Excellent, large greens that reward good putts and mercilessly punish bad ones. Nice wooded setting, with holes that are well screened from adjacent holes - none of this back-and-forth zig-zag layout that characterizes some courses, and no ducking from errant shots. Course is well maintained and not crowded. Fair layout: for the 80's shooter that means 6 hard holes, 6 par holes, and 6 holes that can go either way. But, any hole on this course can jump up and bite you with a double bogey, and only one or two are highly difficult for the 80's shooter to par if he has his good game. Number 4 is a nice par 4, and number 8 is a beautiful par 5. Number 9 is the best hole on the course, and a great par 4.

The hills make walking really tough, and create more blind shots than I prefer. Numbers 3 and 10 are short par 4's, with fairways that really don't provide a flat lie - anywhere - which I think is kind of unfair. The 1st and the 18th holes are nothing to brag about, and are two of the weaker par 4's on the course. The club isn't near anything, and it's about 45-60 minutes drive from Pgh.

This is an old (1911) challenging course, that typically is maintained in excellent conditions. The back-nine was designed by Willy Park, the former British Open Champion, and famous scottish course architect. The course is hilly (not for walking nowadays), and has no water hazards. The fairways are pretty forgiving (i.e. wide), but you can lose a ball on most any of them if you hook or slice. The course is not long on paper, but it plays longer than the yardage - especially for those who's average drive is under 250 yards. This is mainly because of the hills, and because nearly every hole finishes uphill. The par 5's are reachable on paper, but practically speaking, only the 14th can be reached in two by any but the scratch players. The front nine par 5's zig-zag, and therefore require more height and length to get home over the trees that line the fairways. Number 17 is very long, has a soft fairway (little roll), and plays uphill the whole way. Most of the par 4's are ordinary, with the best being no. 9, the worst being no. 3, and the most scenic being no. 11. The real gems of this course are the par 3's. They are all over 160 yards from the blue tees, with two that play 180+ with the hills. They all have difficult putting greens, and three of these holes are strategically well bunkered. Just being on these greens in one is no guarantee of par. Typically, the greens are very fast but readable and true, and the rough is moderately high (not too punishing).

Customer Service

This is a private country club. Service is excellent, and the pro, Jim McGrath, is very friendly and helpful. There is a very relaxed atmosphere here, and you never feel rushed or uncomfortable as guests at other private clubs sometimes feel.

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The clubhouse is unexceptional, but nice enough. The proshop has everything you could want, and the prices are very reasonable. The Grill Room has good food, and excellent service. There is a grass driving range, and one of the most difficult (and well maintained) practice greens I've ever seen. This green is good prep for what awaits you on the course.