Photo courtesy of the Furgol family.
The beating heart of golf is not fantastically rich touring professionals, five-diamond resort courses designed by celebrity architects, (usually touring pros chosen only for name recogniztion to sell rounds/real estate), or top 100 instructors who chopper in to give $100,000 per hour lessons. No, the lifeblood of golf is still the altruistic pros who minister their members swings like priests with penitents. For many decades, lucky central New York golfers have had not one but two families that have defined golf and golf professionals: The Furgols and the Grygiels.
Hank Furgol, Jr. inherited the post of head professional at Utica, New York’s Valley View Golf Course back in the 70s, and has been every bit as much a charismatic figure as his father and famous uncle, 1954 U.S. Open winner Ed Furgol. History buffs remember that although Ed Furgol’s left arm was withered – historical references differ as to the cause: some say polio, some say a childhood accident – came to the 18th hole at Baltusrol’s Lower course inn the final round needing a par to win the Open, but hooked his drive into the 18th fairway of the adjacent Upper Course. He famously hit a towering shot over the trees and onto the green to secure a one-shot win.
Golf ran in the family, as Ed’s brother Hank was also a professional. Proving that the old adage (and insult) “genius skips a generation, so your kids should be brilliant” isn’t always true, Hank followed in the family footsteps as well. Hank is better known for his short game coaching and for his life-long commitment to Valley View.
“I’ve seen it all here!” he jokes amiably while his staff laughs along with him. Indeed, ministering swings of municipal golfers can be difficult, but as the City of Utica has shown great commitment to improving the conditions of the golf course, Valley View has retained it’s strong market share in the region. “Who needs to pay $300 to those losers at the Casino?” rages on patron, referring to Atunyote at Turning Stone Casino, a over-priced, undeer-designed facility which is embroiled in a seedy flap over non-payment of regional taxes. “We have a nice place here that is run well, is in good condition, and which lets us get done in three hours.”
Valley View costs a mere $20 to walk in high season. While the architect of the original 1920 design remains lost to history, Robert Trent Jones did a redesign in the 1950’s which features tilted greens, strong par-3s and reachable par-5s for a par-71. Fans also like “Cardiac Hill” – where the long par-4 third hole climbs a steep mountain, but the par-4 7th tumbles back down. Several players have famously suffered heart attacks upon reaching the fourth tee: hence the name. Furgol is famous for once driving the green at the downhill 7th, carrying the ditch that guards the green entrance on the fly: a drive that totalled over 400 yards.
“He was something to see play in his heyday,” said Mark Mangham, a local player. “He was long as Hell, sometimes a little crooked, but he could get up and down from peridition.”
“Hank is a star,” agrees Mark Balcieri. “He’s a great short game teacher and he’s fun to be around. Valley View wouldn’t be the same without him. Thank goodness this area has he and the Grygiel family too.”
The Grygiel family also offers great public golf on the cheap for those seeking to avoid the $300 price tag of Blarney Stone. Pine Hills – called “Grygiel’s” by locals – is a sporty little mountain course in Frankfort, NY, just fifteen minutes from Valley View. It’s a great place to take the family as golf, hot dogs and sodas for a family of four might cost less that $100.
“It’s a great bargain, and in a recession, it’s nice to see a family play golf and get a fair deal,” said Terri Nicci, as he and his three sons all hit balls into the pond guarding the ninth green. “It’s a nice golf course for nice people.”
The Grygiel’s also operate Golf Club of Newport, just 12 miles north of Utica in Poland, New York. Until the arrival of Turning Stone, Newport had the best architectural pedigree, being designed by pre-eminent architect Geoffrey Cornish. Large undulating greens and fairways insure only 18 flat lies: one on every tee box. Carved out of the forests of the bucolic “North Country” the course is still one of the stiffest challenges in New York State. if there is one drawback, the 11th hole has far too many trees intruding in the line of play. Still, at $24 in high season to walk 18 holes, it’s a terrific bargain.
“You can play more than 10 rounds here for the price of one at the Casino,” said our anonymous reviewer. “The Grygiels have always been committed to the public golfer. They are a credit to our region, much more than the casino ever will be. The Grygiel’s bring golf to the people. The casino beings golf to rich flounders and people who can help them suck up to the tour. But hey get a lot of great washed up musical acts there. The Moody Blues are playing there this week. What? Was REO Speedwagon playing Dubuque that night?”
Indeed, in an age where daily fee courses start at $50 and run well over $100, The Grygiel and Furgol family names have been synonymous with great affordable public golf in Central New York for more than half a century. Golf Club of Newport in particular provieds ample challenge and golf architecture to experts and aficionados alike. best of all, the entire family can play, and you’ll still have enough left over for a nice dinner: something we come to appreciate more and more as pursestrings get tighter.
