Now that the new golf season has begun and is heating up (slowly), seasoned veterans and weekend hackers alike will try to figure out the enigmatic game.
This means starting from scratch all over again — something The Clubhouse specializes in.
“Every golfer you see on Saturday and Sunday golf has an army of people doing these things for them,” Keith Brown, a clubmaker at The Clubhouse, said. “We want to do that for the people in Erie.”
Tucked in a small corner across from the Regional Cancer Center and behind Advanced Auto Parts on West 12th Street, The Clubhouse uses swing analysis to determine the appropriate club specifications.
Certified clubmakers Brown and Jacques Lemoyne then piece together component parts to create clubs most suitable to the golfers’ skill set.
Brown said The Clubhouse views the shaft as the most critical part of the club in determining its success or failure.
This is because each golfer’s swing uses a different plane, speed and impact angle, which necessitates the wide array of specifications that are available during custom fitting. The Clubhouse features hundreds of shafts that range in price from $20 to 600.
On the other hand, Brown said he’ll choose from just a few different options for the appropriate loft of the driver face before deciding which club head is most suitable.
“There’s only so much you can do with a tin can,” he said.
But according to Brown, the driver is secondary to the putter, another club that is unsuitable for most players when it is bought retail. The Clubhouse will help remedy that by fitting the flatstick to the right length and lie angle.
The Clubhouse also reshafts, regrips, lengthen and shortens clubs based on swing analysis obtained using a Vector Launch Monitor which makes use of 3D Doppler tracking radar.

- Joe Cuneo

The Facts:

Brabender Southwoods Golf Course

Address: 4051 Greenlee Road, McKean, PA 16426

Phone: (814) 476-7907‎

Par: 34

Yardage: 2658 (White), 2478 (Gold), 2234 (Red)

URL: www.brabendersouthwoods.com

The Best:

1. The price

2. The specials and deals

3. Friendly staff

4. Close to Edinboro University

5. Clean bathrooms

Before/After

1. The Clubhouse

2. McKean Pizza

3. Bella’s Twist n’ Shake (ice cream)

Alcohol

Players may bring their own alcohol. Alcohol cannot be purchased at the clubhouse.

I made a few mistakes this week as I headed out to Brabender Southwoods Golf Course (aka I got lost), but I still had a great visit at the course.

The fact that I got lost doesn’t mean Southwoods is hard to find; the drive is simple.  I just get lost easily.  All you need to do is head out to Edinboro Road and take a left onto Greenlee (also spelled Greenley) Road.  I missed the turn two times because the road sign is slightly hidden, so watch out for that.

Brabender Southwoods Golf Course is currently owned by Dick Brabender Jr., John Brabender, and James Kissman.  The course rests on what used to be farmland before Dick Sr. bought the land in the 1960’s.

At first, the land was used solely for personal entertainment.  The land was made up of pavilions, a basketball court, and other things so the Brabenders could have picnics.  The course started as a single hole used for parties, but was later fleshed out into the nine hole course it is today.

Jerry Johnson, an employee at Southwoods, told me the name comes from having to head south to reach the course and the fact that it is surrounded by woods.

Jerry also allowed me to take a cart around the course to see what it had to offer.  I quickly discovered that Southwoods lives up to its name and has plenty of trees that frustrate golfers.  The course also has a few ponds that come into play on three of the holes.  A decent number of sand traps found out the hazards.

The fairways at Southwoods are relatively short and wide open, but the hazards I just mentioned help keep the course challenging.  A golfer I chatted with told me how fast the greens can be.  I was happy to see that every tee box had a bench for golfers to rest on.

The workers at Brabender Southwoods are even trying to improve a course design that has worked for decades.  The seventh green is in the process of being moved to elongate the course’s only par five.  Southwoods also has a small putting green next to the clubhouse.

Southwoods’ clubhouse has a great front porch where I witnessed a league unwind after they finished playing.  Inside the clubhouse is a large room with tables and chairs just in case they are needed.  A large television hangs on the wall for entertainment and a fireplace sits in the corner, waiting for the colder months.

Players can’t buy alcohol at the clubhouse, but they are allowed to bring their own.

For those of you who like to search for bargains, Brabender Southwoods is definitely a place to check out.  Anyone under the age of 16 plays free as long as a parent plays with them.  It only costs $9.50 to play a round of golf at Southwoods if you decide to walk.

The Facts:

Green Meadows Golf Course

Address: 2451 North Brickyard Road, North East, PA 16428

Phone: (814) 725-5009 ‎

Par: 72

Yardage: 6307 (Blue), 5881 (White), 5177 (Red)

URL: www.greenmeadowsgolfcourse.com

The Best:

1. The change of pace between the front and back nine

2. The paved cart paths

3. The price

4. The driving range and putting green

5. The owners (Everyone I talked to was very nice)

6. The flat course caters to beginners as well as those with some experience

Before/After

1. The Clubhouse

2. Townline Tavern

3. The Ruffled Grouse Bar & Grille

Alcohol

Golfers can bring their own alcohol. Alcohol cannot be purchased at the clubhouse.

I knew I was getting close to Green Meadows Golf Course when I suddenly found myself surrounded by the grape vines that define North East so well.  The course is located among countless acres of farm land just off of Buffalo Road.

The overall flatness of Green Meadows Golf Course helped me realize that a farm was once located there, but I was able to speak with Adrienne Hassenplug to find out more.

Green Meadows was opened to the public in 1975 by Robert Boyd Sr. (Adrienne’s grandfather) and the rest of his family.  The course was built simply because the Boyd family had a passion for the game of golf.  During the early years of the course’s existence, the Boyds continued to manage the farm they owned.

But golf courses and farms can be difficult to manage – even individually.  I imagine that worrying about both at the same time could be a nightmare.  It wasn’t long before the Boyd family decided to sell the farm and fully concentrate on the course for which they had so much love.

Many people may not realize that Green Meadows was only a nine hole course until it became an 18 hole course around 1989.  The front and back nine seem to have completely different personalities due to the time difference in their construction.

The front nine was built exclusively on farm land and is very flat.  This, combined with the layout of the trees, created a very open front nine.  It isn’t as important for golfers to have straight tee shots when faced with the wide holes.

In order to make accuracy more valuable, the greens on the front nine are quite small.  It may take an extra shot or two to find the green (yet this makes putting easier).

The back nine is much more scenic due to the amount of trees and the land that borders the course.  The last nine holes appear to have been cut right out of some woods, so there are plenty of trees for golfers to run into.  A small creek also runs through five of the nine holes to give the course another dimension.  Also, grape vines literally border the 14^th and 15^th holes.  They look great up until you lose a ball within them.

The owners at Green Meadows strive to give golfers everything they might need while out on the course.  Benches are located at the tee boxes to give players a place to rest.  There are two bathrooms out on the course that the owners constructed themselves.  These restrooms also serve as rain shelters.

The entire course benefits from paved cart paths and an irrigation system.  The cart paths offer a smooth ride as well as a place for your cart when it is a bit too wet outside.  But the irrigation system constantly works to try and prevent the course from any sort of flooding.

In addition to the course itself, Green Meadows owns a driving range across the street.  The driving range opens as early as February, when golfers hit from a sheltered area out into the open.  The course also features a small putting green right behind the clubhouse.

Green Meadows’ current clubhouse was built in 1997 and is apparently a great improvement on the original clubhouse.  Inside, golfers can find a pro shop to stock up on anything they need to.  A banquet room is located upstairs for parties and other types of get togethers.  Green Meadows also features a small concession stand where snacks and hotdogs can be purchased.

At the moment, Green Meadows does not sell alcohol, but they allow golfers to bring their own.

The Facts:

Downing Municipal Golf Course

Address: 1351 Troupe Road, Harborcreek, PA 16421-1032

Phone: (814) 899-5827 ‎

Par: 72

Yardage: 7092 (Blue), 6653 (White), 5829 (Gold), 5568 (Red)

The Best:

1. Downing is open all year (weather permitting)

2. Paved cart paths

3. The price

4. The flat terrain for easy walking

5. The specials and deals

6. The putting green, chipping green, and nearby driving range

7. The friendly staff

Before/After

1. The Clubhouse

2. Lake Erie Driving Range (right next door)

3. Buffalo Road – plenty of places to eat, drink, or shop

Alcohol

Alcohol can be purchased in the clubhouse. Players cannot bring their own alcohol.

At the request of a friend, I chose Downing Municipal Golf Course for this week’s profile.  Downing is one of two municipal golf courses in the Erie area (with J.C. Martin being the other).  I hadn’t been out to Downing in a year or two, so it was fun to discover the course again,

Downing opened in 1962 and gets its name from Charles “Bus” Downing, who was a member of City Council.

The golf course was built on mostly flat land, which makes for an easy trek.  The holes are tightly packed together, but the fairways remain wide open for golfers to approach the greens.  Numerous trees define the holes to make sure the course isn’t too forgiving.

I found that some of the holes had sand traps, while others did not.  Downing also has two ponds and a creek, which come into play on three holes total.  Even with the lack of consistent hazards, Downing still finds ways to infuriate golfers.

As I drove a cart around the course, I started to remember the holes.  I also remembered the troubles I had on them.  Downing is a deceptively long course and the hazards the course does have were cleverly placed.

A giant putting green is located directly behind the first tee box so golfers can warm up while waiting to play.  Chet Widowski, who works at the course, told me that Downing also has a chipping green that they like to call the “Bullpen.”

I was surprised to find out that Lake Erie Driving Range (owned by Dan Steen) is not associated with Downing even though the parking lots connect to each other.  At one point in time, the driving range was a part of Downing, but that is no longer the case.  Either way, the range’s proximity to the course cannot be beat for those looking to hit some extra golf balls.

Downing has a lot of big things to offer golfers, but it is also important to make note of the little things.  I was happy to find paved cart paths all across the course (something that is a rarity among Erie golf courses).  I also noticed that benches were located on all of the tee boxes and there were even a few rain shelters.

A restroom is also located on the course that can be accessed from both the sixth and 13th holes.  A concession stand sits between the front and back nine, so golfers can grab a snack if they are craving something.  Downing also has a few vending machines and tables around the clubhouse.

Downing’s clubhouse is unique in appearance.  After the original clubhouse burned down, this one was built in its place.  It is made of a white stone and looks a little too artsy to be found on a golf course.

A pro shop can be found on the first floor along with both men and women’s locker rooms.  The second floor of the clubhouse is usually reserved for parties and other gatherings.

I was impressed by all that Downing had to offer golfers, but one thing stood out from the rest.  I was told that Downing is open all year around as long as the weather permits.  I had never heard of something like that considering the fact that Erie gets pummeled with snow every year.

But apparently Downing opens on the nicer days of the cold months and people actually go and play.  I have never golfed in the winter before, and I’m willing to bet that is the case with most people (golfing down south doesn’t count).

I’m sure many Erie golfers get the itch to play some golf while waiting for spring to arrive, so this seems to be a perfect solution.

The Facts:

Riverside Golf Club

Address: 24537 Highway 19, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403

Phone: (814) 398-4537 ‎

Par: 71 (72 for Women and Seniors)

Yardage: 6334 (Blue), 6028 (White), Senior (5560), Red (5221)

Website: www.riversidegolfclub.com

The Best:
1. The driving range

2. The practice sand trap and pitching range

3. All of the sand traps and other hazards

4. The flat land that is friendly to walkers

5. The Clubhouse/restaurant

6. The scenery

7. The staff

Before/After

1. The Clubhouse/restaurant

2. The driving range

3. The practice sand trap and pitching range

Alcohol

Alcohol can be purchased in the clubhouse. Players cannot bring their own alcohol.

Riverside Golf Club has been open for almost a century, but the current owners have only been in possession of the land for a few years. Patty and Jon Flood, along with friends Linda and Bruce Christiansen, have done well so far in their attempt to take care of the course designed and built by William Baird in 1915.

I’ve noticed that Riverside’s location can deter potential golfers, but it really isn’t far from Erie. All you need to do is head up Peach Street and continue up Route 19 and you’re there.

Riverside is built on a flat piece of land, which is great for people who want to walk. A flat course is usually thought to be less challenging than a hilly course, but Riverside has done everything possible to make a flat course challenging. The course has over 45 sand traps and 6 ponds.

Trees are also a challenge to golfers of any skill level. Riverside is an old course, but the trees are even older. They’ve had decades to grow and form the fairways as well as obstruct the path to the green.

The flat terrain certainly welcomes walkers, but it is also worth mentioning that Riverside has paved cart paths. That’s something most courses in the area can’t say.

Even though the course isn’t the toughest to walk, the owners make sure to have water coolers at every tee box on the hotter days. A restroom is also located amongst the holes for those who drink too much water.

Riverside’s gigantic clubhouse serves as the center point for everything the course has to offer. The Pro Shop is the place to buy green fees and golf supplies and also leads down into the locker rooms. The locker rooms, which even have showers, allow for golfers to clean up and head to the lounge or restaurant after a round.

Riverside’s restaurant, which overlooks the 18th hole, is a place to relax and grab a bite to eat. Even as I talked to owner Patty Flood, people called ahead to order some burgers.

The banquet area conveniently has its own entrance due to the number of events Riverside holds. The room holds a few hundred people, making it ideal for wedding parties and golf outings. Riverside even has special deals with nearby hotels. The people at Riverside will even organize group outings for you. If you’re planning a golfing trip, this is something to take advantage of.

In addition to the golf course, Riverside also has a putting green, driving range, practice sand trap, and chipping range. The putting green is standard; most courses have one. But the driving range is nice because it is rare to find one paired with a public course. Lake Pleasant and Mound Gove, two courses I previously covered, recently closed their driving ranges.

The practice sand trap and chipping range are also nice to have. Riverside is the first course I’ve covered to have either one.

Although Riverside has plenty to offer, the course doesn’t have a hotel associated with it. The course was once associated with the Riverside Inn & Dinner Theatre, but different ownership has separated the two. The course and inn are two separate entities, but they still make a great pairing for those traveling to Cambridge Springs.

I really had no idea what to expect from Riverside Golf Club. I had never been out there for a round of golf. There was much more to the course than I would have thought.

The Facts:

Mound Grove Golf Course

Address: 10760 Donation Road, Waterford, PA 16441-2302

Phone: (814) 796-2767 ‎

Par: 72

Yardage: Blue: 6293, White: 5993, Gold: 5656, Red: 5467

Website: www.moundgrove.com

The Best:

1. The Clubhouse

2. The specials and deals

3. The food (My friend, Junior, tells me you won’t find a better pizza in the Erie area)

4. The entertainment

5. The change of pace between the front and back nine

6. The friendly atmosphere

7. The price

8. The wildlife and surroundings

Before/After

1. The Clubhouse – it has everything you should want or need

Alcohol

Alcohol can be purchased at the clubhouse. Golfers cannot bring their own alcohol.

I recently spent some time out at Mound Grove Golf Course in preparation for this week’s Course Report.  The course is owned by Paul Beibel, who runs Mound Grove with the assistance of friends and family.  I had never been out to Mound Grove before, but everyone there made me feel like I was an old friend.

Mound Grove was built in 1993, but the land’s history extends all the way back to the 1840s when a man named Jesse Croover built a house on the property.  Croover’s house, which still stands today, has a great view of the course.  I’ve always been interested in houses with a history, so learning about this Italian-style home was great.

Apparently a secret room in the house was used to harbor runaway slaves back in the 19th century.  The house’s cupola served as a lookout for Mr. Croover as he watched for bounty hunters.

Paul’s grandparents, Peter and Helen, bought the land off Old Donation road back in 1921.  A long time passed before Edward Beibel, Paul’s father, had the idea of transforming the potato farm into a golf course.

Although the course officially opened in 1993, it didn’t become an 18 hole course until a few years after that.  Mound Grove is similar to Crab Apple Ridge in that the first nine holes are vastly different from the last nine.

As Greg Junior, a manager at Mound Grove, gave me a tour of the course, I could see that the front nine had been built on farmland.  The holes were very flat and trees were hard to find.  The wide open fairways allowed golfers to be less accurate with their drives.

The back nine, however, appeared to be carved right out of a forest.  The fairways were much tighter and I could see where golfers frequently had the most trouble.  Paul Beibel joked that the front nine holes are for “hackers” and the back nine are for “golfers” due to the layout of the holes.

The course is pretty long, so I was happy to see a few porta-potties out on the course.  On the back nine, where the trees are more abundant, wildlife can frequently be seen.  Deer are the most common, but numerous animals frequent the land surrounding the course.

Erie’s weather hasn’t been too kind to the area golf courses this summer.  Paul Beibel has over 200 acres of land to take care of, which means the work is never done.  Mr. Beibel told me that he tries to keep the upkeep as organic as possible by avoiding harmful chemicals.

When I walked into the clubhouse, I was surprised to find much more than I had expected.  Yes, there was a pro shop and a place to pay for a round of golf, but I also found a large bar and restaurant.

I found myself wishing my stomach was empty as I eyed the chicken wings and a few slices of pizza.  The workers at Mound Grove make their own food and sauces.  I immediately decided to go back to Mound Grove for some food when I have the chance.

Much like the old house on the property, the clubhouse was also built in the 1800s.  It was remarkable to see a barn so big that had been built by hand.  But with so much space in the barn, the Beibel family makes sure to do whatever they can to keep the place packed with people.

The restaurant and bar has food specials every day and the golf course makes sure to have some discounts, too.  Wednesday and Thursday nights are usually karaoke nights at the bar.  Live bands and other forms of entertainment are usually booked for the weekend.

The Beibels also try to plan beer pong and corn hole tournaments every now and then.  I was even told that a Texas Hold’ em tournament might be on the horizon. Mound Grove might be unplayable during the winter months, but the land is located right next to some snowmobiling trails.  Mound Grove Golf Course seems to always have something fun in the works.

The Facts:

J.C. Martin Family Golf Center

Address: 652 Shunpike Rd Erie, PA 16508-2753

Phone: (814) 864-1821 ‎

Par: 32

Yardage: 2284

Rates: $8 for nine holes; $6 at twilight

The Best:

1. The price

2. The location

3. The clubhouse

4. A great place to meet fellow golfers

5. A great place for beginners to practice and get better

6. The course is kept in good shape

Before/After

1. The Erie Zoo

2. Ice Skating

3. YMCA

4. Dairy Queen

5. Peach Street

Alcohol

Alcohol is not permitted.

J.C. Martin Family Golf Center, a municipal golf course, was the place I played most often while growing up, so writing about it this week involved a lot of reminiscing. The course opened in 1919, so I know I’m just one of many children to grow up at J.C. Martin.

Some might criticize J.C. Martin for not being a difficult course; but those people fail to see the value of the only golf course located within the City of Erie limits. Many people enjoy a relaxing round of golf at J.C. Martin, but the course also serves as a learning environment for Erie’s young golfers.

Almost every hole has a bench to rest on, a garbage can, and a ball cleaner. Not much else can be found out on the course except for a drinking fountain located next to the sixth hole tee box.

The location of the course is perfect for those who can’t yet drive or don’t have the time to head out to some of the other courses. As I drove over to the course this week, I saw a few kids walking to the course with their golf bags on their shoulders.

I used to take advantage of the low price of the green fees ($8). Golfers can play all day for only $14 if they want to. A seasonal membership is only $160 for kids and $195 for college students.

The land J.C. Martin was built on is rather limited, which ended up restricting the design of the course. The course itself is very straight as well as back and forth.  Elevation changes, sand traps and a winding creek give each hole individual challenges, but the course is still a little plain.

The Erie Zoo and two roads form boundaries around the course. Trees form boundaries around the different holes. The trees are not a problem for the most part. The fairways aren’t wide, but they aren’t tight, either.

A large putting green is located next to the clubhouse. It’s a great place for golfers to kill time while waiting to tee off.

J.C. Martin’s clubhouse is small, but it has what a golfer might need. The clubhouse mostly sells candy, but my favorite thing to order is the pepperoni balls. A pro shop is located in the clubhouse for anyone who might need to pick up a few items for a round of golf.

The clubhouse also features a few tables with chairs set in front of a television. It’s almost a guarantee that some kids will be sitting inside having a snack. J.C. Martin Golf Course is a family place, so alcohol is strictly prohibited.

All of the golf courses I’ve covered so far have either been hidden or located a good distance from the city. As a result, those courses didn’t have much going on around them.

J.C. Martin is different in this respect. The course does border a neighborhood, but it is also very close to Peach Street and many establishments.

Kids who play a round of golf at the course could head over to the Erie Zoo or to the John M. Cochran Ice Arena afterwards. A YMCA is just across the street for those who have memberships. And Dairy Queen is over on Peach if the heat is proving to be too much.

The Facts:

Gospel Hill Golf and Country Club

Address: 4415 Steimer Road, Erie, Pa

Phone: (814) 899-5700 ‎

Par: 70

Yardage: 5527 (White), 5299 (Red)

Website: www.gospelhillgolf.com

The Best:

1. The price

2. The contrast between the front and back nine

3. The Clubhouse

4. The deck outside

5. Secluded from busy and loud roads

6. Easygoing staff

7. Scenery

Before/After

1. Penn State Behrend

2. Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill

Alcohol

Players may not bring their own alcohol. Alcohol can be purchased at the clubhouse

I chose Gospel Hill Golf and Country Club for this week’s Course Report.  The course is tucked in between the houses of a small neighborhood.  It stands out from all of the houses, which isn’t a bad thing.  The course has been in the area for over half a century and is important to the surrounding area.

Back in 1958, Ed Kerner realized the land he lived on was a perfect fit for a golf course.  Kerner and his friend, Mike Brosman, stopped playing golf  to build a course of their own.  It took almost five years to complete the first nine holes of the course, and Gospel Hill finally opened in 1962.

I was told that Ed Kerner wasn’t satisfied with a nine hole golf course; he wanted a full 18 holes.  In 1964, Kerner was able to purchase enough land to house the back nine holes of the golf course.  Two more years of hard work followed before Gospel Hill was completely finished.

Ed Kerner passed away in 1969, but his two daughters, Linda and Becky, continue to run Gospel Hill.

The way the course was created might explain why a few golfers at  mentioned that the front nine and back nine are practically two different courses.  The first nine holes are very short and narrow whereas the last nine are wide and long.

Both halves of the course present their own challenges.  I remember experiencing the shift of the course structure when I last played at Gospel Hill.  It was hard for me to get bored with the layout.

A good sized putting green sits next to the first tee so golfers can warm up before a round.

The owners have done a lot to ensure the golfers have whatever they might need while playing a round of golf.  Benches can be found at every tee box and a drinking fountain can be found between the front and back nine.  A few pop machines are located outside the clubhouse.

The spacious clubhouse has plenty of tables to sit at as well as a small pro shop, bar, and snack counter.  The small TV in the corner was playing ESPN, combined with the wood paneling and outside deck gives the clubhouse a familiar feeling of home.  The deck overlooks the ninth green, making it the perfect place to rest and watch some golf.

The clubhouse has a bar, so any outside alcohol is neither needed nor allowed.

While out at Gospel Hill, I noticed how close the golf course is to Penn State Behrend.  It might be worth it for students to bring their golf clubs to school for the warmer months of the year. Other than Behrend, the area surrounding Gospel Hill doesn’t have many attractions.

Gospel Hill has a few specials to take advantage of.  For instance, Wednesday features a “buy one get one free” on green fees.  The price of a round of golf is another thing to take advantage of.  At $18 for a round, Gospel Hill literally costs one dollar per hole.  More specials and other information can be found at the course’s website (www.gospelhillgolf.com).

The Facts:

Lake Pleasant Golf Course

Address: 9170 Lake Pleasant Road, Erie, PA 16509-5752

Phone: (814) 825-5642 ‎

Par: 33

Yardage: 2126 (White), 1956 (Red)

Website: www.lakepleasantgolfcourse.com

The Best:

1. Clubhouse

2. The course design and the challenges of each hole

3. Mini-golf

4. Good course/green maintenance

5. Clean bathrooms

6. friendly staff/owners

7. The scenery

8. Angel, Linda and Dennis Hancock’s dog

Before/After

1. Mini-golf

2. The Clubhouse

3. The Boardwalk Tavern

4. The Beechwood Inn

Alcohol

Players may bring their own alcohol.  Alcohol cannot be purchased at the clubhouse

I rolled down the windows in my car and headed out to Lake Pleasant Golf Course for this week’s Course Report.  Lake Pleasant Road, from where the course gets its name, is mostly surrounded by farmland, but a golfer’s paradise sits right in the middle.

Linda and Dennis Hancock built the course 20 years ago.  I was surprised to find that the land the golf course rests on used to be a slaughterhouse in the 1950’s and 60’s.

Dennis, who worked in the cementing business, thought building the course would be a nice retirement job.  He ended up working much harder than he originally thought he would.

The owners took great care in turning the land into a scenic public golf course with a private and professional look.  Dennis said the grass is cut to five different heights to make rounds more challenging.  The course also features five water hazards and a great number of trees to frustrate the golfers.

I played Lake Pleasant last year and those hazards were certainly too much for my mediocre golf skills.  The course forced me to take some approach shots and made me nervous to look at the scorecard.  But that’s what golfing is all about.

The owners made sure to have a bench on every tee box so golfers can rest when they have the time.  A porta-potty is located near the back of the course and each hole has a cart path made of red brick that slowly fades into grass.

My favorite part about the course was the clubhouse.  It once was a run-down barn that was built in the 1850’s, but Linda and Dennis renovated it and made it a part of the course.

The beautiful clubhouse has a spacious front porch where golfers can sit and watch people start their rounds.  Inside, it has a small pro shop and a few tables where people can get out of the sun.  Outisde, picnic tables sit in the shade of the clubhouse.

Lake Pleasant Golf Course offers numerous leagues for golfers to play in.  Dennis told me that he lets the leagues have parties and gatherings in the clubhouse – free of charge.

The clubhouse doesn’t serve food, but there is a grill available for anyone wanting to bring something to cook.  A few vending machines sit outside the clubhouse to ensure players don’t get too thirsty.

Alcohol isn’t sold, but golfers are welcome to bring their own.  The Boardwalk Tavern and Beechwood Inn, both located on Wattsburg Road, provide a good time only a short distance from the course.

Lake Pleasant is known for its golf course, but the land contains a great mini-golf course as well.  The putt-putt course was constructed nine years ago.  It features its own clubhouse and parking lot, but is still a part of Lake Pleasant.  Linda and Dennis brag that I’d have to drive over 100 miles to find a mini-golf course as nice as theirs.

Lake Pleasant’s website (www.lakepleasantgolfcourse.com) offers a printable coupon for a dollar off the regular price for a round of mini-golf.

The course also has a small putting green but the driving range was recently closed.

It is obvious that Linda and Dennis take good care of the golf course.  With the course, mini-golf, and their house all on the property, their work is never complete.

The Facts:

Crab Apple Ridge Golf Course

Address: 10085 Peach Street, Waterford PA 16441

Phone: (814) 796-3106

Par: 72

Yardage: 6484 (Blue), 6109 (White), 5476 (Gold), 5157 (Red)

Rates (Walking): $16 (9 holes), $20 (18 holes)

Rates: (Riding): $23 (9 holes), $30 (18 holes)

Website: http://www.crabappleridge.com/

The Best:

1. The clubhouse

2. Wide and narrow fairways create a challenge

3. Ice filled coolers can be rented for beer

4. The scenery

5. Good course/green maintenance

6. Nice bathrooms

7. The benches, garbage cans, and toilets spread across the course

8. Relaxed dress code

9. Decent price

10. Easy to find (Just follow Peach St.)

Before/After

1. The Clubhouse / Divot’s Bar and Grill

2. Tee Jay’s

3. Sparrow Pond Family Campground

Alcohol

Outside beer cannot be brought onto the course, but beverages are available for purchase at the clubhouse

Driving to Crab Apple Ridge Golf Course was simple since once I got to Peach Street I had to do was head south until I saw the large, gray clubhouse and sprawling fairways on the east side of the road. Even with my poor sense of direction, it was easy to find.

The course spills over 125 acres of land that once helped form the New York-Pennsylvania state line and was occupied by farmland and orchards. The course gets its name from the crab apple trees that grew in those orchards.

I chatted with Helen Tracy who owns the course with her husband, Louis “Rusty” Tracy. Rusty and Helen started building the course back in 1993 and continue to improve the course annually.

Their goal: Make Crab Apple Ridge a public course on par with the quality of a country club.

The course looked very different to me as I moved from hole to hole. Pulling into the parking lot, I noticed the holes closest to the clubhouse hardly had any trees; errant tee shots don’t appear to be devastating on these holes.

Walking farther from the clubhouse, the vegetation grew denser and the holes were more clearly defined. These holes could prove more of a challenge due to the tightness of the fairways.

It was nice to see sturdy benches and large garbage cans at every tee box. With a course so large, having a place to rest is key. A few porta-potties are spread across the course as well. However, a lack of drinking fountains was a downer and I had to suffer because I was too cheap to buy a pop from the vending machine out on the course.

Although I only walked the course, I was disappointed with some of the cart paths. The paths were mostly dirt and had gravel in some parts. There were a few sections I came across that were uneven or had potholes.

I felt at home in the clubhouse. In the pro shop I found myself staring at pictures, plaques, and trophies the Tracy family had placed there. The shop was small, but it had anything a golfer might need.

Divot’s Bar and Grill occupies the rest of the space. The bar was plain, but the smell of homemade pulled pork made me wish my stomach was empty. There were plenty of tables to sit at and a few televisions to watch while passing time in the air conditioning.

The bathrooms were small, but immaculate. As someone who despises public bathrooms, I had no trouble at Crab Apple Ridge.

Outside the clubhouse were a few different colored picnic tables on the wraparound porch. The tables are an inviting place to sit and watch the golfers starting or finishing their rounds.

I asked a few golfers why they played golf and their response was routinely “for the challenge.” I assume the scenery must definitely come into play as I sat and watched over the well manicured holes of the Crab Apple Ridge Golf Course.

Crab Apple Ridge didn’t offer anything in addition to the course and clubhouse. But I did notice that the Sparrow Pond Family Campground wasn’t far down the road. Anyone who decides to spend some time at the campground might find it smart to bring their clubs with them.

But when your round is over, take a few minutes to stop into Tee Jay’s, for some ice cream and can cool down after the round. Although I passed on the ice cream, I couldn’t resist buying some cotton candy ice cream before I headed home.

Some Course Photos: