We currently need a fourth for Saturday 3:10 at ACCC ($99) anyone interested?
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Thanks for the reply and the additional recommendations, I really appreciate it. I’m with you on Makefield Highlands, a great course and always a fun round! I have pretty much made my home at Jeffersonville when I am back in the area. I love that course and could play it every day. Thanks again to everyone who got back about the Bucks Club - I’ll have to check it out.
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Played Jeffersonville on Friday evening. A few thoughts:
Obviously the hook for us golf fans is that it’s a public Donald Ross course that’s CHEAP ($22 to walk after 4:30? In Philly?? Unbelievable.) I’d say it’s… Ross-y. Ross-ish. I grew up playing Schuylkill CC, a pretty underrated Ross course in PA, and I’ve also played Bedford Springs and Pinehurst #2 and have them both in my top 10. So I think my expectations were way too high.
But it’s still a really fun course and very scoreable, and it’s in fantastic shape. I can see why it’s so popular and it’s definitely going to be my weeknight public course of choice moving forward. The only downside is that they seem to not actively encourage singles (no 1 player options on their website) which I understand, but it doesn’t help me.
Definitely book it for your next round, you won’t regret it.
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I think you nailed it. JVille could probably be more “Rossy” with more resources, but it’s pretty damn good for the money. I think the staff does an awesome job over there. It is by far my favorite public course in the Philadelphia area.
Regarding getting on as a single, I’ve had luck calling up their golf shop. They’re usually very willing to pair you up with another group, or let you on alone if possible.
Skook!
I grew up around that area and had no idea it was touched by Ross. That’s kind of cool.
Schuylkill is criminally underrated. If it was outside Philly it would be in the 2nd tier of private courses after the Merion/Aronimink/Philly Crickets of the area.
also in manyunk if you’re trying to get out.
Also I guess I’ll bump this thread, I haven’t been on here in a while. Looking for people in Manyunk Roxborough, East Falls, etc. and then everybody else inside and just outside the city.
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I live in North East PA it’s like a 2 hour ride and all the Private courses up here have great out of town memberships. Glenmaura National and The Country Club of Scranton if they were near Philly would be 20k a year clubs
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Anybody got opinions on Inniscrone? 1999 Gil Hanse design out in like Avondale, PA… playing there this Saturday.
Played it for the first and only time the week courses opened back up in early May. I enjoyed it. Solid layout and in good shape. A few real quirky holes but I’ll take variety any day over the alternative. On the back there are quite a few holes with a subdivision interspersed which hurts the visuals but isn’t as in your face as some other places.
Good value but it’s a hike from the city (1 hour) which is why I haven’t been back yet.
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yah i’m in Manyunk and it gonna be a little over an hour down 476. Thanks for sharing! I watched the course layout on youtube and kinda saw what you’re saying. I haven’t swung a club in 2 weeks and hit driver once last time I played (at Walnut Lane) can you miss it off the tee at all?
I missed it plenty haha. But thankfully there are a decent amount of shorter par 4s where you don’t have to hit driver.
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Thanks! Yah that makes a lot of sense on multiple levels. I was asking myself why is this gil hanse track from 99’ $44.00 to ride on a weekend (technically twilight rate but boy we like that). And in some of the pics there are places that look like burnt out low areas that need some drainage work that will probably not get funded.
Makes sense if it was a planned as a private course in a 90’s style development that went semi-bust. If it was closer than glen mills I bet they’d get more rounds a season and be able to put some money back into it.
GOOD TO HEAR! My friends will probably want to play from the gold tees (one back as is customary for us) but this definitely makes me feel better since I’ve mainly been bouncing around the shorter city courses this summer like Melrose.
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it’s good, and definitely a test. it’s usually in pretty good shape but not on the level of Jville or Glen Mills. They’ve definitely softened some features as there are some bunkers that they’ve allowed to grass over.
There’s a good mix of holes and a bunch of forced carries. You have to be in good positions to score as approaches from the wrong angles will be tough.
4 and 17 are really tough par 4s with nowhere to miss. There’s a good variety of par 3s with a short drop shot, a long uphill carry over hazard, a straightforward mid-distance, and longer downhill with a run-up area.
The last 7 holes are a real tough stretch to close it out, so get your scoring done before then.
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Yah I saw 4 in the flyover and I’m heading to the range tonight. Like I stated above I think were gonna tee it from the gold tees so I’m hoping I can pull out 3W or even my 3H wherever available. Tried to get tee time at JVille never played it yet but started out caddying at LuLu and played it several times when it was semi public - heard theyre similar designs (LuLu and JVille).
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Jville has more of a traditional “Ross” vibe with a bunch of elevated / tortoise shell greens…but they’re both really good courses. I’ve only played Lulu a couple times but it’s really fun…wish it was easier to get on. Jville tee times open up at midnight a week ahead, I believe. So if you want one, jump on at 12:01 am a week out.
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alright sick and yah this is good advice, since this is the third time I’ve tried to make a tee time and all thats left is like 4:30PM on.
The country club search will commence in the coming weeks, so hopefully I’ll have a little more insight into the landscape soon. I’ve gotten to a couple more local courses in the last few months:
Turtle Creek:
I only played the front 9 here but it’s somewhere I’d definitely like to see again. Wide, playable and interesting, I liked it a lot more than I was expecting to. If you’re a high handicapper this is probably the best course around Pottstown to have an enjoyable round.
Scotland Run:
Have you ever met someone who tries really hard to convey their wealth and their status but known that deep down they’re a B or B+ at best? That’s Scotland Run. It’s a great facility with a massive clubhouse, event hall and practice range and when you pull into the parking lot you think you’re about to be bowled over. The course itself? I did enjoy it but not for the price I paid. A lot of fun holes, especially after the turn. But like I said, it’s a B+ that prices itself like an A.
PineCrest Country Club (Lansdale)
A pretty mediocre course that suffers from being the main attraction of a borderline retirement community. I played here with some friends who aren’t golfers because they were scared of Raven’s Claw (sigh). It’s a perfectly cromulent golf course if a bit bland.
Jersey Shore section
Ballamor:
I LOVED Ballamor. Might help that I shot a 74, but still. It’s a South Carolina-looking layout that’s open and fun. Pricey, but worth it if you want a course that’s pristine and interesting.
McCullough’s Emerald Links:
Played here on the same day I was supposed to be playing the Old Course (Thanks COVID!). It’s fun! It’s not the nicest course ever and it suffers from trying too hard with its imitations of Scottish links but it’s among the cheaper options in the area and for the price I really enjoyed it.
My remaining list:
Glen Mills
Broad Run
Riverwinds
Makefield Highlands
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