Course Recommendations - Traveling from Buffalo to Philadelphia

[Jonathan Decker]

Gents,

I will be driving from Buffalo to Philadelphia next week and was looking for any course recommendations.  Leaving Buffalo after lunch on a weekday and course access is usually not an issue as I work in the golf industry.

Mark Twain Golf Course in Elmira is one that gets some consideration on this site, but looking for any others depending on what's available.

Jonathan Decker

[Joe Bausch]

So much to see . . .


But I would put CC of Scranton on the radar.

[Brett Wiesley]

Applebrook west of Philly.  Saucon Valley to the North.

[Ian Andrew]

I think my first choice would be Lehigh County Club in Allentown
CC of Scranton is well worth playing for the greens

[Mark Saltzman]

Lancaster CC is only slightly off route. 

[Ronald Montesano]

Buffalo Wyoming to Philadelphia Mississippi? Let me google-map it and get back to you.


What route are you taking? Are you going I-90 to I-81? How long do you wish the trip to last?


Stafford in Batavia.


Onondaga near Syracuse.


CCS in Scranton


If you drop down from Rochester, stop by Twain in Elmira (best Ross muni...perhaps only Ross muni.)

[Jaeger Kovich]

Depends on how you drive.. If you take 17 across to Westchester you have probably 20 top100 level courses between the Tappan Zee and Philly on 95

[Bill_McBride]

Buffalo Wyoming to Philadelphia Mississippi? Let me google-map it and get back to you.


What route are you taking? Are you going I-90 to I-81? How long do you wish the trip to last?


Stafford in Batavia.


Onondaga near Syracuse.


CCS in Scranton


If you drop down from Rochester, stop by Twain in Elmira (best Ross muni...perhaps only Ross muni.)

Hyde Park in Jacksonville, Ross muni. 

[John Foley]

Jonathan,


From what I've seen I'd recommend the following



Stafford - Batavia
Mark Twain - Elmira
Hiawatha - Appalachin
CC Scranton - Scranton


From Scanton south I'll defer to the Philly brethren.


JF

[Tim Martin]

Buffalo Wyoming to Philadelphia Mississippi? Let me google-map it and get back to you.


What route are you taking? Are you going I-90 to I-81? How long do you wish the trip to last?


Stafford in Batavia.


Onondaga near Syracuse.


CCS in Scranton


If you drop down from Rochester, stop by Twain in Elmira (best Ross muni...perhaps only Ross muni.)

Shennecossett, Triggs Memorial, George Wright and Del Ray are all Donald Ross Muni's.

[Jim Sherma]

Mark Twain and Scranton are both worth a stop. Schuylkill CC outside of Pottsville is a funky old Park Jr/Ross course that has some great old school architecture and a cool vibe to it that would be worth a visit.

[Jonathan Decker]

Ron,

I should clarify, Buffalo, NY to Philadelphia, PA.

Looking to stay on the most direct route as 1pm departure and  five hours of driving could make for a rather late arrival into Philly.

CC of Scranton, Mark Twain, or possibly Lehigh are my picks as of now.  CC of Scranton could be the most feasible logistically.

Jonathan

[Joe Bausch]

Can't go wrong with Scranton or Lehigh (not played Mark Twain):

http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/Scranton/

http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/Lehigh/

[Philip Caccamise]

Ron,

I should clarify, Buffalo, NY to Philadelphia, PA.

Looking to stay on the most direct route as 1pm departure and  five hours of driving could make for a rather late arrival into Philly.

CC of Scranton, Mark Twain, or possibly Lehigh are my picks as of now.  CC of Scranton could be the most feasible logistically.

Jonathan

90->390->86->81->476 is the most direct route. I drove it probably a hundred times in college.


Want a sleeper selection? Binghamton CC, a really solid and fun Tillinghast and almost dead center halfway. I don't know if you are a member in Buffalo, but they have a couple reciprocals with WNY clubs, but even if yours is not then a friendly phone call should get you on.

[Matt Frey, PGA]

If you drop down from Rochester, stop by Twain in Elmira (best Ross muni...perhaps only Ross muni.)

I am told that Avon Fields Golf Course in Cincinnati is a Ross course, and it's a muni. It's also rumored to be the nation's oldest muni west of the Allegheny Mountains.

I don't believe that Tufts has Avon Fields on record, so I would be interested to learn more.


Also, in regards to the real purpose of this post, a solid public track is Great Bear (Nicklaus design) in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Nothing too fancy as far as architecture goes, but I had a lot of fun both times I've played it.

[Joe Bausch]

If you drop down from Rochester, stop by Twain in Elmira (best Ross muni...perhaps only Ross muni.)

I am told that Avon Fields Golf Course in Cincinnati is a Ross course, and it's a muni. It's also rumored to be the nation's oldest muni west of the Allegheny Mountains.

I don't believe that Tufts has Avon Fields on record, so I would be interested to learn more.


Also, in regards to the real purpose of this post, a solid public track is Great Bear (Nicklaus design) in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Nothing too fancy as far as architecture goes, but I had a lot of fun both times I've played it.

Here is a photo album of Great Bear from a spring visit this year:


http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/GreatBear/

[Jason Thurman]

There are tons of great courses in the neighborhood, but I think you'll have a tough time beating Scranton for convenience to your route.


Matt, I've never heard Avon Fields attributed to Ross. It's hard for me to buy that one. I have heard it attributed to Langford, and there's some shaping out there that would suggest that in spots. I've never seen any conclusive documentation though. I do know that Waveland Golf Course in Des Moines is a municipal course dating to 1901. I thought Avon Fields was built in the early '20s. Richard Hetzel would probably know more.

[Ronald Montesano]

I liked Great Bear as well, Joe and Matt. I played it in July. It's now under the Shawnee umbrella, after being closed (but maintained) for a year or two. I found it to be extremely playable, not always a Nicklaus characteristic. The land is fairly extreme, ergo cartball. Open fronts to greens were a surprise and a delight.


RM

[Bill Crane]

Consider the gem on the Susquehanna - the Bucknell University Golf Club. 
Take Rte 15 10 miles south of Rte 80 below Williamsport. 
Eminently walkable, interesting, old, improved due to tree clearing over the last ten years. Enjoy the views of the Susquehanna valley and the Chilisquaque Ridge.
Not in the league of a Lehigh CC, but tee times available.  There is also an easy way to go directly East to get on Rte 80 to Philadelphia.
 
Wm Flynnfan