Japanese Inspired Golf In Ellicottville
Japanese Inspired Golf in Ellicottville
Chad Neal’s Big Foot Park Golf is NOW Open!
Photos / Evan Evans, ellicottvilleNOW
Ellicottville is the excursion chameleon of Western New York. It’s equally fun and active no matter the season. As we crawl out of a rainy spring and our weather apps start to show the sunshine emoji more consistently, we can officially start to celebrate summer in Ellicottville!
There definitely isn’t a shortage of things to do in town this summer, with lots of biking, skating, hiking, and golf to take advantage of. However, if you’re looking to try something new, Bigfoot Park Golf on Robbins Road, behind the Ellicottville Distillery, is about to open!
Park Golf is a twist of traditional golf, originating from Japan. Park golf combines elements of traditional golf and mini golf. Think of a regular golf course, but a little bit smaller and easier to play. The ball used is larger, about tennis ball-sized, and only one club is used and is designed specifically for the game.
“It’s like a cross between a driver and a mallet”, said Chad Neal, a bartender at Madigan’s in Ellicottville. Chad also works on the Village Planning Board, and newly (and excitingly), Chad is the owner of Bigfoot Park Golf!
He is the man responsible for bringing this new sport to the area; an Ellicottville local who has been playing golf most of his life. He graduated High School on the Ellicottville Central High School golf team and went on to be a member of the Holiday Valley Men’s League. “I actually won the championship in 2006 with Joe Clark,” Chad said proudly.
Chad represents some of the best that summer in Ellicottville has to offer. When it comes to Park Golf and wanting to add to the summer adventures in town, Chad discovered the sport with his two sons, Elliott and Grayson, up in Akron, New York. “We ended up being near Akron on an excursion one day, so we stopped in only to see WWF’s Destroyer himself sitting at the end waving at us as we drove in,” Chad shared. Chad and his sons, avid WNY activity-goers, fell in love with park golf. “After our 7th visit, I uttered to the boys, ‘We should build a park golf course in Ellicottville!’. They agreed and we clamored on ideas for naming it."
Bigfoot Park Golf is located in the large field behind the Ellicottville Distillery. Owner Bryan Scharf had featured a cutout of the illusive mountain monster Bigfoot before the Neal boys began to craft their course. Rather than evict Mr. Foot, they ran with it, giving their course a name! “Plus all the Bigfoot that live in the hills around here too,” added Chad.
Moreover, on the gameplay, “The fairways and greens are cut from 35-100 yards and are par 3, 4, and 5”, said Chad. These are definitely shorter than a traditional golf hole, with the average par 5 reaching up to 550 yards in length. The hole itself is 8 inches to accommodate the larger ball, and Chad implies the course’s features are at a family-friendly difficulty level: “No sand traps or water hazards but the rough can be a struggle.”
Chad believes Park Golf is a great addition to Ellicottville. “I think this will interest a lot of people who come to and live in and around Ellicottville,” he said. “It’s another outdoor activity to do, it’s family-friendly, and it’s challenging, though less aggravating than traditional golf.” It definitely is a new take on such a classic Ellicottville pastime and positively includes younger kids in the sport.
Can’t wait to spot Bigfoot and try out Park Golf for yourself? You don’t have to! Bigfoot Park Golf has opened softly right behind the Ellicottville Distillery, and you can check it out on weekends. You can call to make an appointment at 716-541-4059. Bigfoot Park Golf operates from 11:00am and closes later on in the afternoon. “We will be open more days after Memorial Weekend.”
The grand opening for Bigfoot Park Golf is being planned for June and Chad will continue to post to the Bigfoot Park Golf Facebook page with operation updates, pricing, events, etcetera. “Park Golf is fun, and different, and easy to learn!,” exclaimed Chad. It will be a sure-fire hit this summer, and soon enough will become an Ellicottville staple!