Harvest Hill Golf Course (Orchard Park, NY)

I find myself in Buffalo at least once a year to enjoy Niagara Falls during the summer, and now that I have a passport, there’s even more reason to wander up that way. Harvest Hill is just south of Buffalo in Orchard Park and is in the perfect location to play golf on the way home. 

(This striking view from the eighteenth tee greets players as they emerge through the trees. The uphill 514 yard par five finishes short of the clubhouse where a massive patio overlooks the green.)

Harvest Hill was designed by Dr Michael Hurdzan in 2007. It plays mostly among the wetlands with streams crossing the property. It has five par fives, five par threes, and eight par fours. Only twice will one play the same par in a row, and both those times are on the front. On the back nine, par changes at every hole. 

(The 463 yard par five second is very reachable but the approach must carry over a gully. For those who take the gamble, the slope will gather the ball and move it close to the hole. It’s a treacherous green, so bailing out long or to the upper left fairway will leave a precarious pitch.) 

(The 149 yard par three fifth has an open green that allows aggressive play. The back left pin is the only location where being conservative is the best option.)  

(The 414 yard ninth requires two strong shots to scale this long climbing par four. A rise in the middle of the green will test your short game if you have to chip or putt over it. A par is a great score.) 

The par fives are considered the class of the course. Each one will make you think about your second shot, and ask you to make the correct decision to set up an attacking third shot.  Hurdzan varied the lengths in them so the player doesn’t get complacent. The second hole is a great example. It has long par four yardage to entice players to take the risk to reach the wonderful green complex. At the thirteenth, the hole is stretched so the player must hit two wooden shots to set up a mid to short iron.  

(The 385 yard eleventh doglegs right with water guarding the inside. The approach is from a slight sidehill lie. Anything leaked right will find the hazard. A par is a very fine score.) 

(Not a single bunker guards the green at the 544 yard par five thirteenth. With rough, sand, and wetlands challenging the drive and second shots,the final hundred yards opens up for an aggressive approach.) 

Harvest Hill has various yardages for its five par threes. A few of them are decent birdie chances. There’s room to move the ball into pin positions and plenty of fairway short to use to one’s advantage. The seventeenth is the best par three at Harvest Hill. Hurdzan did not shy away from making the most demanding shot on the penultimate hole. 

(The 200 yard par three seventeenth is an intimidating shot. Visually it looks like it plays on a narrow spit  of land but it’s actually a huge area. The green slopes away so gauging the bounce and roll is vital to get close. Three putting is a legitimate concern especially if you bailed short. Par is a great score.) 

With eight par fours, I was pleasantly surprised to see a four of them play over 400 yards. My favorites were 9, 11, and 16. Each of them are long par fours that demand strong shots into the green. They set Harvest Hill apart and give it a championship feel. 

(The 420 yard par four sixteenth has a terrific green site on the other side of the wetlands. There’s room to run the ball on but a left pin will require a higher shot. It’s vital to be in the fairway otherwise the hazard is in play for a bad lie in the rough.) 

Harvest Hill is home to the First Tee. It has a wonderful driving range and short game facility plus three extra holes next to the range to give the youngsters a chance to put into play what they’ve been practicing. Such a commitment really adds to the presence and atmosphere Harvest Hill is developing in the community. 

For those who value a grand clubhouse and patio, Harvest Hill has a great one. It was designed to pay homage to the farmland that is verdant throughout this area. The silo and barn like structure make an impression, especially as you’re playing up the eighteenth fairway. Huge square boulders backdrop the green and people are able to kick back with food and drink while watching the action. Commentary is optional. A great restaurant is inside, adding to the experience. 

(The 475 yard par five sixth is another favorable hole to gain a stroke back. The second shot needs to be moved from right to left to feed into the green, but plenty of short grass to layup.)

I’ve played multiple Hurdzan courses and they  are always solid designs. They are visually appealing and playable for all golfers. Harvest Hill fits this profile to a tee and the lack of housing just adds to its popularity. Many people consider it one of the top three public courses in Buffalo. I’m looking forward to seeing it again. I give Harvest Hill a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).