Pittsburgh golf clubs

[Ryan Taylor]

Hi GCA.

I relocated to the Pittsburgh area several years ago for a work assignment.

I'm in my early thirties and looking for a golf club (versus a country club) to join this spring.

I play off a 7-8 handicap and am looking for a club that has the following:

+ competitive skins games / competitive club tournaments
+ above average practice facilities
+ within a 10 mile radius of downtown Pittsburgh
+ under 40 fee - due structure

I have considered Chartiers CC, South Hills CC and Shannopin CC.

Feedback from local Pittsburgh folks or out of towners that have played other courses would be greatly appreciated. My goals are to improve my game this spring in order to try and qualify for the WPGA Mid-Am, WPGA Am and USGA Mid-Am.

Thanks in advance.
Ryan

[Rory Connaughton]

Have you considered Longue Vue?

[Mark McKeever]

I would look into Sewickley and Allegheny as well.


Mark

[Bill_McBride]

I would look into Sewickley and Allegheny as well.


Mark

...and Oakmont as well.

We have a couple from Pittsburgh who are members here and were Allegheny members there.  They speak very highly of the club and its culture snd golf course.

[Ryan Taylor]

Rory: I live in Mt. Lebo so LV would be a stretch.

Mark: I've heard good things about Allegheny.

Bill: Oakmont looking for new/young blood?

Thanks for the ideas.
Ryan

[Dan Boerger]

Pittsburgh Field Club? I played there a coupe times and seems like a good number of people you could get at game with.

[Rory Connaughton]

Field Club has same problem as Longue Vue from a geographic perspective
What about St. Clair or South Hills?

[George Pazin]

I think Longue Vue is actually a teeny tiny bit closer to you than Oakmont, but Oakmont is Oakmont, after all.

I have had several people recommend St. Clair to me, including someone who was good enough at one time to play in Open qualifiers, so that might be worth some investigation.

I've heard there are many players at Nevillewood, fwiw. As a South Hills guy, it might not be far from you.

[Bill_McBride]

Bill: Oakmont looking for new/young blood?

EVERY private club is looking for new/young blood these days.  I have no idea about Oakmont but who knows?

[George Pazin]

EVERY private club is looking for new/young blood these days.  I have no idea about Oakmont but who knows?

Precisely why I expect my Augusta membership application to arrive any day now...

[Jason Connor]

How about Edgewood.  It's a full Country Club with big old clubhouse.  But it's a Ross course and I've always enjoyed it.  I went to grad school in Pittsburgh and one of my profs would take me out there (he retired away from Pgh so is no longer a member).

It's a nice walk, rolling terrain.  It's certainly short since it's old, a few of the 5s are 4.5s by current standards.  But you might want to try that.  Of course from Mt Lebanon you'd have to go through 2 tunnels!

[Roger Wolfe]

How about Edgewood.  It's a full Country Club with big old clubhouse.  But it's a Ross course and I've always enjoyed it.  I went to grad school in Pittsburgh and one of my profs would take me out there (he retired away from Pgh so is no longer a member).

It's a nice walk, rolling terrain.  It's certainly short since it's old, a few of the 5s are 4.5s by current standards.  But you might want to try that.  Of course from Mt Lebanon you'd have to go through 2 tunnels!

I know some folks at Chartiers I can introduce you too.  It's pretty golfy.  For pure golf, I understand Sewickley Heights GC is the place to be.  No pool, no tennis, caddies... pure golf.

[Bill_McBride]

EVERY private club is looking for new/young blood these days.  I have no idea about Oakmont but who knows?

Precisely why I expect my Augusta membership application to arrive any day now...

George, I think you'll have to call them.

[Tim Nugent]

WOW, no mention of Fox Chapel from all you GCA diehards? Shame, Shame, Shame.

I always chuckle when I read "reviews" like this:

Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Good course but I did not like some of the bunkers. Many have very steep faces but there is not enough sand in the traps to allow one to get the ball up quickly enough to clear the face.I a lso did not appreciate one or two of the "goofy" holes. There is a 200+ par three with a 60 yard green that has a 12 foot deep swail running through the middle. I liked the course but I did not love it.

Oh well, not everyone is as enlightened as the Treehouse.

[PCCraig]

Chartiers CC is a nice club and a good golf course. An old boss of mine's dad was the pro there for many many years.

[George Pazin]

WOW, no mention of Fox Chapel from all you GCA diehards? Shame, Shame, Shame.

I always chuckle when I read "reviews" like this:

Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Good course but I did not like some of the bunkers. Many have very steep faces but there is not enough sand in the traps to allow one to get the ball up quickly enough to clear the face.I a lso did not appreciate one or two of the "goofy" holes. There is a 200+ par three with a 60 yard green that has a 12 foot deep swail running through the middle. I liked the course but I did not love it.

Oh well, not everyone is as enlightened as the Treehouse.

I think that review is from The Confidential Guide...not.

Speaking as one of the ill-informed, I've always thought you had to be invited to join most clubs, hence the omission of Fox Chapel. If someone asked me about Long Island, I wouldn't throw Shinnecock out there, either.

At any rate, Fox Chapel is not at all near Ryan. Not too far from me, though...

I have heard very good things about Chartiers as well.

[Roger Wolfe]

WOW, no mention of Fox Chapel from all you GCA diehards? Shame, Shame, Shame.

I always chuckle when I read "reviews" like this:

Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Good course but I did not like some of the bunkers. Many have very steep faces but there is not enough sand in the traps to allow one to get the ball up quickly enough to clear the face.I a lso did not appreciate one or two of the "goofy" holes. There is a 200+ par three with a 60 yard green that has a 12 foot deep swail running through the middle. I liked the course but I did not love it.

Oh well, not everyone is as enlightened as the Treehouse.

I think that review is from The Confidential Guide...not.

Speaking as one of the ill-informed, I've always thought you had to be invited to join most clubs, hence the omission of Fox Chapel. If someone asked me about Long Island, I wouldn't throw Shinnecock out there, either.

At any rate, Fox Chapel is not at all near Ryan. Not too far from me, though...

I have heard very good things about Chartiers as well.

Isnt Fox Chapel a COUNTRY CLUB?  I thought he was looking for a golf club.

[Trevor]

Fox Chapel is an old, pure Raynor design that any connoisseur would appreciate.  Side topic...Is Fox Chapel's reverse redan (#5?) the only reverse Redan?

[mike_beene]

Take a look at Sewickly.Before he moved my cousin was a member there.The course is solid.Also,a very nice range and short game area.It seems like several of the members were also Oakmont members and happily take you over there.And you won't have that bothersome turnpike roar as you play.

[Jeff Tang]

I would agree with comments about Sewickley. I lived in Pittsburgh for a few years and had the opportunity to play there. Seems like what you're looking for in a club. Not far from downtown, solid course, and there seemed to be a lot of good younger members. This was about 8 years ago so the membership may have changed since then but it seemed like it would be a great place to be a member.

[Ryan Taylor]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Down to Chartiers and Sewickley Heights. I'm going to try and take a look around Sewickley before the Pitt/Nova game.

Ryan

[Greg Tallman]

Sewickley Heights over Chartiers adn it is not even close.

[Bobby Jones]

Fox Chapel is an old, pure Raynor design that any connoisseur would appreciate.  Side topic...Is Fox Chapel's reverse redan (#5?) the only reverse Redan?

Figured this might be a good place to jump in and make my first post. 

I don't know if you only mean just in Pittsburgh or anywhere...LACC North #11 is the only other one i've played.  If you go to thelacc.org it's the first pic in the loop of pictures that plays on the front page.


Bobby J

[David Lott]

WOW, no mention of Fox Chapel from all you GCA diehards? Shame, Shame, Shame.

I always chuckle when I read "reviews" like this:

Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Good course but I did not like some of the bunkers. Many have very steep faces but there is not enough sand in the traps to allow one to get the ball up quickly enough to clear the face.I a lso did not appreciate one or two of the "goofy" holes. There is a 200+ par three with a 60 yard green that has a 12 foot deep swail running through the middle. I liked the course but I did not love it.

Oh well, not everyone is as enlightened as the Treehouse.

Doubt you will find "competitive skin games" at FCGC, if by "competitive" you mean big money.

[David Lott]

Also, Fox Chapel seriously lacks "above average practice facilities."

It's just a great club with an outstanding golf course.

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