The 10 Best Golf Courses in Pennsylvania – Rated By Real Players
Pennsylvania offers 655 golf courses throughout the State and the variety on offer will cater to everyone keen on testing their ability.
Selecting the 10 best golf courses in Pennsylvania is an onerous task, considering the number of tracks.
This task has been eased with a collaboration with TheGrint, our favorite mobile app that helps golfers track their handicap and stats. They have collected golf course reviews from millions of real golf rounds from real golfers.
Ranking in order 1 to 10
- Oakmont Country Club
- Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
- Aronimink Golf Club | Aronimink
- Philadelphia Cricket Club At Flourtown | Wissahickon
- Applebrook Golf Club
- The Ace Club
- Huntingdon Valley Country Club | Toomey/Flynn
- Hartefeld National Golf Club
- White Manor Country Club
- Bedford Springs Resort | Old Course
1. Oakmont Country Club
- Site Link
- Location: Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
- Par: 70
- Length: 6,632 meters off the Tips and 5,688 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 99.8
Fun Rating: 99.6
Shape Rating: 100
4 tees options available.
Signature Hole – The picturesque 442-meter par 4 18th is the signature hole and requires accuracy off the tee.
The fairway zig-zags between the menacing bunkers and the approach shot must be length perfect, to make a 2 putt par.
When a golf course is rated as one of the most difficult in North America, it will attract all skill levels to take it on.
The infamous church pew bunkers spread throughout the layout, are included in the staggering 175 traps players have to negotiate.
A shot-makers dream and be prepared to use every club in the bag.
The gnarly natural grass lines the fairways and is rather penal.
Hard and fast-sloping greens require a deft touch to score well.
A must-play course.
2. Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
- Site Link
- Location: Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.
- Par: 71
- Length: 5,994 meters off the Tips and 5,758 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 99.4
Fun Rating: 98.8
Shape Rating: 100
2 tee options available.
Signature Hole – My choice of signature hole is the 393-meter par 4 16th.
A quarry cuts into the right side fairway and is in play for the long hitters.
The second is played over the quarry to a difficult green.
Set in a valley, the course plays through rolling hills, and elevation changes as some of the holes climb the slopes to the top edge of the valley.
Sandy Creek rears its head on several holes and distance control will avoid dunking.
A feature is the 5 strong par 3s that are all solid holes.
The quick, tilted greens bring on their own challenges.
3. Aronimink Golf Club | Aronimink
- Site Link
- Location: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
- Par: 71
- Length: 5,995 meters off the Tips and 5,758 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 99.2
Fun Rating: 98.4
Shape Rating: 100
2 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 197-meter par 3 17th is the signature hole and plays downhill to the green.
It is an exciting hole and a precise long-iron or hybrid should reach the green.
Pull it left and it will roll into the lake.
Bunkers protect the right side.
This course has every challenge a player could want.
It is long and the elevation changes make it a test of the long irons or hybrids.
Doglegs both ways, 2-tiered greens with a variety of shapes and sizes, plenty of bunkers, and the natural rough, keep the concentration levels going.
Distance control and accuracy are well rewarded.
Bring your best game you have!
4. Philadelphia Cricket Club At Flourtown | Wissahickon
- Site Link
- Location: Flourtown, Pennsylvania.
- Par: 70
- Length: 6,507 meters off the Tips and 5,036 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 98.7
Fun Rating: 97.4
Shape Rating: 100
7 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 398-meter par 4 14th is the signature hole and is a stern test to make par.
An accurate tee shot sets up for an approach shot to a 7 bunker protected, tilted green.
Pull the right club for the approach and be rewarded.
The facility hosts 3 18-hole courses and each has its character.
Wissahickon has contoured greens that need to be conquered to score well on this track.
Some are narrow, others large and undulating with ridges running through them.
Risk and reward tee shots and approaches make for an interesting strategic plan.
The ability to move the ball both ways in the air is a definite advantage on the layout.
An exciting round of golf awaits.
5. Applebrook Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Malvern, Pennsylvania.
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,229 meters off the Tips and 5,342 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 98.6
Fun Rating: 99.5
Shape Rating: 97.6
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 283-meter par 4 3rd is the signature hole and offers many strategies.
The bold player will go for the green with the driver, whilst the conservative play is a 3-wood or long iron.
A pot-bunker in the center of the fairway must be avoided, and the green-side bunker and ridge on opposite sides of the green, make a tough up-and-down.
A classic-style design, using the natural terrain to create a well-balanced golf course.
Designed for the walker, this layout will be enjoyed by all skill levels.
Risk and reward par 4s, lengthy par 5s, and challenging par 3s make up the challenge.
Water, natural bush and grasses, twisting fairways with strategically placed bunkers require a strategy to overcome.
The raised, slippery, well-contoured greens are a challenge on their own.
6. The Ace Club
- Site Link
- Location: Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania.
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,229 meters off the Tips and 4,475 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 98.3
Fun Rating: 97.0
Shape Rating: 99.5
6 tee options available.
Signature Hole – This course has multiple signature holes which include the 352-meter par 4 5th, with its stunning views.
The 407-meter downhill par 4 11th, with the approach shot over the lake, is another challenging hole.
A Gary Player designed course which is long and has serious drops in elevation, plus forced carries.
The Schuylkill River is used extensively to temp the bold player on many holes.
Gary Player is renowned for his love of risk and reward holes, and this layout will not disappoint
Multi-tiered greens with some pretty tough pin options create excitement.
7. Huntingdon Valley Country Club | Toomey/Flynn
- Site Link
- Location: Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania.
- Par: 70
- Length: 6,402 meters off the Tips and 5,238 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 97.3
Fun Rating: 97.3
Shape Rating: 97.3
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 420-meter par 4 9th is my choice of signature hole.
It plays downhill to a right to left sloping fairway, with a creek crossing the fairway just short of the green.
The raised, bunker-protected green requires a precision shot to make par.
A real tester!
This 27-hole facility allows the player to choose the combination he wishes to play.
The Toomey/Flynn combo offers outstanding holes as it weaves through a wooded bowl down to the creek.
Undulating, sloping, tree-lined fairways are protected by strategically placed bunkers.
The natural grasses are penal and the raised contoured green complexes are challenging.
Accuracy and strategy are keys to scoring well here.
8. Hartefeld National Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Avondale, Pennsylvania.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,366 meters off the Tips and 5,117 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 97.3
Fun Rating: 97.1
Shape Rating: 97.6
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 181-meter par 3 6th is the signature hole and is no pushover.
An accurate long iron or hybrid will get you home to the largest and most undulating surface on the course.
The priority is to carry the water off the tee and avoid two penal bunkers.
A beautiful setting for a golf course worthy of taking up the challenge for any skill level.
Designed on gently rolling terrain, the layout offers a good variety of holes and green complexes to test the ability of all.
Doglegs both ways, natural grasses, tree-lined fairways with trees placed strategically throughout the layout add to the challenge.
The bunker-clusters are intimidating and water comes into play as the round progresses.
Play from a tee that suits your game.
9. White Manor Country Club
- Site Link
- Location: Malvern, Pennsylvania.
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,449 meters off the Tips and 5,165 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 96.7
Fun Rating: 96.9
Shape Rating: 96.5
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 154-meter par 3 is the signature hole and plays slightly downhill to the green.
Carry across the pond that then wraps itself around the left side is the 1st priority.
Two penal bunkers lurk on the left.
Get the distance right.
A modern-design track that combines beauty with a challenge.
Slight undulating tree-lined fairways, with slopes, are generous on some holes, but tighten up as the round progresses.
Strategically placed bunkers, doglegs both ways, fescue grass, and a stream that meanders through the layout make for exciting golf.
Ponds rear their head during the round and accuracy from the tee and distance control are required to score well.
10. Bedford Springs Resort | Old Course
- Site Link
- Location: Bedford, Pennsylvania.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,202 meters off the Tips and 5,505 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 96.7
Fun Rating: 96.9
Shape Rating: 94.4
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 204-meter par 3 4th is the signature hole that plays uphill.
Besides the length, accuracy will help avoid a big number if the green is missed.
Steep slopes on either side of the green feed the ball down and a “pickpocket” touch is required to get up and down.
The layout has been revamped a few times but a few of the original holes still exist.
Many holes play alongside the waters of Shobers Run, and although the track is short by modern standards, it is spectacular.
Risk and reward holes tempt the brave player to take on some of the challenges off the tee.
Besides the creek, strategically placed mounds, bunkers, wetlands, and native grasses keep the player in check.
The green complexes are interesting.
Other courses outside the top 10
1. Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
- Site Link
- Location: Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 96.5
Fun Rating: 97.1
Shape Rating: 95.9
The wide-open fairways are deceptive for the player daring to hit the driver all day.
Cluster bunkers lurk throughout the course, and a creek meanders through the layout.
Raised greens with deep bunker surrounds are challenging.
2. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort | Mystic Rock
- Site Link
- Location: Farmington, Pennsylvania.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 96.3
Fun Rating: 97.4
Shape Rating: 95.3
Set in the Laurel Highlands, the resort offers 36 holes of championship golf.
The Mystic Rock course is long and challenging to all skill levels.
Sahara-type bunkers and tree-lined fairways play to rolling greens, which are testing.
3. Rolling Green Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Springfield, Pennsylvania.
PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 95.9
Fun Rating: 95.9
Shape Rating: 95.9
Rolling fairways framed by tall trees and the raised heavily bunkered greens are a great challenge to all skill levels.
The doglegs require tee-shot placement and the uphill second shots to the greens, add distance on the approach.
Variety is on offer throughout the track.
Final Thoughts
Playing golf is a wonderful pastime and the masses that participate throughout the world keep the game alive.
Visiting and playing the extensive variety of courses on offer in Pennsylvania, will challenge all who are prepared to match their skills against the offering.
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Nick Lomas is the founder of GolfSpan, an avid golfer, not quite a pro but has over 15-years of experience playing and coaching golfers from all over the world. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience then it comes to choosing the right golf gear, and finding the right set up for your game.