By PAUL GIORDANO
Courier-Post Staff

BUENA

Cut and molded out of the South Jersey pinelands, the Buena Vista Country Club opened for play on May 30, 1957. That's 45 years ago, making it kind of the elder statesman of pineland and sand golf.

Through the years, Buena Vista has matured into one of the finest 18 holes for public play in South Jersey. It is tree-lined and kind of on the tight side, with more than its share of fairway waste bunkers to test one's golf skills at all levels. However, if you can play this course and score, you can play and score anywhere.

Buena Vista plays to a par 72 from four sets of tees.

It's 6,869 yards from the Blue tees with a course/slope rating of 71.8/127. From the White tees, it's 6,422 yards with a course/slope rating of 70.2/124. It plays 6,005 yards from the Gold with a course slope rating of 68.3/119. From the Red tees, it's 5,651 yards with a course/slope rating of 72.6/124.

For greens fees, it's: Weekdays (Monday-Thursday): $41 with cart. Carts mandatory until 1 p.m. After 1 p.m., $27 to walk. After 4 p.m, $17 to walk. $25 with cart. Weekends/holidays: $49 with cart. Carts mandatory until 4 p.m. After 4 p.m., $22 to walk. $32 with cart.

The toughest hole for the 12-and-up handicapper is the par 3, 223-yard (White tees) 8th (No. 15 handicap). The tee shot must be directly on line to hit a tightly-guarded small green protected by bunkers in front and to the left. Miss-hit here and the best you can score is a 5.

Another interesting hole … always has and always will be … is the par 5, 486-yard (White tees) 10th hole. This plays to a dogleg left, with waste bunkers almost completely down the left side of the fairway with more waste bunkers down the right side, mixed in with a tight tree line. The tee-shot landing area is a squeeze. The tee shot must be played to the middle-to-right side of the fairway for clear second and third shots into a slightly elevated bunker-protected green.

Pure and simple, Buena Vista is a true test of golf. To ease the toughness, however, holes 17 and 18 bring you back for more. Seventeen is a straightaway par 3, 169 yards from the White tee, with picture postcard water crossing in front of the green. A very doable par 3. Hole 18 plays to a par 4, 359 yards from the White tees. Two good shots (tee and second) and the player goes home with a par and a smile. Another doable par.

Enough said.