South Park Golf Course (Pittsburgh, PA)

South Park was designed in 1929 by Emil Loeffler with advice from Oakmont founder William C Fownes. Allegheny County had a sprawling piece of land with rolling hills and desired to build one of the finest municipal golf courses in the country. Their ambition was recognized five years later when the course was awarded the 1934 USGA Amateur Public Championship. (David Mitchell 5&3 over Arthur Armstrong) 

(The banked fairway on the 423/400 yard par four fourth plays downhill before climbing steeply uphill to a strong back to front sloped green. It is rated as the most difficult hole on the front nine.) 

South Park is a dramatic golf course that plays across heavily sloped land. The holes angle across the ground, cambering left and right while tacking up and down the hills. The golfer is trying to access the proper line that will keep his ball in the fairway while gathering additional yardage. The ascending approach shots are none too easy, with a variety of lies and stances to play from. This doesn’t take into account the extra yardage the elevation adds. The greens are thankfully not too difficult. The round or oblong putting surfaces pitch forward with a simple strategy that allows keeping the ball below the hole an acceptable ask. More challenging are the subtle rises that can make chipping or putting formidable. All these characteristics give the course a distinct personality. 

If one had to nitpick, the overwhelming use of the uphill approach shot, often playing two clubs longer, is used on multiple holes (3,4,5,9,11,12,14,18). Besides being tedious, this repetitive shot makes one wonder is the best routing was employed. Granted, Loeffler’s lay of the land philosophy culminates in such holes, but there was an opportunity to use the ridgelines differently. As is, the best holes are the ones that play along the ridge, like the par three sixth, par four seventh, and par five tenth. The one shotter across the valley at eight is probably it’s more recognizable hole. That leads to another quirk that is enjoyable. Both eight and twelve have dual greens that alter the holes playing characteristics significantly. Each one has its own strategy and there’s definitely a sense of wonder as you arrive at the tee box in anticipation for which green the flag is on. 

(From the middle tee, the par three eighth plays either 135 yards or 198 yards. While the shorter green is below, the longer one is above. This can be two completely different holes.) 

Loeffler’s love for the long par three is seen a few times. The 192 yard sixth and 240 yard thirteenth are two examples of this. Seeing how idolized Oakmont’s drive and pitch par three eighth is, this template is seen at every course Loeffler designed. Mercifully, there is plenty of fairway short of these greens, and the player with a good short game can layup and save par. On both eight and fifteen, the greens are benched on a hillside and are reasonable distance. (Reading the pamphlet for the hole descriptions in 1934, neither the upper green on eight nor the back tee on fifteen are original. Since I’m down this rabbit hole, I ll also note a few other things. The course started on what is today’s seventeenth hole. The first hole on the nine hole course was actually the third. The sixth was an astounding 245 yards, still a par three. And the ninth hole was 441 yards, playing to the practice putting green. The addition of the clubhouse in 1938 initiated the changes including the nine hole course across the street and the new first hole used today. The clubhouse was designed by Pittsburgh’s own Henry Hornbostel. The classic two story brick building has a geometric shape opening in the middle and is his homage to the pyramids he saw while visiting the Yucatán in Mexico.) 

(The 192/187 yard par three sixth is ringed left, right, and behind by traps. Note how the C shaped bunker in foreground is above the putting surface while the others are below it.) 

South Park was a most worthy course to visit! It’s history fascinated me when I was researching it and it was an added bonus to find great material allowing me to look back on its beginnings. Presently, it is a very strong course, and the new superintendent has it in excellent condition. Even though I played in the late winter months (March) the course still played beautifully. The county keeps the price point very reasonable, and I would say value wise, it’s excellent. Tee times are difficult to get for good reason. I give South Park a solid 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).