Rochester, NY (courses that are members of the Rochester District Golf ASsociation):
Stafford CC (In response to question as to whether Stafford should be ranked ahead of Cherry Hill in Ron's Buffalo listing, I would give a resounding yes. It's routing and terrain are vastly superior; but, lacking in the greens surfaces department. For sake of transperancy, I have been a member of Stafford CC for 39 seasons, serving as Green Chairman in charge of developing and implementing golf course long range master plan.)
Ron--Actually, there were 3 holes at Orchard Park that were removed by the Aults in 1993-94, the par-3 6th, par 4s 17 and 18, and replaced with the abominations that Ian is trying to improve.
I'll add my "independent" perspective and concur that Stafford is much better that Cherry Hill, for the reasons you stated. The Par 5s at Stafford are far superior to their counterparts at Cherry Hill. I'm sure I am somewhat biased, in that relatively flat courses are significantly handicapped in their ability to inspire me.
Can you tell me how many of the current greens at Stafford are the originals built by Travis? Obviously, some have been changed, simply by comparing greens like the 11th to the rest of the course. The 11th may be one of the best I have seen (not having been to the UK), and bore much greater resemblance to Travis' work at Country Club of Troy.
As for Orchard Park, I'm hoping Ian can work some magic there. Real pity what they did to 16/17 for the sake of a driving range.
I played a Charity Event at OPCC in September, and the crews were tearing up some sections. I discovered Ian's involvement by talking with some of the crew, although I suspected it based on his other local Travis restoration work at Cherry Hill & Lookout Point. The guys in my group were mocking my thrilled reactions every time I heard a chainsaw rev up or limbs hitting the ground.
I don't know if there's anything Ian can do to save the abomination (read "clusterf#@k") that is the new 5th hole (the "signature" Par 5). I couldn't contain myself on the last visit, proclaiming, "Other than the fact that you have no clue where the drive-zone is from the tee, the ideal tee shot is an accidental toe-slice, it bears no resemblance to rest of the course, it's flat-as-a pancake with ridiculously artificial mounding, and perpetually covered in goose-sh!t, it's a fine hole."
The change is relatively recent, so there's probably some members still around who approved that hole when it was proposed. Ian must have bite-marks on his tongue from people asking him what he thinks of that hole.