Scenic Pa. courses are inexpensive, uncrowded The Pocono Mountains are a forgotten golf destination. But with more than 30 quality courses, including tracks designed by A.W. Tillinghast, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones and Donald Ross, golf in the Poconos is plentiful, uncrowded and inexpensive. Here are 10 reasons the Poconos can provide a memorable golf trip:
1 Shawnee Country Club » Twenty-four of the 27 holes at historic Shawnee are on an island in the Delaware River. Two dramatic par 3s play parallel to each other, one uphill to the island, the other downhill to the mainland. This is a unique course — flat but with mountains looming in every direction. Shawnee was the first design of the legendary Tillinghast. It makes you wonder how a rookie architect got such a prime piece of real estate. Then again, it was finished in 1911.
2 The conditions » Finding a poorly conditioned golf course in the Poconos is next to impossible. Why? Because golf is relatively inexpensive and uncrowded at even the best courses in the region. A poorly conditioned course would never draw players.
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The fog » It’s only 160 yards from the men’s tee downhill to the 12th green at Mount Airy Golf Club. But the hole, designed to replicate No. 12 at Augusta National, is only a rumor when you fire into a dense bank of fog. Ten minutes later, standing in the fairway on a bluff at the 13th hole, the fog has disappeared, replaced by a gentle mist as you weigh the options on the par-5 over water. Fog is a constant every morning in the Poconos, adding serenity to the views and mystery to the golf. The only question each day: When will it lift?
4 The leaves » Autumn serves as a spectacular time to visit the Poconos, whether it’s the panoramic views of the mountains or the mature trees that line the fairways or the two-way roads of the region. After the leaves fall, there are many inexpensive package deals that run all the way through November.
5 Buck Hill Falls Golf Club » This 27-hole course is in a remote, wooded setting and dates to 1907. Short, tree-lined and with small greens and plenty of slope, Buck Hill Falls is a nicely conditioned, subtle, shot-makers course with an old-country feel, setting it apart from touristy courses to the south. The two Donald Ross nines measure just 6,569 from the tips.
6 Mount Airy Casino » Mohegan Sun is the best-known casino in the Poconos. But the casino/resort at Mount Airy is the place for golfers. Each of the 18 holes at Mount Airy, which is carved into the side of a mountain, is a replica of a famed golf hole from courses such as Prairie Dunes, Pine Valley, Pebble Beach, Oakmont and Seminole. Unlike some tribute courses, none of it seems forced.
7 Old School » A visit to the Poconos is a trip back to a different era. Fascinating photos on the walls of the Shawnee Inn include shots of visitors Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Jackie Gleason, Lucille Ball, Presidents Kennedy and Eisenhower, Bob Hope, Eddie Fisher and Mickey Mantle.
8 Wild turkeys » Wildlife in the Pocono Mountains is plentiful beyond the usual. Raise your hand if you’ve ever played among wild turkeys.
9 Mountain Laurel Golf Club » On a sunny day, lunch overlooking the driving range is a rare treat. So is the well-manicured course. The open, flat front nine is defined by an extensive network of stone walls. The back nine, which runs along a hillside, is tighter and tougher.
10 Approach Course at Shawnee Inn »
After dinner and drinks, a trip around the lighted nine-hole course, which serves as the resort’s centerpiece, is full of laughs. All you need is a putter, a couple of wedges and a six-pack. None of the holes is longer than 135 yards. All of the green complexes are replicas of classic Tillinghast holes from courses such as Winged Foot and Bethpage.
