BUFFALO, N.Y. — Sports can bring some of the simplest joys in life.

Take golf for instance. You can be good or you can just enjoy a day out on the greens in the summer.

For some, it doesn't come with such a high price point. In fact, it's even part of paying taxes.

"The Erie County Parks Department has 10,000 acres of property. Out of that, 325 of those acres are golf courses," said Deputy Commissioner of Parks Jimbo McDonald. 

Two to be exact, some of the less common municipal-run establishments and the Grover Cleveland Golf Course in North Buffalo is historic, to boot.

“The country club operated here from 1902 until 1925," McDonald said. "They actually hosted the 1912 U.S. Open here right at this course. We've had a few redesigns over those 100, 120 years since the course has been right here at Main and Bailey."

You might think with the renovations and the tenure comes a long wait list or crazy membership circumstances.

"All that stuff, you would never know just coming here and playing a round of golf during the week here for $18, renting a cart for $25 — the cost of golf going to other privately-owned public courses is a lot more than that in most places," he said. 

The pride here is accessibility: the right for everyone to come play and celebrate the history of this course, including an upcoming public museum.

"So we are in the process right now of archiving over 100 years of documents and artifacts from the from the department's history. This year is actually our centennial year," said Deputy Commissioner of Recreation Kate Hilliman.

Taking 'Parks and Rec' to another level, unlike the hit workplace sitcom, they take their jobs very seriously.

"[It's important] not only that we keep those points at accessible levels, but that we keep the quality very high," she added. "We don't look at this and say, ‘well, we're a municipal golf course, so it doesn't really matter.’ We don't ever say that about either of our golf courses or any of our facilities anywhere in the whole park system." 

Just ask longtime pass holder Bill McKay, whose grandpa was once the club pro before the county took over.

"The course is never jampacked," McKay said. "Yes, some Sundays and stuff like that, but it's been hot this year. So even I mean, we're out at least two or three times a week here."

Bill and company always get the most bang, drive and putt for their buck.

“[You] can come out and just play for 20 minutes to two hours and practice," he said. 

Which on most days is exactly where McDonald loves to be.

"Just driving by and seeing people out here golfing, and seeing that as you're going to the grocery store or you're going to work at, you know, the local shop," he said.

More history, exposure and access.

"You're going to be out here and you're going to be able to learn the game," he said. "And the more you play this game, which is the craziest part about this game, the more you play it, the better you're going to be at it. It's really just a repetition sport. And that's what we offer here. You know, you get that ability to come and do this for $18 for a round of 18." 

Not every municipality has or can run a golf course, but the incentive is there. Erie County cites everything at River Cleveland and their other course in Elma as operating completely within the county's budget, but also helping raise money for local taxpayers as well.