Western NY MGS Forum members game day.

[William P]

Definitely looks like everyone had a great time today. Great pictures and hopefully the beginning of great friendships moving forward! Beautiful course and pictures - thanks for sharing with us!

[Swood1994]

Looked like a great time! Great weather and the course looked to be in amazing condition. 

I am really looking forward to the next NY meetup hopefully I am able to join. I’ll be headed out that this weekend to play silver creek in Waterloo (not quite Victor/Rochester but a little over halfway between Syracuse and Rochester)

[Berg Ryman]

Man, so fun yesterday, the golf was on good display but as always with these things, it's the comradery that forms the bonds that make us want to do more of these.

First, as many of you are aware, I did my typical for these things and rolled up around 5 minutes before the tee times and the boys were waiting with the carts for me to go, and go we did. Ravenwood is an excellent facility, and reasonably enough priced as to not make that a barrier I think compared to other locations across the state.

Honest assessment, the golf was good throughout, great a points, and some times just... well better left unsaid. I didn't keep an official score for myself but did continue a string of birdies on Meetup Rounds for my personal tally. Also, a little birdie told me on that par 3 over water @bens197 posted pictures on someone hit a yellow ball to 15 feet and made the putt for birdie, but I'll never tell.

Honestly though, you don't care about that, and I don't care about that. You want to know about the dudes and let's run through them.

@EasyPutter continues to just be an awesome ambassador for the forum, for golf in general. Easy going, never taking things too seriously, but always improving. He's swinging it better than the last time I saw him in Kingsmill and if he keeps moving I'm certain that the next time I run into Derek he's going to be playing even better, but still with that smile on a face and a few good stories to tell.

@MattWillGolf, the closest dude to me on this forum I believe and yet, someone whom I never ran across until now, and what a detriment to me to have waited so long to make that happen. Nice as can be, decent enough with the sticks, and for sure someone I'm taking advantage of being nearby for some rounds going forward. Home and home at Battle Island and Radisson in 2025 is certainly incoming for certain.

@bens197 is my brother from another mother, man. For years we've traded PM's across this damn site and to finally get to see Steve in his beautiful golf swinging form while just being so down to earth and easy to talk to means this thing was an absolute success just on that level. Top bloke this guy, and he hits it a country mile... what's not to like?

I will say this for all those following along too, this is not the last you've heard from the WNY/CNY/Upstate NY day. A 2025 event will almost certainly be happening, and we'll be more than happy to welcome anyone who wants to join up to make it happen!

Edited September 19 by Berg Ryman

[EasyPutter]

21 minutes ago, Berg Ryman said:

Man, so fun yesterday, the golf was on good display but as always with these things, it's the comradery that forms the bonds that make us want to do more of these.

First, as many of you are aware, I did my typical for these things and rolled up around 5 minutes before the tee times and the boys were waiting with the carts for me to go, and go we did. Ravenwood is an excellent facility, and reasonably enough priced as to not make that a barrier I think compared to other locations across the state.

Honest assessment, the golf was good throughout, great a points, and some times just... well better left unsaid. I didn't keep an official score for myself but did continue a string of birdies on Meetup Rounds for my personal tally. Also, a little birdie told me on that par 3 over water @bens197 posted pictures on someone hit a yellow ball to 15 feet and made the putt for birdie, but I'll never tell.

Honestly though, you don't care about that, and I don't care about that. You want to know about the dudes and let's run through them.

@EasyPutter continues to just be an awesome ambassador for the forum, for golf in general. Easy going, never taking things too seriously, but always improving. He's swinging it better than the last time I saw him in Kingsmill and if he keeps moving I'm certain that the next time I run into Derek he's going to be playing even better, but still with that smile on a face and a few good stories to tell.

@MattWillGolf, the closest dude to me on this forum I believe and yet, someone whom I never ran across until now, and what a detriment to me to have waited so long to make that happen. Nice as can be, decent enough with the sticks, and for sure someone I'm taking advantage of being nearby for some rounds going forward. Home and home at Battle Island and Radisson in 2025 is certainly incoming for certain.

@bens197 is my brother from another mother, man. For years we've traded PM's across this damn site and to finally get to see Steve in his beautiful golf swinging form while just being so down to earth and easy to talk to means this thing was an absolute success just on that level. Top bloke this guy, and he hits it a country mile... what's not to like?

I will say this for all those following along too, this is not the last you've heard from the WNY/CNY/Upstate NY day. A 2025 event will almost certainly be happening, and we'll be more than happy to welcome anyone who wants to join up to make it happen!

Ryan  always on point with your reviews and assessments, thanks for a great recap and appreciate kind words for all involved 

For everyone involved, and yes I think my use of WNY for the group is too limited as many already know we were also CNY, and we discussed possibility of Upstate locations for meetups.  To define these vague areas, this is my understanding of our fair state as a Western NYer:

Again my rendition and others may differ.  Overlaps were intended as there is no single map that defines these commonly used terms that remind me of the delightful Southern term for distance, "down the road a piece." 

So UPState would include the Adirondacks and notably the Thousand Islands Country Club, and a couple other courses deals are frequently offered on GroupGolfer.  Central would include Ryan, Matt, Stephen and Marc where they are close to Turning Stone Resort.  Downstate is where you would find West Point USMA and the Catskills and I am sure some MGSpies.  Long island (it's said as one word by real Longislanders) is where Chuck lives on that maritime glacial pile of rock longer than my 2 hour drive was to get from home to Ravenwood GC. 

And sorry if this pops a bubble about NY, and many in the world think is NY is NYC, it isn't and it's a tiny part waaaaay down literally below Downstate.  So NY is not NYC and apologies if that shatters someone's world 

Also WNY is northern PA, because they're so close we share lots of common things like the Genesee and Alleghany rivers, Alleghany Forest and parks, our Southern Tier/their Northern Tier, and of course Barb @BKervin is right there!

[BKervin]

58 minutes ago, EasyPutter said:

Ryan  always on point with your reviews and assessments, thanks for a great recap and appreciate kind words for all involved 

For everyone involved, and yes I think my use of WNY for the group is too limited as many already know we were also CNY, and we discussed possibility of Upstate locations for meetups.  To define these vague areas, this is my understanding of our fair state as a Western NYer:

Again my rendition and others may differ.  Overlaps were intended as there is no single map that defines these commonly used terms that remind me of the delightful Southern term for distance, "down the road a piece." 

So UPState would include the Adirondacks and notably the Thousand Islands Country Club, and a couple other courses deals are frequently offered on GroupGolfer.  Central would include Ryan, Matt, Stephen and Marc where they are close to Turning Stone Resort.  Downstate is where you would find West Point USMA and the Catskills and I am sure some MGSpies.  Long island (it's said as one word by real Longislanders) is where Chuck lives on that maritime glacial pile of rock longer than my 2 hour drive was to get from home to Ravenwood GC. 

And sorry if this pops a bubble about NY, and many in the world think is NY is NYC, it isn't and it's a tiny part waaaaay down literally below Downstate.  So NY is not NYC and apologies if that shatters someone's world 

Also WNY is northern PA, because they're so close we share lots of common things like the Genesee and Alleghany rivers, Alleghany Forest and parks, our Southern Tier/their Northern Tier, and of course Barb @BKervin is right there!

3 miles from NY line.  Was in Buffalo yesterday.

I had appointments in the morning and when got home around 1:30 - hubby said wanna go to Buffalo.  Of course, it's only a 90 minute drive!  Bought some alcohol - no Pennsylvania Liquor Store limitations or astronomical pricing.  Ate dinner at a Bills venue in Hamburg.

[MattWillGolf]

5 hours ago, Berg Ryman said:

Man, so fun yesterday, the golf was on good display but as always with these things, it's the comradery that forms the bonds that make us want to do more of these.

First, as many of you are aware, I did my typical for these things and rolled up around 5 minutes before the tee times and the boys were waiting with the carts for me to go, and go we did. Ravenwood is an excellent facility, and reasonably enough priced as to not make that a barrier I think compared to other locations across the state.

Honest assessment, the golf was good throughout, great a points, and some times just... well better left unsaid. I didn't keep an official score for myself but did continue a string of birdies on Meetup Rounds for my personal tally. Also, a little birdie told me on that par 3 over water @bens197 posted pictures on someone hit a yellow ball to 15 feet and made the putt for birdie, but I'll never tell.

Honestly though, you don't care about that, and I don't care about that. You want to know about the dudes and let's run through them.

@EasyPutter continues to just be an awesome ambassador for the forum, for golf in general. Easy going, never taking things too seriously, but always improving. He's swinging it better than the last time I saw him in Kingsmill and if he keeps moving I'm certain that the next time I run into Derek he's going to be playing even better, but still with that smile on a face and a few good stories to tell.

@MattWillGolf, the closest dude to me on this forum I believe and yet, someone whom I never ran across until now, and what a detriment to me to have waited so long to make that happen. Nice as can be, decent enough with the sticks, and for sure someone I'm taking advantage of being nearby for some rounds going forward. Home and home at Battle Island and Radisson in 2025 is certainly incoming for certain.

@bens197 is my brother from another mother, man. For years we've traded PM's across this damn site and to finally get to see Steve in his beautiful golf swinging form while just being so down to earth and easy to talk to means this thing was an absolute success just on that level. Top bloke this guy, and he hits it a country mile... what's not to like?

I will say this for all those following along too, this is not the last you've heard from the WNY/CNY/Upstate NY day. A 2025 event will almost certainly be happening, and we'll be more than happy to welcome anyone who wants to join up to make it happen!

Thanks Ryan for the great post. Yesterday was a highlight of my golf season. An absolute great group to spend time on the course with. I am certainly looking forward to more rounds in the future. I would love to see this expand to more members in the forum. Ravenwood looks to be a great spot to gather.
 

@EasyPutter was my cart partner. A couple of ole “Army buddies” who share a similar game. I want to be @bens197 or @Berg Ryman when my golf game grows up. Those gents can certainly bomb it. My @Berg Ryman logo Bridgestone Tour B XS resides in a place of honor in my golf ball collection. My only issue with Ryan was his choice of putter.

[cksurfdude]

NY dudes, all - so my honey and I did get a chance to play at Trumansburg GC; it's approx 25 mins North out of downtown Ithica. You drive up along the west side of Cayuga Lake, though you don't really see the lake from the road.

Along the way up we popped into Taughannock (sp?) State Park, just a short detour, which features a waterfall measured at 33 higher than Niagara. From the parking lot next to the visitor center it's literally just a few steps to a nice overlook vantage point...

The falls is flowing very lightly due to the lack of rain. The gorge was carved out in the last Ice Age; even in this pic you can see some of the major geologic strata. There are several hiking trails through the Park; you can kinda see part of one along the gorge floor towards the right of the pic.

OK so a few minutes up the road we get to the course...

.. where if you're literally  a player you get your own front row parking spot! The main clubhouse is down that path and just to the right. There's a nice 19th Hole, The Tap-In, where we grabbed lunch (and I also got a tall Arnie to go). The shop is small but adequately stocked with necessities and logo merch, and a very friendly and helpful manager/pro.

Who gave me the Senior Weekday rate for both of us .. with a riding cart (we typically don't drag our push carts along on road trips) .. total was only $74 (including tax). It was Friday early afternoon and the course was decidedly very UNcrowded! There was a small outing or tourney on the morning and we only saw two or three other groups on the course. Nice.

One negative - no practice range. Only one not really all that large putting green. Second, although temporary, negative - the greens had all been aerated .. cored .. and sanded maybe close to a week prior, but they were still pretty bumpy and gritty so putting was a bit of an extra challenge... Third, somewhat minor, negative - the tee boxes were a bit scruffy / patchy and the ground seemed ridiculously hard .. so much so that it was difficult to push a tee in (almost broke a plastic tee at one point).

- practice putting green is just to the left (and next to the parking lot; clubhouse is to the right)

But otoh there are a lot of positives about the course...

• starting with it's out in a rural area so it's open and quiet and a very natural setting; I neglected to get a lot of good pics but there is a really large variety of tree species lining the fairways and around the course
• fairways are all in beautiful condition; most have decently wide landing areas
• greens will soon be in excellent condition (did not see any bare patches, nor overt brown or fungus spots)
• routing is straightforward and could be very walkable
• small elevation changes through most of the course; very little flat but very little steep up/down
• only a few water hazards and fairway bunkers make it "playable"
• some, not a large number, greenside bunkers - although (a) the sand was coarse and grainy, and (b) there was one Par 3 on the Back 9 where it appears a deep fronting bunker is being "let go" to revert back to grass and rough

and...

• an excellent (imho) variety of hole layouts, approaches and green shapes!

Tee shots varied from wide, open landings to narrower, easier to get into trouble landing areas. No blind shots and only a few where you cannot see the landing surface from the tee. Similarly approaches varied from more open, accessible to more challenging. Greens - despite the aeration - actually ran pretty consistently and had some nice contours and slope, without getting too crazy (eg no severely sloped + tiered greens).

Oh, another plus - some stoopit old man forgot his GPS watch back in the hotel room... So was kinda flying blind, but fortunately the scorecard contains both a course routing overview and hole layout diagrams!

Many times on a new to me course I'll opt for the Gold, Senior, whatever tees but this course I picked White at just over 6,000 yards @ 69.0/123. Maybe due to the earlier outing or tourney most of the tees were combo Blue/White .. so not sure exactly what I played but only lost two balls off the tee (one left, one right .. both under trees and pinecones and leaves and couldn't find either).

The round itself was my usual mix of a few blowup holes, a few "good" bogeys, a few "almost"  pars and two (maybe three?) actual pars (didn't really keep score). But again, a very playable course with a nice variety of challenges and each hole with its own character.

So would I play it again?

Caveat first - for people not close, say within an hour, I'd also consider other options. But if I were in the nearby area and had time - absolutely yes.