Pocono Golf News

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Attention Matt Ward:

Breaking news about Pocono Golf for 2007. Great Bear is now private and other news about golf in upstate PA.

www.golfcoursenews.com/news/news.asp?ID=3196

[Andy Hughes]

Steve, please. Matt has never been able to appreciate the charms and clear greatness that is Poconos golf.

The article mentions drainage work at Glenbrook 's 12 and 13--does anyone know which side is now the back nine?

[SPDB]

I do not believe that Great Bear is private.

[Matt_Ward]

Steve:

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of Great Bear -- one of the truly best public courses you could have played in Pennsy.

I guess that will mean I need to venture over to Mike Cirba's favorite course in the area -- CC of the Poconos.

One other note -- I will be visiting Jack Frost later this season and I have heard from a few sources that the places is a good bit beyond the drab and lifeless forms that call themselves golf throughout the region.

We shall see ...

[Mike_Cirba]

Matt,

Everyone here needs to visit "The Country Club Of The Poconos At Big Ridge" at least once in their lifetime if only to see that it's indeed possible to avoid building a single good golf hole across 400 wooded acres, stretching across 12 solid miles of cart paths.   It's priceless.

I'm indeed interested to see Jack Frost National, given some conversations that I had with former contributor here, the late Mark Brown, who was heavily involved in the development and design.

[D_Malley]

having worked a couple summer seasons in the poconos, i have to say that by far my favorite course is Buck Hill Falls.  a Robert White/Donald Ross combination of 27 hole.  i also have to say that Water Gap CC (par 70 with only two par 3's) is growing on me,  after playing up there last year, that is once you get past the 1st hole.  There are not too many places that can beat the Gazebo bar at Water Gap CC after a round of golf. i will try to get some pics of those two courses this season.  if anyone has any pics of BHF or WGCC please get them on here.

[Mike Salinetti]

Mr. Cirba,  As the golf course superintendent at Country Club of the Poconos, I would like to invite you to come play a round with me as my guest. I think you would like the changes I've made as well as the conditions. I am trying to stop the negitivity toward this course as it can be a very fun place to play.


Mike Salinetti
CC of the Poconos

[Andy Hughes]

Racetrack, please do post some pictures from Water Gap. It will always have a special place in my heart as the first course I ever broke 80 on many years ago. And pride of place belongs to the hole you mock, the first hole--I couldn't actually see it, but my second shot went in.  I haven't seen the course in over 20 years though.  
Any chance you saw the pic or two TMacwood (what the heck happened to him??) posted last year of the course from many decades ago? Striking looking, far different from the overgrown place it became.

[D_Malley]

i will be up at The Gap this august.  i will take some pics.  are there any holes that you especially want to see?

[John Foley]

If you read the details on Mt. Airy lodge, couldn't some of that $360M be targeted for a re-do of the golf course?? We can all hope.

The biggest hidden secret about Pocon's golf is that Morgan Hill & Architects are only 45 min away!!!

[Dan Herrmann]

But John, (Morgan Hill) Easton and (Architects) Phillipsburg are definitely not the Poconos

Anybody every play Hideaway Hills?  The tee shot on 10 is fun just for the time the ball stays in the air.  

[Matt_Ward]

Gents:

Got this from the PR company handling Great Bear ...

"Great Bear made the transition to a private facility this season. The course had been open to the public since being introduced to Northeastern Pennsylvania’s mountain destination in 1997 and will remain available to non-club-member golf groups of 32 or more on Mondays and Tuesdays as well for those who have booked events such as a banquets or weddings."

Hope the info helps ... by the way -- the course is well worth playing for those who have not been there yet. Sad to say the public ranks of Pennsy is now lowered because of its change of status.