the raised green. A miss hit here usually means a lost ball. Even a well-placed shot with a bad bounce can find water.

"What's the last thing they're going to remember?" Conley bemoaned. "The fact they're all pissed off about what happened on 18. You want something that leaves them smiling at the finish."

Wayne Conley is serious. He's thinking about changing No. 18 in a remodel that will sooth golfers off the course.

He really need not worry. Eighteen is one of the more enjoyable holes on the course, No. 2 handicap rating and all. It and No. 13 -- a 440-yard par 4 with six sandtraps on a miniscule (for Conley) fairway -- might be the two most memorable holes out here.

Not that Wayne Conley is likely to believe it. This guy could be the godfather of resort course golfers. On reaching the 15th tee, Conley remarks, "Ah, what every course should have. A driveable par 4."

That's a 290 yard par 4.

"Let the pros have their own courses," Wayne Conley said. "The rest of us deserve to have some fun too."

You half expect to see a sign at Conleys, declaring "No Shot Sweating, Worrying or Fretting Allowed". The vibe is about as intense as a Sunday morning reading newspapers.

Conley Resort is the kind of course where a starter named Bill becomes a cross-region legend.

"We'll get groups coming back, asking, 'Is Bill still here?'" Wayne Conley said. "Yeah. 'Did he get any new jokes?' No."

Conley laughs. Here, it's all about how comfortable the course makes golfers feel.

The verdict

Conley Resort is one of the more dependable resort courses you'll ever find. You know it's going to be in good shape, with friendly folks in the clubhouse and easy pars to be had out on the course. It's the comfort food of golf courses. If you're looking for the challenge of your golfing lifetime, look elsewhere. Conley is the type of place where you remember the stories more than the risk rewards.

Stay & Play

Conley Resort is a 56-room hotel steps from the golf course. The rooms are large and comfortable enough, but on the older side. You might have a flashback to the 1970s. There is a big waterslide for the kids right in the center of the resort if you want to make it a family golf trip. Just be sure you are comfortable showering in well water. Conley is planning to convert in the future to city water, but city dwellers are sure to notice the difference for now.

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.

Dining out

There is a full-service restaurant and bar at the course. The sandwiches are particularly tasty and as usual at Conleys the atmosphere is relaxed and casual.

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 bustling bar scene.

If You Go

Conley Resort
740 Pittsburgh Road
Butler, PA

November 10, 2005

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