Paul Albanese

Harris, MI

Upper Peninsula resort gem near Escanaba

Ellicottville, NY

Holiday Valley's golf course, known as the Double Black Diamond Course, is an 18-hole layout at the Holiday Valley ski and golf resort in Ellicottville, New York. It was originally designed by Ferdinand (Fred) Garbin and opened in 1964, then substantially renovated by architect Paul Albanese in the mid-2000s. The front nine is relatively level and built around a series of ponds and bunkers, while the back nine winds through the base of the surrounding mountains with narrow, well-manicured fairways and notable elevation changes. Several holes climb and descend the same slopes used for skiing in winter. The course is open to the public as part of the Holiday Valley resort, with a driving range, pitching area and putting green on site, and it operates seasonally from April through November.