Poconos, where to play?

[shanx]

The hairy man spring outing will be in the Poconos this year (5/21-5/23). We have a condo booked, and since I was "high man" last round for last years fall outing, I gotta book tee times..

 

Any tips, hints? Just playing three rounds, maybe an emergency nine...only 4 of us.

[MPAndreassi]

Where are you staying up there? We do an annual summer one up at Shawnee. About 40 guys or so. 

[shanx]

21 minutes ago, MPAndreassi said:

Where are you staying up there? We do an annual summer one up at Shawnee. About 40 guys or so. 

 

Some condo we found online...COVID derailed our trips, we sometimes have 12, this spring only four, brave, vaccinated souls are playing..

[GowerND11]

Well it does help to know about where the condo is, since the Poconos golf courses aren't all super close. Jack Frost and Skytop have my vote. Depending exactly where you are Blue Ridge Trail is a gorgeous course. Mountain Laurel was in pretty good shape Friday. 

[Bonneville85308]

My Poconos recommendations usually are Great Bear, Jack Frost National, Shawnee (27 holes), Hideaway Hills, Mt. Airy (casino on the property). I haven't played these in a couple years but they are usually pretty solid and should be well under $100. Stay away from CC of the Poconos, terrible course. Glen Brook is a good "value" course with some interesting holes.

[Marty86]

Question, do all these courses require me to pay for cart even though I want to walk and use my push cart? Because almost all them seem to require riding and with COVID I literally refuse to ride with strangers. Not to mention, many don't even allow booking as a single.

Edited May 12, 2021 by Marty86

[charli]

Jack Frost 

[Bonneville85308]

On 5/11/2021 at 11:39 AM, Marty86 said:

Question, do all these courses require me to pay for cart even though I want to walk and use my push cart? Because almost all them seem to require riding and with COVID I literally refuse to ride with strangers. Not to mention, many don't even allow booking as a single.

 

I believe Glen Brook has a walking rate, I don't think any of the others do, at least that I am aware of. Carts are almost always included in the rates in this area and not all of the courses are easy walks except maybe Glen Brook (compact routing) and Shawnee (flat). Some of the courses have extreme terrain changes and/or long distances between holes. I could walk them if someone put a gun to my head and gave me extra time to do it, but I don't see how it would be fun.

 

I know if you ride at Shawnee and want your own cart, you can pay extra for that. 

Edited May 12, 2021 by Bonneville85308

[Marty86]

3 minutes ago, Bonneville85308 said:

 

I believe Glen Brook has a walking rate, I don't think any of the others do, at least that I am aware of. Carts are almost always included in the rates in this area and not all of the courses are easy walks except maybe Glen Brook (compact routing) and Shawnee (flat). I know if you ride at Shawnee and want your own cart, you can pay extra for that.

 

Appreciate the response. I mean I have no problem walking a Bethpage black with a push cart, I don't think a poconos golf course is any tougher than that. I may be wrong though.

[shanx]

Rounds booked at Jack Frost, Skytop and Mt. Airy!

 

Thanks y'all!!

[Bonneville85308]

2 hours ago, shanx said:

Rounds booked at Jack Frost, Skytop and Mt. Airy!

 

Thanks y'all!!

 

Report back on how it goes.

[SkrappyHacker1]

Been to almost all of them. Blue Ridge Trail and Hideaway Hills are my favorite courses in the Poconos

[shanx]

On 5/13/2021 at 4:27 PM, Bonneville85308 said:

 

Report back on how it goes.

 

Had a great time up in the hills!

 

Jack Frost - the worst of the three we played. The course needs water, it was rock hard, greens were "crusty". Fairways ran out too far, nothing held on the greens. I lost a few balls that were hit into fairly "safe" spots, blew through doglegs. Even the shorter hitters in the group could not believe how far their tee shots were running out to, it was a bit silly to be hitting 4 irons off the tees just to try to get them to stop. The women that were "running" the outdoor snack bar were described as "surly and combative". Entering the pro shop after the round, some were greeted with a "what do you want now" type of attitude, we won't return to this course next year.

 

Skytop Lodge - one of the guys in the group commented "it's named like a James Bond hideaway", and the beautiful hotel that sits next to a few holes looked like it could fit in the "Goldfinger" set; big, old and opulent. The course was a ton of fun, really had that old school resort feel to it. Not terribly long, but very small greens that rolled true and consistent. The one complaint was the rough was too long/thick, balls that "trickled off" the fairway were easily lost, hacking out of it sometimes compounded the problem. On some holes, the undulations tossed the ball right into the rough, landing short or long was not an option either. Par 3s were long too, most were close to 200 yds. Staff was fun and helpful, even the pro who got an earful from one of our guys about the rough..

 

Mt. Airy Lodge - probably the best course I have played in a long time. Great condition, layout was great, pace of play was great. Greens were fast, yet consistent and true. It took about two holes to get used to the speed, and all pretty much ran the same all day. Some holes were hokey (13th par 5, 17th par 3), but some were really challenging. Staff was fun and helpful; we had a ranger always nearby, and he helped us navigate some of the trickier holes.

 

We are planning a return, as they area is very central to the group. Might be this summer, or next spring...

[charli]

Only one worth playing is jack frost

[Marty86]

I'm going to play Jack Frost and Blue Ridge this weekend. My family has always had a house in the area but never brought clubs up with me when we go away together for a long weekend. I'll report back next week after my rounds.

[SkrappyHacker1]

23 hours ago, charli said:

Only one worth playing is jack frost

 

Never understood what people love about that course so much. Not that great for the money. There are at least 6-7 courses I'd rather play at in the Poconos.

[charli]

7 minutes ago, SkrappyHacker1 said:

 

Never understood what people love about that course so much. Not that great for the money. There are at least 6-7 courses I'd rather play at in the Poconos.

If I had a choice i wouldn’t golf in the poconos honestly 

[shanx]

On 5/24/2021 at 9:42 PM, charli said:

Only one worth playing is jack frost

 

Nah....I mean, it had some nice holes, but desperately needs rain to make it playable.

[Chadwickog]

What a strange experience you seem to have had.. Agree with others that Jack Frost is typically the best of them. 

 

Mount Airy was your favorite? Best course you've played in a while? Which planet are we on?  It's a gimmicky course with copycat holes, the layout is real strange, some of the holes even stranger.  Conditions there are usually decent, albeit every time I've ever played it, it was wet, even in nice weather.

 

Played Big Bear in the fall.. it's a good one to keep in mind if you like blind tee shots, there are a ton of them.  

 

Mountain Laurel is a really fun layout but conditions there can be hit and miss.  

 

Blue Ridge is a great track, Split Rock is decent (27 holes)

 

[SkrappyHacker1]

On 5/27/2021 at 11:01 AM, Chadwickog said:

What a strange experience you seem to have had.. Agree with others that Jack Frost is typically the best of them. 

 

Mount Airy was your favorite? Best course you've played in a while? Which planet are we on?  It's a gimmicky course with copycat holes, the layout is real strange, some of the holes even stranger.  Conditions there are usually decent, albeit every time I've ever played it, it was wet, even in nice weather.

 

Played Big Bear in the fall.. it's a good one to keep in mind if you like blind tee shots, there are a ton of them.  

 

Mountain Laurel is a really fun layout but conditions there can be hit and miss.  

 

Blue Ridge is a great track, Split Rock is decent (27 holes)

 

 

I guess people have different experiences different times of year. Mt. Airy has always been one of my favorite places to play. Always in great shape when I play there.

[Marty86]

So I played both blue ridge and Jack Frost and enjoyed both even though is was wet and raining most of the rounds. Really excited to come back in the summer and try it in real conditions.

 

Blue Ridge - Preferred this course a bit more, I played the Ridge/Blue 9 holes. Ridge was sort of boring but Blue had some really fun holes. The greens were pretty fast even during the wet conditions. 

 

Jack Frost - While I liked it less, there were some fun holes. the #9 par 5 was a really fun hole. The downhill par 3 was fun to try to figure out how much to declub to hit the green as well. Greens were also fast for as wet as it was.

 

Full disclosure, I mostly play the bethpage courses now with some NY and Long Island municipal courses. Greens were very close the Bethpage Red speeds if I were to put a comparison to.

[socccer4life3]

i took a similar trip a few years ago, here is the thread and what people said

 

https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/1377936-poconos-courses/

[buckrogers71]

I'd like to revive this thread as my son and his buddies are headed there this summer. For the most part only 3-4 or them are 12-15, the rest arent as good. Any advice as to wear they should look/book? 

Thanks!

[Bonneville85308]

11 minutes ago, buckrogers71 said:

I'd like to revive this thread as my son and his buddies are headed there this summer. For the most part only 3-4 or them are 12-15, the rest arent as good. Any advice as to wear they should look/book? 

Thanks!

 

Not much has changed golf-wise in the area in the last few years in terms of courses. Shawnee is probably one of the least brutal courses in the area on high handicappers in my opinion. Staying around there would put them within 15 minutes of Great Bear, Glen Brook, and Pocono Hills as well. 

 

 

 

[Wander Bread]

14 hours ago, buckrogers71 said:

I'd like to revive this thread as my son and his buddies are headed there this summer. For the most part only 3-4 or them are 12-15, the rest arent as good. Any advice as to wear they should look/book? 

Thanks!

 

Jack Frost is an awesome course. Fun to play and well maintained but higher handicappers will struggle as it is not an easy course at all.

[GowerND11]

Mountain Laurel closed 

[charli]

On 3/25/2025 at 8:55 AM, Wander Bread said:

 

Jack Frost is an awesome course. Fun to play and well maintained but higher handicappers will struggle as it is not an easy course at all.

False. All false. It’s in the Poconos. Nothing is awesome. 

Edited April 14 by charli

[Wander Bread]

14 hours ago, charli said:

False. All false. It’s in the Poconos. Nothing is awesome. 

 

My group (all 3 - 12 handicaps) had a blast at Jack Frost. And the double transfusions hit the spot from the nice old lady at the bar. 

 

Don't be such a grump!

[charli]

On 4/14/2025 at 10:55 AM, Wander Bread said:

 

My group (all 3 - 12 handicaps) had a blast at Jack Frost. And the double transfusions hit the spot from the nice old lady at the bar. 

 

Don't be such a grump!

That’s how alcohol works. Makes bad things better.