Double Black Diamond Course (Ellicottville, NY)

I’m a bit hesitant to review Double Black Diamond (DBD) because the back nine was closed due to the snow still on the hill. I’ve skied these hills multiple times and I was very surprised to see the holes climbing and descending the very slopes that I enjoy in the winter. The valley holes on the front play between the base of the hill and Rt219. 1-9 are on the resort side before a trip around the inn takes you to the 2-8 holes. 

(The 150/140 yard par three ninth is set against a stream. The front is plenty wide but the green narrows and cuddles up to the hazard the further left it goes. Note all the snow still on the hill in the background.) 

DBD was originally designed by Fred Garbin in 1964 and renovated by Paul Albanese in 2007. The front nine has several ponds that collect the water as it drains off the hill. These water hazards protect a few of the greens, giving the course a little bite. The hazards don’t necessarily stand out but the slopes around the putting surfaces repell the ball into them. Garbin is not an in your face architect, so the water hazards are low key and subtle. 

(The 351/342 yard par four second doglegs right to a narrow fairway guarded by a sand trap. The approach is to an elevated green with water left and behind. As simple as the hole looks, a miscue off the tee will bring a big number into play.) 

(The 491/474 yard par five sixth doglegs left with a creek crossing diagonally in the layup zone. The green is interesting with tilt and a bowl area in the left middle…
…players going for it in two have plenty of room left of the green. Right leaves a more difficult recovery. It’s a good birdie opportunity.)

(The 374/363 yard par four seventh plays from an elevated tee box to a fairway guarded by water left and right. It’s a very demanding tee shot and the water on the left extends to the green.) 

(The 404/378 yard par four eighth doglegs left to a green guarded by a lone bunker in a mound. Any drive down the right side opens up the approach.) 

Paul Albanese stated on his website that he took a two star course and turned it into a four. From all that I’ve read, several reviews wholeheartedly agreed with him. I guess the back nine was very quirky to say the least, and even today, there’s three par threes in a four hole stretch (9-12). Unfortunately, I was only able to walk a few holes, but my overall feeling was the topography was too severe for any kind of great quality. Both seventeen and eighteen experience massive elevation change. As I stated before, I ski here during the winter so banging a ball uphill like the par five seventeenth and then launching it downhill on the eighteenth all seems a bit too much. The downhill, two tiered fairway par four thirteenth graces the scorecard and exhibits the best part of these kind of courses which is the exhilarating views.

(This view of the par three ninth points out the addition of the lodging Holiday Valley invested in…
…what looks like a practice green behind the hotel for guests can actually be a little prop bet complete with a tee box that plays about seventy yards.) 

(The 429/407 yard par four eighteenth hole plays straight downhill to a green fronted by a boulder strewn creek bed. The uneven lie is the biggest challenge. The hotel is just yards behind the green so thin shots bring more than just double bogey into play.) 

DBD was in excellent condition when I was there. The experience was pretty high end. While the golf course can’t match Peak n Peek’s championship layout, the town of Ellicottville more than makes up for it with microbreweries, galleries, and events. It makes it easier to plan a family trip. I give DBD a solid 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). 

[If you’re looking for a great side trip while at Holiday Valley, then I’d like to recommend Letchworth State Park. It’s an hour away and full of great hiking. If you’re a waterfall enthusiast, it also has three gorgeous falls that drop the Genesee River over 400 feet. It is voted as one of the best state parks in America.]