Background

The Elma Meadows Golf Club was formed in 1963, a few years after the opening of William Harries’ Erie County course.  For over 44 years, the Club has provided its members with an opportunity to compete with fellow golf enthusiasts on a regular basis and created a social atmosphere to share their passion for golf.  The Club is a member of the Buffalo District Golf Association, Western New York Publinks and New York State Amateur Golf Association, allowing its members to maintain USGA recognized handicaps and compete in events sponsored by these associations.

Throughout the year, the Club sponsors numerous tournaments and competitions, as well as various social events to foster a golfing community at Elma Meadows.  Whether you’re a serious golfer looking for a competitive outlet, a social golfer simply looking to enjoy the company of others, or a combination of both, the Elma Meadows Golf Club will meet your needs.

Competitions

The Club’s golf events are generally broken down into three classes: Weekly, Monthly, and Major Events.  There is no requirement for any member to participate in a specific event, so you can take part in as many or as few events as your time or desire permits.  Substantially all events are scored net of handicaps, so the novice beginner has as much opportunity to excel at Elma Meadows as the experienced “stick.”  The formats change frequently, so you may play Scramble, Best Ball, Pinehurst Doubles, Alternate Shot or some combination.  Also, given the number of events sponsored, individual rounds may count for more than one competition, as your round may count as your Weekly score as well as your qualifying score for one of the Major events.

Weekly Events

From the last week in April through early October, the Club sponsors approximately 21 weekly competitions, with separate competitions in the “A” (0-10 handicap), “B” (11-16 handicap), and “C” (17+ handicap) flights.  A member can post their score for this competition at any point in the week from Tuesday through 5:00 pm on Sunday, and need only to sign up in the locker room prior to the round and play with another Club member to attest the score.  Prizes are paid to the top 3 finishers in each Flight.

Monthly Events

Starting in May, the Club holds monthly tournaments in various formats to bring together all members at one time, typically on a Sunday morning.  After these events, picnics are held to allow members the opportunity to brag about the “miracle iron” they hit or to commiserate about the “strokes they left out there.”

The May and June events are typically 4 man events, historically a Scramble or a Best Ball (2 of 4) competition.  For these early events, members sign up and are assigned to teams to maintain a competitive balance.  These early events also allow new members to get to know other members.

The other monthly events are usually two man competitions, where you can select your partner of choice and test your skills against the rest of the membership.  However, if you don’t have a partner, the Board will find you a match to allow you to compete. 

The premier Monthly event is the Member/Member Tournament, held in August each year and contested over 36 holes.  The Saturday event is followed by a Picnic, while the Sunday is followed by an evening banquet to celebrate the victors’ accomplishments.

Major Tournaments

Like the PGA Tour, the Club also has three events designated as “Majors.”  In a review of Club History, no one is aware of a Grand Slam ever being achieved, so immortality is still open for the taking. 

The President’s Cup is the first Major of the year. The Tournament is contested in Match Play format over several weeks, with the three Flight Champions crowned in June.  The Director’s Cup is a match play event similar to the President’s Cup, except that you must qualify and the low 32 net qualifiers from all flights qualify.  Only one Champion is crowned in this event, and the title is well earned.

The final Major Tournament of the year is the Annual Club Championship.  Unlike all other competitions in the Club, the Championship is contested at scratch within each flight.  During the weeks prior to the Championship, two 18 hole qualifying scores must be posted by potential contestants. We have 4 flights Open Class, A Class (6-10 handicap), B Class (11-16 handicap), and C Class (17+ handicap). We also have a senior division for those over 60 which includes Senior Net and Senior Gross Champion.  The Top 8 qualifiers in each flight (including ties) then compete for the Club Champion Title over 36 holes of stroke play.  The Sunday of the Club Championship is fun to watch, as non-competing members usually venture out onto the back nine to follow the closing action.

Social Events

In addition to the many competitions sponsored, numerous Social gatherings are held to further Club camaraderie. 

The members (and potential members) convene in the spring for the Spring Banquet, providing the membership the chance to meet the newly elected Board of Directors and hear about changes that in store for the upcoming season.  The anticipation is always high as the season is just around the corner.

During the season, the various picnics after each Monthly event and the number of members usually present each Saturday and Sunday morning provides opportunities to get to know your fellow members.

Other Club Features

Being a part of the Buffalo District Golf Association, the Club maintains USGA recognized handicaps for its members, allowing members to compete equitably in Club events, but also to provide a handicap index that can be used at other courses.

Our club website is located at “EMGC.net”.  You can access a listing of Board Members at this site to ask any questions.  If you are a member of the Club and ever looking for someone to play with to get familiar with your fellow members, please contact any member of the Board and we will ensure that you are able to enjoy the benefits of Club Membership.

Last Edited on 06/07/2011 09:26 PM