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Steve_ Shaffer

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Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos now semi-private
« on: April 01, 2011, 09:49:10 AM »
« Last Edit: August 11, 2011, 01:00:14 PM by Steve_ Shaffer »
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Steve_ Shaffer

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Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2011, 02:18:36 AM »
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"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Chris Holcombe

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Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2011, 08:27:47 AM »
Too bad, nice course.
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Kris Shreiner

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Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2011, 10:23:18 AM »
It is a nice layout, EXCEPT for an awful finishing hole. A par five with basically the shallowest island green I've ever seen. It is damn near golf suicide to go for it in two, so the better players gets no chance to demonstrate their talent or gain any reward.  This observation coming from a guy who couldn't get there in two if his life depended on it.

It is among the better layouts in that area and it suffered from poor marketing as much as anything. There are enough folks with the dough to play there if they keep the pricing within reason. I hope a solid operator can take it over and right the ship.
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"I said in a talk at the Dunhill Tournament in St. Andrews a few years back that I thought any of the caddies I'd had that week would probably make a good golf course architect. We all want to ask golfers of all abilities to get more out of their games -caddies do that for a living." T.Doak

Steve_ Shaffer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2011, 10:27:58 AM »
This is another example of a private club that should have been semi--private. I played there while staying at the Shawnee Inn during a summer visit. Weekday play was very light. Why not open the course for play to resort guests?
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"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Jim_Kennedy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2011, 11:45:08 AM »
Steve,
They did the outing bit, and a 28 man group from here used to include it on their yearly trip.
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Ron Csigo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2011, 12:40:07 PM »
It's a shame.  This is a good Nicklaus course.  Probably the best course in the Poconos.  Didn't Great Bear allow for outside play after 2pm on the weekdays/weekends?  I guess it didn't attract enough non-member play.   
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Mike Cirba

Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2011, 01:35:27 PM »
At least Country Club of the Poconos at Big Ridge across the street survived.  ;)
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Matt_Ward

Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2011, 02:00:13 PM »
Ron:

Agree w you -- the best golf int he Poconos which tells you and everyone else how low that low can be.

Kris S:

Agree w your take on the 18th hole -- still, all in all, Great Bear was the best public play option until it went private.

In regards to the mktg -- or lack thereof -- the place thought they could charge metro NYC prices for a place on THE OTHER SIDE of the Delaware. The Pennsy crowd that would frequent the place will not spend at the level that you routinely get when you near NYC. The place should have remained at a semi-private capacity -- would then be able to reap the benefits both ways.

Steve:

You are spot on -- no reason why outside play could not have happened during weekdays.

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Steve_ Shaffer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #9 on: June 05, 2011, 09:52:22 AM »
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"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Ian Larson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #10 on: June 05, 2011, 05:16:24 PM »
Wow! Didnt see the closing post but Im glad to see it was saved. I spent 3 years there as Keith Snyders First Assistant Super 10 years ago. Great course maintained by a great guy who was a long time super at Dupont. Glad to hear they turned it around!
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Steve_ Shaffer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Great Bear CC (Nicklaus) in The Poconos NLE?
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2011, 12:59:41 PM »
Public weekday rates are very reasonable. M&T are $50 before 2pm and $35 after. W&TH are $60 before 2pm and $40 after.

Rates are not posted on website:

www.greatbeargolf.com
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"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”
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