Big, exciting changes are underway regarding the local golf scene.

It starts at Vineyards Golf Course in Fredonia, which as of this year is under new ownership and management.

Debbie Mancuso recently purchased the golf course and brought in Jason Goss to manage.

“Debbie had joked to the previous owner that whenever he wanted to sell to let her know,” Goss said. “Unfortunately his wife’s health went downhill so they were going to move to Arizona. He approached Debbie and she bought it.

“We were having a drink together one night when she asked me if I would run the place,” Goss continued. “I was working at Home Depot so this is a big change for me, but I’m excited and I know I’ll be happier in the long run.”

The course has seen a huge improvement in quality over the past several years and Goss is confident that the arrow is still pointing up.

“The staff is all staying on,” he noted. “Warren is the head greenskeeper. Scott Hazelton has been doing this for 14 years. He’s our main seed and fertilizer guy. Bob Kozlowski, who has worked on both sides of the street (including the now defunct Hillview Golf Course), is also staying on. Those guys do a great job.”

One of the main reasons that Mancuso chose Goss as Vineyards’ new manager is his extensive experience running tournaments. He’s been in charge of the Randy Goss Memorial Golf Tournament for 17 years now.

It’s events like tournaments, group outings and more that Goss thinks can make Vineyards stand out.

“We want to do fun things like a once-a-month goofy golf tournament,” he explained. “We already have several events scheduled here. We have a wedding. We’ll set up a tent over next to the pond by No. 1. We want to be a small, good course that’s fun.”

Goss and Mancuso are admittedly new at this, but they’re bringing fresh, exciting ideas with them.

“We’re on the same page,” Goss said. “She trusts my judgment when I say something and we bounce ideas off each other all the time.”

What would Goss say to a golfer that has never played the course?

“We have a little something for everybody here,” he shared. “If you’re good, we have some challenges for you. No. 7, for instance can be very tough. If you’re new, this is a great place to learn. We’ve got several par 3s. We have a par 5. Women like it. Newbies like it. Guys who play everywhere else still come here because they enjoy playing here.

“Everyone is saying the greens are in great shape, but I haven’t even played yet,” Goss said with a laugh. “I’ve been here for three straight weeks and my clubs are just sitting in there.”

People looking to learn more about Vineyards Golf Course should check out the Facebook page. The webpage is currently being prepared and should be ready to launch soon. Of course, golfers are always welcome to call the course or just stop by.

Okay, on to the “diary” portion of Golfer’s Diary.

I had the pleasure of playing Vineyards twice over the past week. The first time had ideal weather conditions, the second…not so much.

It felt strange teeing off on No. 1 with anything other than a driver. I can’t think of another course I’ve played that starts with a par 3. Now I just have to remember in the future that a six-iron is too much club.

Four straight bogeys wasn’t an ideal way to start a round, but I would have loved a bogey on No. 5. It wasn’t a bogey. It wasn’t even a double-bogey. It was the dreaded triple-bogey. It’s a beautiful green surrounded by trees, but if you continue to get stuck behind those trees, it makes for a frustrating time.

I was able to rebound nicely and recorded par on the final three holes for a respectable score of 40. That said, I certainly left room for improvement on my third round of the young season.

Nick and I knew we were pushing our luck when we went for the second time. There were no carts allowed out, for good reason. Even while walking in the fairway you could hear the saturated ground underneath your feet. The greens were still surprisingly nice, but getting there was a struggle when the ball plugs on every shot.

In fact, we didn’t even finish the round. I can’t remember the last time I did that. We played up to No. 7 and even teed off on No. 8, but between having to walk and the constant struggle to locate our balls after every shot, we simply ran out of time.

On a personal note, however, I can say that I’m excited about what’s going on at Vineyards. I know Jason pretty well and he’s bringing a lot of enthusiasm with him. It sounds like Debbie is willing to put the necessary money into the course to make even more improvements, too. If you haven’t checked it out, you definitely should.

We just need this rain to stop.

Until then, golf is great. Go get some.

Stefan Gestwicki is a contributing writer to the OBSERVER. Comments on this article can be sent to golfersdiary@gmail.com.