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Hornell Golf Club to expand, alter course By RYAN WESTERDAHL - STAFF WRITER Published: Monday, March 26, 2007 HORNELL - With the weather warming up and golfers dusting off their clubs, the Hornell Golf Club is receiving the first incisions of a major surgery. Under the guidance of owner Scott Weitzel, the nine-hole track will be expanded to a full 18 holes. Between 60-65 acres of land are being cleared to make room, and some current holes are being eliminated or altered. Work crews have already begun logging at the course. Weitzel has a clear vision for the future of the club. “A well-maintained 18-hole golf course, with a nice layout,” he said. “We hope to have pro-am events.” The upgraded course will feature a practice area, and possibly a small driving range. Greens on several holes will be moved closer to water hazards, and one new hole will run alongside the creek which borders the property. To fund the expansion, the club plans to offer several long-term memberships. Once the memberships end, customers would get their money back. But you don't have to be a member to play the course, Weitzel added. “Some people still think we're private,” he said. Owning and maintaining golf courses runs in Weitzel's family - his father founded Caledonia Country Club, in Caledonia, in 1960. Weitzel grew up working at Caledonia and other courses, including notable tracks like Winged Foot and Doral, which are famous for hosting PGA events. He took golf course management classes at Alfred State, Florida International University, and the University of Massachusetts. “I was a drifter. I just went around working at golf courses,” he said. Weitzel has put his training to good use at HGC - when he bought the course in the summer of 2004, it was in poor condition. “It was really run down,” he said. Weitzel and his family have also upgraded the country club's multi-storied clubhouse. The lower floor features food, drink, and a fireplace for golfers, while two reception rooms upstairs - one of which was renovated just last year - can hold more than 300 people. “Sometimes we'll have two parties going on at once,” Weitzel said. The grand opening of the Hornell Golf Club's 18-hole course is slated for spring 2011, but golfers can still play the current nine-hole version. For more information, call (607) 324-1735. 
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