Central PA / Lancaster golf

[Tim Taylor]

I was going to add this to my "Hershey CC South / Parkview" thread but I think it's worthy of its own thread.

What interesting courses have been added to the Carlisle/Harrisburg/Lancaster corridor in the last decade or so? I've read some about Dauphin Highlands and about PB Dye's course near Lebanon. Anything else?

Also, my best friend was asking me if I knew anything about Conestoga CC or Meadia Heights CC. He's looking for a convenient, inexpensive, family-friendly club to join. Any info to share?

TimT

[TEPaul]

Bent Creek

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Wrendale GC near Hershey by Hurdzan/Fry is the latest entry into the market.

www.wrendalegolfclub.com

[Dan Herrmann]

Tim,
I think Hurdzan/Fry's Wren Dale just north of Hersheypark off PA39 is quite unappreciated.  There are some very good holes out there, and this course deserves to succeed.

[Jason Mandel]

Lebanon country club may not have been built in the last decade or so but I would nominate it as a good, affordable family club.

I played there last year and they have some interesting holes and it seemed like a good members course.

Obviously the top 2 courses in that area are Lancaster and Bent Creek, but I imagine Lancaster is pretty darn tough to get into and I don't know that much about Bent Creek to know if its affordable or not.


Wren Dale is also another option, but I haven't played there yet.  

Jason

[Tim Taylor]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Sorry if I confused you - two separate questions:

1. Neat new courses in Central PA that my friend and I can play when I visit him
2. Family friendly, non budget busting private clubs in Lancaster area.

TimT

[JNagle]

Tim -

Lebanon Country Club is a great option (non-budget busting)  Maybe slightly better than Conestoga and Media Heights.  The back nine is a great Members course (Alexander Findlay).  Across the street is Royal Oaks, designed by Ron Forse with Bruce Hepner.  This place is under the radar and unfortunately has fallen into the poor maintenance category since being taken over by a Management Company.  Growing up in Lititz and before joining Forse Design (not biased at that point) we used to drive to Royal Oaks to play.  A frugal Lancaster County resident is always looking for a good deal and Royal Oaks is just that.  

I have to admit, as a designer my ulitmate goal is to build a great public facility in the Lancaster (north of Lititz) area.  The region has good courses but for the most part they are just o.k.

You can also check out Pilgrim's Oak (southern part of the county).  I know Lancaster Host did some work in years past.  There is a course (name escapes me) in the Denver/ Ephrata area that is not too bad.  

Lancaster C.C. and Bent Creek are both quality private clubs but will be a budget buster.

[Jason Mandel]

Jim,

Well stated.

If I lived up there I might just have to bust the budget to join Lancaster though  That course is AWESOME

Jason

[Mike_Cirba]

Tim -


There is a course (name escapes me) in the Denver/ Ephrata area that is not too bad.  

Jim,

The Gordon's built a course out there called Hawk Valley in 1971 that's pretty good.

Also, a newer one called FoxChase was built in the 80s which isn't bad, either.

[Craig_Rokke]

In the Lancaster area Crossgates (Millersville) is also worth trying, and
if you don't mind traveling further west into York, I like Springwood even more. Pilgrim's Oak, which I'd guess is maybe a 1/2 hour southeast of Lancaster is another good one.

[Mike_Cirba]

In the Lancaster area Crossgates (Millersville) is also worth trying, and
if you don't mind traveling further west into York, I like Springwood even more. Pilgrim's Oak, which I'd guess is maybe a 1/2 hour southeast of Lancaster is another good one.

Yes, Springwood is about my favorite public in the immediate Lancaster/York area.  It will scare this group away as an "Ault/Clark" design, but it was really mostly done by a talented associate named Dan Schlegel who's since gone out on his own and is operating out of Maryland.

[Jason Mandel]

Mike,

Speaking of Dan Schlegel I beleive he was the lead associate on Ballamor, a course that I like more than others on this board.

I thought ballamor had some really solid holes and was a fun course to play.

Jason

[Mike_Cirba]

Mike,

Speaking of Dan Schlegel I beleive he was the lead associate on Ballamor, a course that I like more than others on this board.

I thought ballamor had some really solid holes and was a fun course to play.

Jason

Jason,

I'm hoping to get down there and see it this year.  

I really liked the Heron Glen course he did in central NJ (as does Matt Ward and the late, great (as far as GCA) Geoffrey Childs, and redanman had good things to say about a course he built at Mercer Oaks near Trenton.

[JNagle]

Dan Schlagle is a great guy.  We joked in the past about opening a coffee/bagel/design shop called Schlagle & Nagle's Bagels.

Foxchase was the course I was thinking of.  I heard Hawk Valley may close.  Is this true?

[Jason Mandel]

Mike,

Let me know if your going to get down there and perhaps I'll join you.  I'm down there most of the weekends during the summer.

Jason

[Mike_Cirba]

Jim,

I hadn't heard that about Hawk Valley.  If true, it's sort of a shame because it's good, relatively cheap golf.

Jason,

Will do.

You shore dog, you.  

[mike_malone]

 I'm a member of Fox Chase CC, but it is in New Water De.

[Kyle Harris]

Lewistown CC is a Donald Ross course in Lewistown, PA. It's not his best, but it's definitely worth a look for the 10th hole/green alone. It's about an hour north of Harrisburg on 322/522. Gorgeous drive.

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