Riverside Golf Club (Cambridge Springs, PA)

I knew I arrived two weeks too soon when the lady behind the counter only charged me $15 to walk eighteen holes. The course was just coming out of its winter hibernation and the lack of drainage didn’t  allow them to cut their fairways. The greens however looked just fine although they putted slow. Despite the spring thaw, the course had enough interest, especially on the back nine, to warrant my trip. 

Riverside was designed by Englishman Herbert Lagerblade. (Lagerblade was the first competitor to use steel shafted clubs in a US Open) He completed nine holes for the Riverside Hotel in 1915 and returned to add a second nine in 1923. It originally was a par 69 but they stretched a couple holes bumping it up to a par 71. The front nine is the more difficult side, boasting three par threes over 180 yards including the 236 yard sixth. The 427 yard par four fifth and the 436 yard par four ninth are no slouches either.  Things change quickly on the back as the land becomes more rolling with concepts that demand nuance and strategy. The tenth for instance has a wall of sand that covers most of the hill. Even though the green is twenty yards beyond, the giant hazard will throw off your depth perception. The 128 par three eleventh is cool. The tiny target sits by itself with falloffs on every side. Don’t forget to take a peek at the par three thirteenth as you leave eleven tee box.  The green crashes from the back to front and might be the steepest putting surface you’ll ever see! 

(The 351 yard par four tenth is visually striking as the bunker captures your gaze from the tee box. The green does not extend as far as the sand and is actually smaller than the hazard would have you believe.) 

(The 128 yard par three eleventh is a “Short” template with a serious false front. Any shot that fails to hit the green will leave the player scrambling for par. Long is death! This is my favorite hole on the course.) 


(The 193 yard par three thirteenth is the one hole you won’t believe. The green descends from the side of eleven tee. Note the golfer in picture and how the green rises above him!) 

I’m using the Penn-Ohio Golf Trail as a guide to play courses I haven’t seen yet, and Riverside is the first.  I’m actually familiar with the area, and I have played both Culbertson Hills in Edinboro and Venango Valley in Venango, two courses that are close by. Unfortunately I didn’t get to experience it at its best. Courses of this ilk (110 years old) usually have cool architecture, and while the back nine had its moments, most of it was pretty straightforward. Nonetheless, the layout is solid and a fine challenge. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-40 minutes to play). 

[I played the white tees at 6,019 yards. Or at least I think I did. They didn’t have any tee markers out. The course conditions were very soft, and you could hear the water draining towards the creek that snaked through the property. I hit some good shots, but the driver is still giving me issues. There were three par fours I couldn’t reach in two. Ok score for the time of year.]

(While not in use today, this halfway house sits where nine tee and eleven tee meet.)