By Nick Mattera
In what is seen as a final hurdle in the completion of the $20 million Hickory Stick Golf Course, the Lewiston Town Board approved plans for a 4,300-square foot clubhouse at its last board meeting.
Construction is expected to begin in the spring on the rustic two-level, shingle-style clubhouse positioned in the heart of the course. A large patio will offer golfers a unique views of the courses 9 and 18 holes.
Seneca Officials said the facility boasts a bar and restaurant that will be open only during the golfing season and will meet the needs of the golfers before, during or after their rounds. There are no current plans to offer banquet services, but accommodations have been made for outside tents to support large-scale tournament events.
The site will house a pro shop, a changing room and a subterranean cart storage site. Interior details are still being defined at this time.
The course is expected to open for play this July, with the clubhouse facility completed shortly after.
Overall, construction began in 2007 on the course being designed by world-renowned golf architect Robert Jones II. It is the first off-territory endeavor undertaken by the Seneca Gaming Corporation and it is expected that they will pair the course with its Niagara Falls casino operations.
The golf course and clubhouse are being developed by Seneca Gaming and managed by KemperSports Management, an Illinois-based sport marketing firm.
“It’s obvious that the golfing public in Western New York is eagerly awaiting the opening of Seneca Hickory Stick,” said Brian Gaines, regional director of sales and marketing for KemperSports. “We are confident that the overall golf experience at the course and facilities will be second to none and we look forward to sharing Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s vision with everyone here.”
The 7,100 yard, par-72 course is named after rare shellback hickory tress situated on it. The course is located in the Town of Lewiston bordered by the Robert Moses Parkway and Pletcher, Creek and Raymond roads.
Seneca officials said they place a premium on the guest experience and customer service for the 4,000 golfers a year Hickory Stick is expected to attract.
“In developing Hickory Stick, we are creating an amenity that will be an attractive draw for golf enthusiasts from across the northeast and Southern Ontario and a project that will stand out in Western New York,” said Rob Chamberlain, senior vice president of design and construction for Seneca Gaming Corp. “A new Robert Trent Jones II-designed course creates a level of quality that aligns quite well with the world-class properties that Seneca Gaming Corporation has developed in Western New York over the past seven years."
Upon opening, it is expected the course will create 44 new jobs with an approximate payroll of $1.4 million.
