Coca-Cola Field will again be turned into a golf course, of sorts, with the return of the “The Links at Coca-Cola Field,” from Sept. 15 through Sept. 17.
The nine-hole, par-27 course is a unique experience where golfers will take swings from eight tee boxes located around the ballpark, including home plate and the right-field party deck. This year’s updated course includes three club-level shots as well as different pin placements. The course includes a one-hole putting challenge in the Bisons’ indoor batting cages.
Each hole will feature a theme, including “extras” such as crowd noise or unfavorable weather conditions. A new theme, the “double down” hole, will dare golfers to bet on themselves, allowing good shots to be scored better (pars as birdies and birdies as aces) but bad shots will be turned worse (bogeys become double bogeys and doubles become triples).
Putting Hole No. 8 will be the “Disco Ball” hole where golfers will hit neon balls through a green illuminated only by disco lights.
Mulligans can be purchased before the round, allowing a second chance at any hole, with the exception of the “Double Down” hole. Each mulligan costs $5, with a maximum of two per golfer, with proceeds going to the Buffalo Bisons Charitable Foundation.
A round of golf at The Links at Coca-Cola Field will cost $55 per golfer and include a special Links at Coca-Cola Field golf towel and cap, a logo OnCore golf ball, a post-round beverage, parking and two Bisons 2018 Opening Day tickets. A premium package, which will also include a limited edition Links at Coca-Cola Field shoe bag, is $85 per golfer.
Tee times are available online at LinksAtCocaColaField.com and at Bisons.com. Times available are from 6-10 p.m. Sept. 15; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. on Sept. 16; and 8 a.m. to noon on Sept. 17.
The course:
No. 1: Stepping to the Tee (Par 3, 80 yards): Golfers’ names and hometowns will be announced to the gallery.
No. 2: BuffaLove (Par 3, 65 yards): Take your swing wearing either a football, hockey or baseball helmet.
No. 3: Caddyshack (Par 3, 135 yards): Enjoy a craft beer sample from Resurgence Brewing.
No. 4: NOONAN!!! (Par 3, 100 yards): Test your concentration with a little extra crowd noise.
No. 5: A Toast to the King (Par 3, 72 yards): Mix your own “Arnold Palmer” in honor of one of the greatest golfers that ever lived.
No. 6: The “Double Down” (Par 3, 124 yards): Option to bet on yourself. Hole will be scored Birdie 1, Par 2, Bogey 5, Double Bogey 6.
No. 7: Not Coming Down for Quite Some Time (Par 3, 103 yards): A little extra ‘weather’ added for this tee shot.
No. 8: A Disco Ball (Par 3, 19 feet): Using a Happy Gilmore-esque hockey stick putter, put a neon golf ball in a hole lit only by disco lights.
No. 9: The Cinderella Boy (Par 3, 81 yards): Line up this last shot and knock it in. Hole-in-one wins a $250 Bisons gift card.- by Amy Moritz, The Buffalo News (New York)