Welcome! I just moved to Philly (fishtown) in fall of 2019 and ran into the same issue. My guy @Zachilroy is right, not much for good public golf near center city. The best public options (Jeffersonville, Makfield Highlands, Paxon Hollow) are pretty much a 30-50min drive away in any direction. I still need to go play Lulu but that place looks very solid as well. I’m always happy to drive to play so if you need a 2nd just hit me up!
LuLu is a great track, and it’s awesome they quietly open it to the public for off times. I’ve played it at least twice that way.
Will do for sure. Let me know if you ever need a 2nd or 4th as well. Where do you play most of your golf being located in Fishtown? Guessing the three courses you mentioned there?
I moved out of Fishtown, but as mentioned, public options are rough. You can cross the bridge and play Riverwinds over in Deptford, but like all of Jaworski’s courses, can be overpriced most of the time. JC Melrose is just up the road through North Philly in Cheltenham. Certainly not a big track with the world’s best, but still serviceable.
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Awesome! I mostly make the trek out to Jeffersonville, imo it can’t be beat for price, architectural interest/variety and they do an awesome job of keeping it it great shape.
Nice - yeah I’m trying to get out there ASAP!
Jeffersonville is highly regarded both by the Refuge and locals. Can’t go wrong choosing to play there.
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Lederach and Turtle Creek are great too.
Lederach is good as long as you go into the round knowing you won’t make any putts more than 2 feet.
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New clubhouse is great they did a fantastic job with it, simulators, big porch on which you can watch several holes from, etc. It’s a good deal price wise (and you can find really good deals through charity events, I know a guy who got a full year membership for 1k that way only has to pay for carts and any F&B). Downside with being a younger new member there is their tee sheet is always full on the weekends and what i have heard from members is it can be really really tough to get a peak playing time on weekend mornings or even early afternoons. I believe i heard they have either gotten rid of the “member for the day” option or are in the process of phasing it out.
Course wise it is really great, greens are in really good shape year around, course design and layout do justice to Donald Ross and there are some really great holes out there ( i have beef with the 7th hole because there are 2 trees that block the intended way to play the hole if you take the aggressive line and take on the bunker to the left to get a better angle into the green and a shorter shot those trees block you out, they were added supposedly to provide some protection to players teeing off on the 1st hole) my only real gripe is with the bunkers they could definitely use some work.
Bummer… this might be a deal breaker.
Sooo this checks out - seems there is a waitlist for membership right now. Might jump on it/go for a tour just because it’s so affordable and the course and clubhouse look spectacular.
On another note - does anyone play out of Green Valley?
I don’t think anyone is a member there, but @Flex played there quite a bit through a friend’s membership. Perhaps he can shed some light if you are looking for information on the course.
Fun layout and was always in great shape when we played it a few years back. The short game area is fantastic. My buddy never had any real complaints.
If you’re looking in the Oreland/Glenside area there is also Sandy Run Country Club. its right down the road from LuLu and Manufacturers. I have not played there before but from what I’ve seen it looks like a nice spot. I inquired a while back about them and LuLu and IIRC Sandy Run was a bit more expensive. But if anyone has played there before they might have more useful I formation.
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I’m always happy to host at HVCC if anyone is interested in checking it out. Very unique Flynn track. Just sponsored a couple guys in their late 20s so it seems the membership is trending younger.
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I’m not a local, but have family in Jersey and Bensalem. I think LuLu is phenomenal.
Also, I don’t know how far this is from CC, but I think the Bensalem Township course is pretty decent for a public option, and I really like liked the Union Club at Torresdale. It’s also a Donald Ross, and I think they have one of the best logos, too.
Yeah Union League at Torresdale would be perfect - don’t think I’d be able to get in there anytime soon though. Hopefully will be able to play it sometime.
Thanks for the Bensalem rec - not too far away at all and had not checked it out yet.
< whispers >
I’m not a fan of Bensalem.
Course is usually in rough shape, and they have some very poorly designed holes. A 200 yard par 3 uphill that has you go even further uphill to the tee box on the next hole. Any slightly wayward tee shot to the right goes right back into the people on the previous hole
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In my defense, I only played in once a few years ago when I was in town for a wedding.
It was in pretty good shape, and I played well, which never hurts, lol.
I played Middletown (?) and thought Bensalem was much better.