Owner Rick Manguso with the Rose Brook logo. The logo is a golf ball and a brook but Manguso is happy with it because it looks like a guitar. (Photo by Dusten Rader)

12486 Beebe Rd.
Silver Creek 14136
716-934-2825

After 22 successful seasons of golf, Rose Brook Golf Course owner Rick Manguso begins implementing ideas to improve attendance.

The 18-hole privately owned daily feed public golf course has much to offer other than just golfing. Live music will be playing on Friday nights from Gretchen Schulz and the Morvells, The Thirds and many others.

The Clubhouse has outdoor seating, a full bar and a restaurant. (Photo by Dusten Rader)

“We're starting to think outside of the box,” Manguso said. “Carrie Moore, a friend of my daughter who is a graduate from Alfred state was the one who pushed me to start new ideas. So, we're having live music on Friday nights with Buffalo Music Hall of Famers from the Sportsmen's Tavern Tribute Series. Before the show starts we have a power hour featuring $1 drinks starting at 6 p.m.. We're going to finish off the season with a huge pig roast. We also have twilight golfing seven days a week that is $10 all you can play after 6 p.m. with a cart.”

The course has a few unique features. It was named after the creek that runs through it. It also has a 100-foot deep gorge that golfers will have to hit the ball over multiple times throughout the course. There is also a signature par 5 at number 9 where the prevailing winds are behind the golfer allowing hits up to 400 yards long. The course also has new 2011 Yamaha golf carts.

“We're also running an ongoing tournament where if you bring at least 20 people we will donate half of the proceeds to the charity of your choice,” Manguso said. “In the last two years we've given close to $30,000 to charity.”

The Rose Brook golf course as customers know it today came together through the hard work of the four individuals who bought it in 1988. Those four are brothers Rick and Russ Manguso, Russ Emerson who has since passed and James Cocina who retired and was bought out. Now, Rick and Russ run the course.

Owner Rick Manguso lines up a put while his friend Bob Wieczarek watches. (Photo by Dusten Rader)

“There were four of us from Angola playing golf here at Rose Brook one day,” said Manguso. “This guy came up to us and asked us if we were interested in buying the course. So, we talked to the owner who lived in Buffalo at the time and ended up making the purchase. Since then we've put every penny that we've made back into the course and we've changed this place from being called the Rock Pile to something comparable to the other courses in the area.”

According to Manguso, the original owner was George Racall He was an iron worker and he built the course in the 60's when he retired.

“There is a funny story about when George started developing the land for the course,” said Manguso. “A pop can got caught under the brake pedal of the bull dozer and he went right down into the gorge. He managed to ride it down but he couldn't get it back up so he had ride the creek all the way down to the lake to get out.”

The course was originally only nine holes and in 1995 Rick, the family and friends all came together for two summers straight to put together the other nine holes.

“We finally finished on Memorial Day of 1997,” said Manguso. “One of the smartest moves I've ever made here was hiring a fellow named Mike Kroll. He is a retired district manager of National Fuel. Kroll didn't know anything about grounds keeping in 1998 when I hired him. Two years later he took over as my course superintendent and this course has done nothing but flourish since he joined. Without a trustworthy and hardworking guy like Kroll the improvements we've made wouldn't have been as viable.”

There is plenty of flat green at Rose Brook golf course. (Photo by Dusten Rader)

The clubhouse has a full bar and restaurant. It offers a lunch style menu and is run by a crew and manager named George Salim.

“The crew at the clubhouse is just fantastic,” said Manguso. “Everyone loves George and he keeps the place running.”

Every season is a special one at Rose Brook. The workers, families and friends all come together to celebrate there reunion.

“Sometimes we call the course Camp Rose Brook,” Manguso said. “Everyone who works here are camp counselors and we call all the golfers the summer campers. This is because we don't see each other all Winter and we come back for a big reunion during the summer.”

Anyone over the age of 90 golfs for free at Rose Brook. Manguso's mother ,who they call Grandma Goose, is 96 years old and still plays 18 holes.

“We enjoy owning the course and people enjoy being here,” said Manguso. “In the near future we might actually make it into a real camp if I can manage to get sewer and water up here. This is not your grandfather's golf course. We want everyone to be able to come here and have a good time.”