Philadelphia Golf

[Sandy Smith]

What is the one course to play within a 2 - 3 hour drive of Phily that one can get on to ?

[mark chalfant]

Sandy,
Glen  mills, 40 minutes south  of Phliadelphia is an excellent design  with superb greens in a  gorgeous setting. Bobby Weed, a protege of Pete  Dye designed it

Atlantic City  Country club, Nj  is also very fine course that is fun to play

[Todd Kuspira]

I would suggest a trip to Shinnecock or the National Golf Links.

tk  

[wsmorrison]

Todd,

You'd have to leave at 5am to make the trip to Southampton in 3 hours and drive like Tom Paul (fast).  

Sandy,

Assuming public courses, Mark makes an excellent suggestion with Glen Mills.  It is an excellent golf course with fine facilities and 15 minute intervals between tee times.  The entire concept of the program at the school for troubled kids is a fascinating one.  Atlantic City CC is only 60 miles from Philadelphia offering a chance to see the work of a classic era great (Flynn) with improvements by a modern era great (Doak).

Lederach is a very good course by Kelly Blake Moran and deserves strong consideration.   Like Glen Mills, it is about an hour or less from Philadelphia.

Beechtree, Tom Doak's design in Havre de Grace, MD is right off of I-95 and is a joy to play and only about 1 1/2 hours from Philadelphia.

I don't go down the south Jersey shore, but I've heard great things about Twisted Dune, Blue Heron Pines and others.  There are a few guys on the site that can tell you about Jersey shore golf near Philadelphia.

Enjoy the public golf near here.  While the private side is exceptional, there is some very good public as well.

[Dan Herrmann]

Sandy,
Also consider Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, MD.  It's a Pete Dye course about 5 miles from Beechtree.  Beechtree costs 50% of Bulle Rock and I actually prefer it.   But Bulle Rock does have its good points, and you'll be able to see it on TV every year because it hosts the LPGA championship.

Heading to central PA, I'd check out Hershey, and Wren Dale, about 3 miles from Hersheypark.

Wyncote is a fun early 90's course with almost no trees and a heathlands feel.  It's off US1 in Oxford, PA.

I agree with all the others that Glen Mills is very good.  Best thing is that the golf club serves the Glen Mills school and kids that go there also work at the course.  Everybody wins....

By the way, Sandy, welcome!  It's great that we have a new guy from Vancouver.   Be sure to let us know about the golf up there and on Vancouver Island!

Todd,
Sandy asked for courses he could actually "get on to"

[Todd Kuspira]

Dan,
Sandy and his travelling partner are very "connected" in the golf industry and they can play almost any course they like.  Maybe a trip to Oakmont is in line.....

tk

[Jim Nugent]

Todd, in that case wouldn't he go for either Merion or Pine Valley?

[Todd Kuspira]

Jim,

They are already playing the aforementioned courses.

tk

[Dan Herrmann]

How about Philly CC?  Lancaster CC?  Stonewall.

[Joe Hancock]

Merion...Pine Valley....no access issues whatsoever....and they need help deciding where to play?

Joe

[wsmorrison]

As Joe said, they shouldn't need any advice from us.  No doubt their hosts at Merion or Pine Valley can steer them in the right direction.  They might suggest Huntingdon Valley, Philadelphia Country, Rolling Green, Manufacturers, Aronimink, Gulph Mills, Stonewall, Lancaster, Lehigh, Eagles Mere, Philadelphia Cricket, White Manor, or if they are very well connected, Merion West.  They should play that other Merion, it is a gem!

[Scott Stearns]

skip 'em all..come to new york.

[JESII]

What is the one course to play within a 2 - 3 hour drive of Phily that one can get on to ?

Weather permitting, HVCC will be brown and flying for a while...definitely worth a look for that experience alone.

2 or 3 hour drive though is not very restricting...you could get to Washington D.C. Westchester County NY, half of Long Island and all or Eastern PA and all of NJ...probably about 200 great golf courses in there...

[Sandy Smith]

Hey Guys thanks for all your help  ( excluding Todd! )  . We only have one free day ... will give you a full report when we get back .

Cheers SS

[Gerry B]

atlantic city / forsgate banks course are both must plays

[redanman]

Well then, it's Vicmead Hunt Club if they're THAT well connected.

[wsmorrison]

Ahh...very good, BillV.  I played there recently and cannot believe I left it off the list.  Excellent golf course with a different name.  If they play in the menage a trois, they are THAT well-connected.

[Jason Mandel]

As Joe said, they shouldn't need any advice from us.  No doubt their hosts at Merion or Pine Valley can steer them in the right direction.  They might suggest  Eagles Mere, ,or if they are very well connected, Merion West.  They should play that other Merion, it is a gem!

Wayne,
Eagles Mere??? Please, do tell...

Jason

[wsmorrison]

In Eagles Mere, PA.  It is an old country club where Flynn redesigned 6 holes and added 12 in a beautiful area in Sullivan County NW of Ricketts Glen State Park.  It is a summer retreat in the mountains with a small village by a lake, a real step back in time.  By the way, if you like hiking, World's End State Park is fabulous.

[Dan Herrmann]

Well then, it's Vicmead Hunt Club if they're THAT well connected.

Wow - that IS a good one.  I circled that place in my car for at least 30 minutes what course it was.  I never could find the entrance.  

[mike_malone]

 It goes by Biderman(n).

[Dan Herrmann]

Yep - I know...  But it certainly isn't trumpeted, is it?  Who designed Biderman anyway?

[mike_malone]

  George Fazio ?

[wsmorrison]

It was designed by Dick Wilson in 1964.  You can see the Flynn influences that are not apparent in anything by George Fazio.

[mike_malone]

 I actually knew that at one time but forgot it because the course wasn't memorable.

[Tags:]

Tags: