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And don't be fooled by the tranquil sounding name that the Audubon Society would be proud of. For the golfer who makes the trip to Birdsfoot, there's plenty of talon to be had on this fledgling beauty that overlooks the Buffalo Creek Valley.

Birdsfoot is the latest entry into western Pennsylvania's ever-widening expanse of upscale public golf courses.

This linksland-style course can be stretched to 7,047 yards from the back (gold) tees and can play as short as 5,232 yards from the ladies' (red) tees.

The five-tee setup on every hole is part of what the Lindsay family has set as a goal for this course: Make the experience the best it can possibly be for golfers who come there to play.

Designed by Ault, Clark & Associates, the course provides distinctly different challenges on the front and back nines. The opening holes provide a balance of wooded and open areas, including a panoramic view of the course and the area from the tee of the 602-yard (from the back tees) second hole.

On the back nine, the challenge becomes more than navigating the rolling hills, lakes and trees. There are some significant elevation changes that have to be dealt with, including the 498-yard par-5 16th that plays considerably longer because it's all uphill.

The par-3s at Birdsfoot are very good and very difficult. The 11th, 212-yards from the back, is slightly uphill, and the green is framed by a bunker in the shape of a horseshoe that encircles all but the front. The 186-yard 17th gives the feel of a hole on one of those grand old Irish courses.

"We are not a golf family," said Al Lindsay, a Freeport lawyer who is the patriarch of Lindsay Golf Group, LTD. "Five years ago, we came up here and looked at a farm. What you see out there now is a testament that dreams can come true."

For information about Birdsfoot, call 724-295-3656 or toll-free 877-295-3656.

And, just for the record, the birdsfoot for which the course is named has nothing to do with birds. It is named for birdsfoot trefoil, a lush green ground cover with small yellow flowers.

AWARD FOR PALMER

Arnold Palmer received the 2003 "Sportsman 1" award from the Clarion County Branch YMCA. The award was presented at Palmer's office Friday by Norbert Baschnagel and Ron Ropko.

The award is given to a western Pennsylvania athlete who has demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship throughout his or her career.

QUALITY GOLF

As residents, we are already well aware of the number of quality golf courses in the Commonwealth.

But Pennsylvania is being recognized nationally and internationally for that very thing.

Golf Digest's annual list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses is broken into categories, the Greatest and Greatest Public. Voted No. 4 in the Greatest is Oakmont Country Club, which will host the U.S. Amateur on Aug. 18-26. At No. 7 is Merion Golf Club in Ardmore (near Philadelphia), which, like Oakmont, has a rich history.

At No. 52 is Aronimink Golf Club, located in Newton Square, another Philadelphia suburb. Aronimink will play host to the PGA Seniors Championship in a couple of weeks. At No. 59 is Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier.

Only one public course cracked the magazine's 100 greatest: Olde Stonewall Golf Course in Ellwood City, which has emerged as the best daily fee course in western Pennsylvania and beyond.

Earlier in the year, Golfweek came out with lists of its own: the 100 Best Classical Courses and 100 Best Modern Courses. Oakmont was No. 6 on the classical list, Merion was No. 7, Aronimink was No. 59, Huntingdon Valley Country Club (Abingdon), No. 65; Lancaster Country Club, No. 67; Manufacturers Golf & Country Club, No. 69; Fox Chapel Golf Club, No. 73; Philadelphia Country Club, No. 75; Lehigh Country Club (Allentown), No. 76; Rolling Green Golf Club (Springfield), No. 77; Saucon Valley Country Club Old Course (Bethlehem), No. 82; Philadelphia Cricket Club (near Philadelphia), No. 86; Saucon Valley Country Club Grace Course, No. 98.

In the best modern list, the Stonewall Golf Club (Elverson) is 50th, and Huntsville Golf Club (Wilkes-Barre) is No. 75.

AMATEUR BOOKENDS

While preparations continue at Oakmont for the men's U.S. Amateur, the same things are going on across the state at the Philadelphia Country Club, which will be the site of the U.S. Women's Amateur. One-hundred and fifty-six of the best amateur women players in the world will be in the city of brotherly love in early August, a couple of weeks before their male counterparts descend on Oakmont.

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