Bedford Springs Resort in western PA:
Golf at Bedford Springs Resort spans a history of over 100 years. In fact, the resort is home to one of the oldest golf courses in North America. The original course was designed in 1895 by Spencer Oldham. In 1923, Donald Ross created a course that was both challenging and yet one with the natural landscape, which was hailed as one of the best in Pennsylvania upon its opening.
Today, our impeccably restored course preserves the historic holes and features designed by its three famous golf architects. It is something of a golf architectural museum—encompassing three distinct eras of golf course design that occurred from the 1890’s to the 1920’s.
The Bedford Springs layout is a true masterpiece with a wide range of classic historic features not commonly found today. These include five par fives and five par threes. Small greens, “serpentine” and “doughnut” bunkers, the “Volcano Hole” and “Tiny Tim”—a Tillinghast designed Par Three that has come to be known as one of the most celebrated holes in all of golf architecture—offer players an unparalleled golf experience.
* 2007 – The Bedford Springs Old Course Reopens
A new generation of golfers experience three eras of American golf at the Bedford Springs course, skillfully harmonized into a restored and expanded classic course like no other.
* 1984 – Bedford Springs Resort and Donald Ross Golf Course
Designated a National Register Historic District, recognized as “one of the best remaining examples of springs resort architecture.”
* 1923 – Donald Ross Redesigns Course
In 1923, the most prolific year for golf course construction in the 20th Century, Ross redesigned and expanded the course back to its 18 hole layout. He created a masterpiece of classic “springs course” architecture and his influence is still seen throughout the course with its small greens.
* 1912 - A.W. Tillinghast Redesigns Course
The redesign changes the course from 18 holes to 9 holes, and Tillinghast designs “Tiny Tim,” one of the most famous holes in all of golf architecture.
* 1895 – Spencer Oldham designs the original 18-hole, 6,000-yard course.
Features including chocolate drops, geometric S-curve and donut bunkers remain today.
www.bedfordspringsresort.com