Intramurals and Golf Keep Students Busy During Warmer Days

For most UB students, there are a number of things that they can count on throughout their collegiate career. Nice weather is not one of these things. By mid-October, dark clouds will be storming in and the days will proceed from cold to colder. It is no surprise that most UB students are eager to take advantage of the pleasant Buffalo weather while it lasts.

For those students interested in sports but not inclined to join any particular team, there are a few ways to stay active while taking advantage of the limited number of sunny, warm Buffalo days.

Places such as the basketball courts at the on-campus apartments and the tennis courts and football fields near the dorms are open to all students and are generally in consistent use during the warmer months.

Aside from the areas designed for specific sports, UB is interlaced with paths and walkways, which are perfect for jogging, inline-skating, or a mid-evening stroll.

Dave Waterbury, a senior business major, has lived in the Ellicott complex for the past two years, enjoying what the campus offers.

"I always like to take advantage of nice weather when we have it," said Waterbury. "And for me, walking around campus was the best way to do that."

Many students share Waterbury's views on simply enjoying the weather in laid back walks, but others like to be more active when they are outside on a good day.

"For me, getting together with some friends and playing some wiffle-ball is the best way to spend a day outside," said Brett Williams, a senior media studies major. "We grab the bat and ball, and get down to it until we're exhausted."

In addition to a student's own activities for the summer, UB offers the Intramural Sports program for students to play recreational and sports-oriented activities.

The Intramural Sports program Web site at www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/recreation/intramurals states that the program offers a wide range of competitive and non-competitive activities provided for the UB students by the Division of Athletics.

The Intramural Sports program gives students the opportunities to play almost any sport they like. The students form their own teams for football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, roller hockey and softball.

Edward Michael, director of recreation and intramural services, explained that while intramurals are competitive, the program is set up primarily for students to have fun and enjoy themselves.

"It's all about having fun and providing students with an atmosphere that's challenging and enjoyable," said Michael.

The sports are offered in two different ways: Open and Co-Recreational. A sport that is Open can have any number of males and females on the team, whereas Co-Recreational limits the teams to an equal number of males and females.

"Students can easily sign up and play sports that they have loved for many years, or can come in and try something totally new and different," said Michael.

Students also have the opportunity to take advantage of the nice weather by participating in activities off-campus as well. One of the more popular off-campus recreational sports for students is golf.

Golf courses are found all around UB and the greater Buffalo area.

One course that students have taken a liking to is Grover Cleveland Golf Course, located across the street from South campus along Bailey Avenue.

Paul Benn, a pro-shop worker at the course, said he has seen a number of students coming and going from the course in the last couple weeks.

"I played around with some UB students last week," said Benn "They've been walking over here from campus with their clubs looking to play some fun, inexpensive golf."

Benn believes that most students play at Grover Cleveland mainly because they do not have to pay a lot for a solid round of golf.

Other golf courses close to campus are the Audubon Golf Course and the Sheridan Golf Course, which are both within ten minutes of North and South campus by car.

It is easy to see that students at UB are making use of the warm Buffalo summer days while they can whether it is a round of Ultimate Frisbee on an Ellicott football field or a competitive and rowdy game of intramural flag football or passing by a group of students reading for class on a bench outside instead of tucked away in Lockwood.