Sheridan Park Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-71 municipal course in Tonawanda, NY, designed by William Harries and opened in 1933, offering a challenging, water-laden layout at some of the most affordable rates in the Buffalo area.
Keep reading for a full breakdown of its history, fees, layout, and tips for playing your best round.
Getting to Know Sheridan Park Golf Course
Sheridan Park Golf Course sits inside Sheridan Park in the Town of Tonawanda, within the Buffalo–Niagara Falls corridor.
You'll see two different addresses listed for the course — 10 Center Park Drive and 490 E. Park Drive, both Tonawanda, NY 14150 — but they refer to the same clubhouse within the park, located at roughly 42.9832°N, 78.9014°W.
The course runs along Sheridan Drive (NY Route 324), and if you're driving on I-290, you can actually spot hole 16 from the highway.
One thing worth clearing up before you book a tee time: this is not an Erie County course. It's owned and operated directly by the Town of Tonawanda, through its Youth, Parks & Recreation Department.
Erie County runs a different pair of courses — Elma Meadows and Grover Cleveland — so if you're used to booking through the county system, you'll need to go through the Town's process instead.
Dallas Ford serves as General Manager. A separate group called the Sheridan Park Golf Club organizes competitions and league play at the course, but they don't own or manage the facility itself.
The Town's Parks & Recreation Department also runs a few sister facilities nearby, which matters if you're planning to practice or play more than once:
- Brighton Park Golf Course — a second town-owned 18-hole course
- Paddock Chevrolet Golf Dome — indoor practice facility
- Paddock Chevrolet Outdoor Driving Range — 30 tee stations with Toptracer bays
This setup matters because Sheridan itself has no driving range, so serious practice sessions happen at Brighton instead.
For booking and questions, here's who to call:
- Pro shop, clubhouse, and tee reservations: (716) 875-1811
- Town golf information line: (716) 504-4059 (Sheridan direct line: (716) 305-7770)
- Tee-time help line: (716) 879-6688
- Fax: (716) 504-4060
- Youth, Parks & Recreation main office: (716) 877-8800, 299 Decatur Rd, Tonawanda, NY 14223
On-site parking is available right at the clubhouse, and once you're out on the course, it's genuinely walkable — a park-style layout that doesn't force you into a cart if you'd rather carry your bag or use a push cart.
The History Behind the Course
Sheridan Park opened on Saturday, May 13, 1933, as a 9-hole course designed by William Harries. The Sheridan Park Golf Club, the member organization that still runs competitions at the course today, was also founded that same year.
You'll come across claims that Donald Ross designed Sheridan Park, but there's no evidence to support this.
Ross's actual Western New York project was the redesign of Grover Cleveland Golf Course around 1917-1918, a separate Erie County course. The designer of record for Sheridan Park is William Harries, full stop.
In 1960, Russ Tryon redesigned the course ahead of a national competition it would host two years later. That competition turned out to be one of the biggest moments in the course's history:
- The 1962 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship ran July 9–14, drawing 2,241 entries
- Richard H. Sikes won the tournament, defeating Honolulu's Hung Soo Ahn 2 and 1
- Sikes was the two-time defending champion, having also won in 1961
- George Archer took medalist honors in stroke play with a 145 — he'd go on to win the 1969 Masters
Not long after that high point, the course lost ground — literally. In the 1960s, six holes on the far side of Sheridan Drive were sold off for commercial development and replaced with new holes elsewhere on the property.
Golf commentators who've studied the layout note that the original 18, had it survived intact, would likely be considered Harries' masterpiece.
The club marked its 90th anniversary on May 12, 2023, with a ceremony recreating the original 1933 opening — a nod to a course that's been part of the Tonawanda community for nearly a century.
Course Layout, Specs, and Signature Holes
Sheridan Park plays to a par 71 across 18 holes, with the front nine set at par 36 and the back at par 35. Total yardage depends on which tees you play:
- Blue (back) tees: 6,644 yards
- White tees: 6,396–6,399 yards
- An alternate figure of 6,534 yards shows up on the Town's site and a few directories for the back tees, so don't be surprised if you see slightly different numbers depending on where you look
Rating and slope figures are where things get genuinely inconsistent across sources. One set of figures puts the Blue tees at 72.5/128 and White at 71.3/126, reflecting a July 2022 re-rating that's likely the most current data available.
But the Town's own course information lists Blue at 71.5/124 and White at 70.2/121 — noticeably different numbers.
Given the gap, your best move is confirming the current rating at the clubhouse before you post a score for handicap purposes.
Front nine vs. back nine. The front nine (3,368 yards from the Blues, par 36) plays as a fairly straightforward introduction, opening with a 426-yard par 4 and closing with a 406-yard par 4 at the 9th. The back nine (3,276 yards, par 35) is where the course shows its teeth — water comes into play repeatedly, elevation changes intensify, and the holes demand more precise course management.
A few holes stand out as the ones you'll remember after the round:
- Hole 6 — a tiny 113-yard par 3, deceptively simple-looking given how the rest of the course plays
- Holes 13 and 16 — both par 3s that require carries over water, with out-of-bounds lurking behind the greens
- Hole 17 — a 537-yard par 5 that rewards aggressive play but punishes a mistimed go at the green in two
- Hole 14 — a 405-yard par 4 widely considered the hardest public par 4 in Western New York, demanding a drive placed left of Two Mile Creek toward the fairway mound
Terrain-wise, expect rolling and hilly ground with plenty of uneven lies, tight tree-lined fairways, and bunkers guarding many of the greens.
Two Mile Creek and several ponds cross the property, concentrated mostly on the back nine, and the greens themselves are small to medium in size with subtle contours rather than dramatic breaks. It's a course that punishes wayward shots more through positioning and water than through sheer length.
Fees, Booking, and Season Details
Sheridan Park's green fees stay reasonable compared to what you'd pay at a private or semi-private club, and pricing runs on a resident-vs-non-resident structure that rewards Town of Tonawanda and Kenmore residents.
Daily rates (7 days a week):
- 18 holes: $22 for residents with an Access Card, $35 for non-residents
- 9 holes: $17 for residents, $25 for non-residents
Fall rates kick in on weekdays from roughly early September through early November, flattening the pricing to $17 for residents and $25 for non-residents regardless of whether you play 9 or 18 — a solid deal if you're playing late-season golf on a weekday.
Cart rentals run separately from green fees:
- 18 holes: $28
- 9 holes: $14
- 10-pack cart pass: $250
- Handicap carts: $14 (requires a doctor's note on file)
If you're a resident planning to play regularly, the Resident Access Card is worth getting since it's the key to unlocking the discounted rates.
It costs $15 for youth, $30 for adults, or $50 for a family, stays valid for a year, and works across other Town facilities too.
For frequent players, a season pass covering both Sheridan and Brighton Park (valid from opening day through Election Day) might make more financial sense:
- Resident: $560
- Non-resident: $830
- Resident family: $870
- Resident senior (60+): $405, with weekday access until 3 pm and restricted weekend times
- Resident youth: $295
- Resident guest ten-pack: $260
Do the math on your expected rounds — a resident season pass roughly pays for itself around 25 rounds of 18-hole golf at the standard resident rate.
Booking a tee time happens either by phone at (716) 875-1811 or online through the Town's Chelsea reservation system at tonawanda.chelseareservations.com or ttypr.com. How far ahead you can book depends on whether you've paid for a subscription:
- Paid subscribers ($80/year residents, $150/year non-residents) can book up to 10 days out
- Non-subscribers can book up to 5 days out — for example, a Saturday tee time opens up the preceding Monday after 9 pm
- Walk-ups are welcome subject to availability
Rain checks are honored up to 90 minutes after your tee-off time, and subscribers who no-show repeatedly risk penalties or removal from the booking system.
The season generally runs from mid-to-late April through early November, with daily play starting early morning and running until dusk — carts need to be returned by dusk as well.
Given Western New York's lake-effect winters, expect the course to close completely over winter, and be aware that shoulder-season conditions (especially on the low-lying, water-heavy back nine) can get soggy during spring thaw.
Amenities, Instruction, and Club Life
The clubhouse at Sheridan Park covers the basics: a concessions and snack bar setup, a grill, and a beverage cart that circles the course during play, since outside food and drinks aren't permitted.
A “Mike's Subs Express” concession has operated out of the clubhouse as well. That said, don't expect a polished experience — reviewers consistently describe the clubhouse and lunch facilities as dated, and it's the most commonly cited area for improvement.
The pro shop is similarly bare-bones. You'll find balls, gloves, and tees, but that's about it — there's no club rental available, so bring your own set, and there are no caddies on staff either.
For practice, Sheridan itself only offers a putting green on site. If you want a real range session, you'll need to head to the sister Brighton Park complex, which has the Paddock Chevrolet Outdoor Driving Range (30 tee stations, including Toptracer bays) and the indoor Golf Dome for winter or bad-weather practice.
Instruction and youth programs run through the Town rather than Sheridan directly:
- Golf lessons are available through three professional instructors — contact the outdoor driving range at (716) 695-7974 or the Golf Dome at (716) 504-3663 for scheduling and clinic details
- The Junior Golf League is co-ed, for ages 10-18, split into three skill levels (Master, Intermediate, Beginner)
- League play meets Monday mornings from late June through mid-August at Brighton
- 2026 fees are $75 for residents and $100 for non-residents, with registration opening April 13, 2026
If you're looking for more structured competitive play, the Sheridan Park Golf Club is the member organization to know.
It's separate from the Town's ownership of the course, but it's where the community golf scene actually happens — roughly 150 members pay $170 a year for league access and USGA handicap tracking, with greens fees and carts billed separately.
That club also runs a packed tournament calendar:
- Around nine major tournaments each season, including President's Cup match play and 2-man team match play
- Weekly tournaments running from Memorial Day through Labor Day
- Ryder Cup-style challenges against Elma Meadows and other area clubs, including the Publinks Team Championship at Hyde Park
- Signature events like the Memorial 4-Man Scramble and “The Nightmare”
For outings or private events, you can arrange them directly by calling the course at (716) 875-1811. The course has also historically hosted the Sheridan/Deerwood Challenge, a rivalry event with the nearby North Tonawanda complex.
Playing Sheridan Park: Tips, Reviews, and Comparisons
Aggregated reviews put Sheridan Park in the neighborhood of 3.7 out of 5 on golf platforms, with local forums frequently ranking it among the top five public courses in the Buffalo area.
Golfers consistently praise the routing, the quality of bunker sand, and the value for what you're paying — plus the drama the back nine delivers with its water and elevation changes.
The recurring complaints are just as consistent: greens speed can be inconsistent, aeration sometimes happens without notice or a fee discount, pace of play slows down on the tight back nine, and customer service is a mixed bag depending on who's working that day.
Strategy for the back nine matters more than anywhere else on the course, since holes 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 17 all bring water, creek carries, or steep elevation into play:
- On the 11th, resist the temptation to carry the water off the tee — lay up short with a mid-iron toward the bridge instead
- On the 14th, aim your drive left of Two Mile Creek toward the fairway mound, then play the approach conservatively rather than firing at the pin
- On both par-3s over water (13 and 16), miss short and straight — out of bounds sits behind several of the greens, and a long miss costs you more than a short one
Beginners should go in with realistic expectations: the combination of water hazards, uneven lies, and tight fairways makes Sheridan a tougher test than your typical municipal course. Experienced players, on the other hand, tend to find it genuinely rewarding — it's a course that punishes careless play but gives back plenty when you execute.
How it stacks up against nearby courses:
- Brighton Park — the Town's other course, wider and flatter, easier overall, and cheaper at $30 for non-residents
- Deerwood — a 27-hole municipal complex in North Tonawanda, well-reviewed and a few miles away
- Elma Meadows — Erie County-run, also a Harries/Tryon design, par 70 at roughly 6,700 yards, inexpensive
- Grover Cleveland — Erie County's historic option, a former 1912 U.S. Open site later redesigned by Donald Ross, short and very cheap
Sheridan generally comes out ahead of Brighton and Grover Cleveland in terms of challenge and interest, at a modest price premium that most golfers consider worth paying.
For the best experience, aim for weekday mornings or afternoons, or fall weekdays if you want the flat discounted rate with fewer crowds. Book your tee time 5 to 10 days out through ttypr.com, keeping in mind that weekend slots open up Monday nights for non-subscribers.
Put it all together, and Sheridan Park works best for golfers who want a genuine test of shot-making without paying private-club prices — just go in prepared for a dated clubhouse, bring your own clubs, and respect the water on the back nine.
Conclusion
Sheridan Park delivers a genuinely challenging, water-laden round that punches well above its municipal price tag, backed by nearly a century of history and a back nine that keeps you honest.
Between the reasonable resident rates, the flexible booking system, and standout holes like the par-3 13th and 16th, it's easy to see why local golfers rank it among the best public courses in the Buffalo area.
Book your tee time through ttypr.com, bring your own clubs, and get ready for one of Western New York's most rewarding rounds.
