Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Weather above 60 degrees, warm sun on your face with a cold drink in hand and the sounds of folks smacking a white dimpled ball 300 yards down a well-manicured green space with a grooved stick.
Yeah, it must be golf season in Western New York.
April is not always the transition month of clear and warm weather in Western New York, but the grounds crew and the decision makers in charge of the golf courses at Olmsted Parks decided that this year, the time was right to get some of their golf courses ready to go a couple weeks prior to their usual end of April re-open.
Cazenovia Park Golf Course was one of those courses the Olmsted Parks Conservacy opened Wednesday morning. I caught up with some of the golfers on the course's official opening day in the afternoon time to see what the golfers think of the course this year and how their game has been going so far.
"The course is great shape. I'm pleasantly surprised, I am shocked it so good," said Jim Malley from West Seneca after finishing the 9th and final hole of the course.
"Only the best come to play here, because the course today is in such beautiful condition," adds Justin Lewis.
"My buddies and I come out here early to [Cazenovia]. It's usually our first run of the year. The course right now is looking really good," said Ethan Ciemny from Cheektowaga, getting some practice in on the putting greens before his tee-off time.
For many of the golfers that were out for the official opening day, this isn't anywhere near the first time out playing this season. In fact, an overwhelming majority of the people I talked to said they played one day when Cazenovia opened in February.
"At Cazenovia now we pretty much [have] been out all winter. Above 30 degrees... we're out here," said Jason from South Buffalo, who was having a rough day but still out enjoying the game. "I hurt my thumb, so it's gonna be a bad day."
"I played Terry Hills last weekend in Batavia and Glen Oak the weekend before that," said Ciemny.
What is it about the game of golf that people enjoy so much?
"It's very addictive. My dad had been trying to get me into it for years and I had been pretty resistant. I always play like basketball and faster pace sports, but you know, it's nice. You hit that one good shot, and you want to hit that shot again, but you don't unfortunately," laughs Eric Seger, who got out of work to play a round with his Dad, Mike.
"It's great to get out with the nice weather and like Eric said, almost anybody can hit a really good shot once in a while, and that keeps us coming back, thinking you could do that every time," said Mike.
Many of the golfers enjoy playing with their friends and getting that good exercise or playing alone and getting that time to yourself. Walking the course and stopping to swing wherever your ball lands is also more exercise than some golf skeptics would think.
"[It's about] the comradery, the friendship, meeting new people and having a good time getting outside and getting that fresh air and exercise," Lewis said.
