News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.

Pages: [1]   Go Down

mark chalfant

  • Karma: +0/-0
Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« on: August 08, 2007, 03:30:18 PM »
A friend told me this course has some sporty elements. Is anyone familliar ?  What part of the state is it in and who designed Galen Hall ... thanks
Logged

Kyle Harris

Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2007, 03:32:29 PM »
I'm familiar. Great fun and very hilly. It is in Wernersville, PA just southwest of Reading, PA.

It was designed in two phases... Alex Findlay did the initial nine holes and then Tillinghast added another nine.

Today's holes 1-7, 17, 18 are the Findlay and the Tilly holes are 8-17. It features a Tillinghast "Moat" hole that is pictured in one of the Tillinghast books released by the Tillinghast society.

The Findlay portion of the course is routed over some very severe terrain and has been modified somewhat from the original. I think the 2nd hole has seen the most modifications.
« Last Edit: August 08, 2007, 03:33:18 PM by Kyle Harris »
Logged

Mike_Cirba

Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2007, 04:50:39 PM »
I'm a BIG fan of Galen Hall, which as Kyle mentioned is near Reading.

Kyle also mentions the changes to hole #2.

Unlike much of what has happened to old, classic holes over the years, the changes to this hole have somehow conspired to make it one of the most original, incredibly fun holes I've ever played.
Logged

Kyle Harris

Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2007, 05:02:49 PM »
Quote from: MikeCirba on August 08, 2007, 04:50:39 PM
I'm a BIG fan of Galen Hall, which as Kyle mentioned is near Reading.

Kyle also mentions the changes to hole #2.

Unlike much of what has happened to old, classic holes over the years, the changes to this hole have somehow conspired to make it one of the most original, incredibly fun holes I've ever played.

Mike,

I speculate that Tillinghast had to change the routing of the 17th in order to make it fit in with his nine. Perhaps nothing more than a bad conclusion, but the tree corridors around the area of the 7th green/17th tee indicate that the 17th may have been approached from a different angle nearer the 6th green. Certainly make sense as one gets literally smacked in the face with a textbook Tillinghast green on the 8th hole.

Do you know anything about how Tillinghast fit his holes with the Findlay routing?
Logged

Steve_ Shaffer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2007, 06:30:15 PM »
Logged
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Craig_Rokke

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2007, 07:51:43 PM »
I like Galen Hall a lot in that the course holds your interest through the entire 18. Real fun mix of shots. More blindness
and unusual shots than almost any other public course in SE PA that I can think of. One minute you're hitting over the moat, the next, around a barn nudged up close to the fairway,
and the next, steeply uphill to an almost totally blind green.
The very hilly terrain makes sure that nothing is ever totally predictable.

If you do an Ebay search for GH, Wernersville, PA right now, you can view some pictures of the visually impressive hotel there that burned to the ground sometime during the 50's, I believe.

Logged

Mike_Cirba

Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2007, 08:13:36 PM »
From Joe Logan's review;

Case in point: No. 2, a 475-yard par 5, is one of the most dubious golf holes you'll find. It begins with a blind tee shot over a crest, then tumbles downward harder than a bunny slope (careful not to bounce one off the road dissecting the fairway), then it suddenly swerves left at almost 90 degrees for no good reason, before playing into a green of utterly no distinction.

"Worst hole in Berks County," Tripp conceded.



That's too funny...I call it one of the most wildly original holes I've ever played, which most assuredly ensured that comeuppance.   ;D

pssstt....trust me on this one...not JL.  ;)
Logged

Craig_Rokke

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2007, 08:21:02 PM »
That #2 green actually has more going on than at first glance.
In fact I would go so far as to say it beats out many of the greens at J L's recently-well-reviewed Broad Run/Tattersall.
« Last Edit: August 08, 2007, 08:25:38 PM by Craig_Rokke »
Logged

Mike_Cirba

Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2007, 08:23:56 PM »
Quote from: Craig_Rokke on August 08, 2007, 08:21:02 PM
That #2 green actually has more going on than at first glance.

Craig,

If I were to put together a list of the 18 most memorable holes I've ever played, that hole would be on the list.
Logged

Craig_Rokke

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2007, 08:27:24 PM »
Indeed memorable, Mike. (Ever make the green in 2?)
Logged

Mike_Cirba

Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2007, 08:41:27 PM »
Quote from: Craig_Rokke on August 08, 2007, 08:27:24 PM
Indeed memorable, Mike. (Ever make the green in 2?)

Craig,

There is something about standing at either 60 degrees uphill/sidehill or 60 degrees downhill/sidehill that makes that a very unlikely proposition for me.  ;D
Logged

Steve Wilson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2007, 05:06:20 PM »
I realize Penn State football is a big thing in the Keystone state, but naming golf courses after obscure Nittany Lion quarterbacks may be taking it a bit far.
Logged
Some days you play golf, some days you find things.

I'm not really registered, but I couldn't find a symbol for certifiable.

"Every good drive by a high handicapper will be punished..."  Garland Bailey at the BUDA in sharing with me what the better player should always remember.

Kyle Harris

Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2007, 05:20:13 PM »
Quote from: Steve Wilson on August 09, 2007, 05:06:20 PM
I realize Penn State football is a big thing in the Keystone state, but naming golf courses after obscure Nittany Lion quarterbacks may be taking it a bit far.

...and their current offensive coordinator.
Logged

Steve_ Shaffer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2007, 06:41:27 PM »
Where is the Pete Liske GC in PA?

Logged
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Steve Wilson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2007, 07:05:21 PM »
The Pete Liske Course will be part of the Richie Lucas Resort Complex.

I can't believe that I, a loyal Mountaineer bleeding blue and gold, am making all of these arcane and esoteric Penn State references.
Logged
Some days you play golf, some days you find things.

I'm not really registered, but I couldn't find a symbol for certifiable.

"Every good drive by a high handicapper will be punished..."  Garland Bailey at the BUDA in sharing with me what the better player should always remember.

Kyle Harris

Re:Galen Hall c.1920s in PA.
« Reply #15 on: August 09, 2007, 07:42:41 PM »
Quote from: Steve Wilson on August 09, 2007, 07:05:21 PM
The Pete Liske Course will be part of the Richie Lucas Resort Complex.

I can't believe that I, a loyal Mountaineer bleeding blue and gold, am making all of these arcane and esoteric Penn State references.

Well, when you beat a team twice in a span of games from 1966-1992.... I'm sure you have some great memories.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up