Public Philadelphia Golf Suggestions - West of Philly

[Ron Csigo]

Hello All,

I am looking for some public golf suggestions west of Philadelphia.  I was looking at the Golf Course at Glen Mills.  Is there any other noteworthy public courses in that general area?  All suggestions are welcome.

[mike_malone]

 Paxon Hollow is fun. It is between Route 252 and  Route 320 in Marple Township . Dan , the pro, posts here.

[Joe Bausch]

Well, how 'bout golf in West Philly?  If you haven't played Cobb's Creek, I would suggest a visit.  I'll be there early this Saturday afternoon.

[Sven Nilsen]

If you only have time for one round, I'd recommend Glen Mills.

[Michael Blake]

Hello All,

I am looking for some public golf suggestions west of Philadelphia.  I was looking at the Golf Course at Glen Mills.  Is there any other noteworthy public courses in that general area?  All suggestions are welcome.

Nothing else very noteworthy in that general area.
Play Glen Mills.

[Bill_McBride]

I was once forced to play a really awful course in Valley Forge.  I have no idea what this place was called, so I'd suggest avoiding Valley Forge in toto to be safe.   

[Michael Blake]

Bill,

That was Valley Forge Golf Course in King of Prussia.  Used to play there alot.
Completely awful.  They dozed it over a couple/few years ago and are now developing it into a residential community, I think.

My uncle was on the golf team at Penn in the '50's and that was there they used to practice.  He can't believe all the great courses the college kids get to practice and play on these days.

[Joe Bausch]

I was once forced to play a really awful course in Valley Forge.  I have no idea what this place was called, so I'd suggest avoiding Valley Forge in toto to be safe.   

That was a course normally in such poor condition that judging the architectural merit was clouded.  But I think that Alex Findlay layout had plenty of potential.  Too bad it was bulldozed (well, I drive by there lots and I think a couple of holes could partially remain).

[Michael Blake]

Joe,

I had to cancel a round at Inniscrone this Sat and am now playing at Raven's Claw.
Have you been there?  Any comments or pictures?

Thanks.

[Joe Bausch]

Joe,

I had to cancel a round at Inniscrone this Sat and am now playing at Raven's Claw.
Have you been there?  Any comments or pictures?

Thanks.

I have played Raven's Claw and this Ed Shearon course is growing on me.  I played it just a couple of weeks ago via GolfNow for 25 bucks... I really liked it at that price. 

Hopefully they will cut the greens a bit faster than they were for me two weeks ago.  Jeez, they were as slow as I've played in years.

Here is a photo album:

http://golfarchitecturepictures.com/Web%20Galleries/USA/Pennsylvania/Ravens%20Claw/index.html

[Kyle Harris]

Anyone saying there's no good public golf west of Philly hasn't scratched for much.

Paxon Hollow is great. 5800 of hilly fury.
Never played Glen Mills, but it's pretty universally praised.
Wyncote is a hike, but okay
Inniscrone is a hike and I enjoy it - not for everyone though.
There's Jeffersonville in Norristown, which I consider my home course
Cobbs Creek is in West Philly - talk to Bausch.
Way out by Lancaster is Honeybrook - a good Blaukavitch with the typical required Blaukavitch WTF stretch.

[Wade Whitehead]

Glen Mills is fantastic.

WW

[Joe Bausch]

I'm not talking to anybody from Philadelphia until this Stanley Cup is over.

So consider me on strike against the Philly Crew until Sunday night... 

The chatter is that a couple of Blackhawks got a bit frisky after the game in their hotel room (the very nice Four Seasons right be the Free Library) and lived out a scene from Animal House with a food fight!

[Michael Huber]

for the record, I'd rather eat an italian beef over a cheesesteak

but its close.

[Mike Cirba]

The chatter is that a couple of Blackhawks got a bit frisky after the game in their hotel room (the very nice Four Seasons right be the Free Library) and lived out a scene from Animal House with a food fight!

Animal House?!?!  

I heard they lived out the "How bout them Bears?" scene from "Planes Trains, and Automobiles"*


*resisting the non-PC urge to use a recent "out on the range" movie where one of the two male protagonists died tragically in real life about a year ago.

[Michael Blake]

Kyle,

No one is saying there aren't any 'good' public courses in the area.  The ones you mentioned are good.
Ron asked for 'noteworthty.'  I think Glen Mills is noteworthy and worth a visit over the others you mentioned.


Joe,

$25 for Ravens Claw?  Sheesh.  I thought I got a good deal for $60.


Shivas,

Tough for me to watch the Blackhawks since I don't recognize any names.  I keep looking for Belfour, Chelios, Roenick, Smith, and Larmer.

[Joe Bausch]

Michael, check out GolfNow. Some of
their rates are incredible.

I'm watching the Blackhawks and keep
expecting to see Mikita and Hull and...

[Ron Csigo]

Thanks for all the good info.  Sounds like Glen Mills, Paxon Hollow and Cobbs Creek are the way to go.

Anyone play Cobbs Creek recently?  What are the conditions like this time of year?

[Mike Cirba]

Anyone play Cobbs Creek recently?  What are the conditions like this time of year?

Ron,

I think others like Joe and Kyle would agree, but the condition of Cobbs Creek at present is by far the best I've ever seen it, having played there for the first time way back in 1981.

The Superintendent, Darren Wondolowski, is doing a tremendous job with a tight budget and a lot of inherited infrastructure challenges. 

[mike_malone]

 Cobbs has even done a little tee work, particularly on # 6. That astroturf was getting tiresome.

[Mike Cirba]

Mayday,

We really need to get you back out there.

[Doug Braunsdorf]

Ron,

 
Apart from this, I'll concur with all of Kyle's recos.  If I am not mistaken, are you coming from S. Jersey?  Why not consider Lederach, although it's NW of the city?  Along with Inniscrone, probably the most different of the lot--in a good way.  Both are exacting, but fun to play.

[Rob_Waldron]

Doug

Thanks for suggesting the KBM design Lederach. Always worth the trip!

[Ron Csigo]

Ron,

 
Apart from this, I'll concur with all of Kyle's recos.  If I am not mistaken, are you coming from S. Jersey?  Why not consider Lederach, although it's NW of the city?  Along with Inniscrone, probably the most different of the lot--in a good way.  Both are exacting, but fun to play.

Doug,

I am driving down from central NJ.  I've played both Inniscrone and Lederach.  I enjoy both courses greatly.  However, due to time constraints and my location in West Philly, I need something with a 30 minute drive.  It seems like Cobb's Creek or Glen Mills would be most convenient.

[Mike Cirba]

Joe Bausch,

Don't you have some pics of those three holes at Honeybrook?