Pennhills Club (Bradford, PA) [revised]

I originally wrote bout Pennhills Club in November of 2015, but I didn't have any pictures for my blog so I decided to revisit it. This course deserves to be seen by everyone who calls themselves a golf affianado. Nine holes are designed by Walter Travis (2-10), seven holes by Dick Wilson using Travis' blueprints (11-17), and two holes by the club itself (1&18) to start and end the course by the clubhouse. 

(Pennhills boasts a very impressive clubhouse designed by Clifford C. Wendehack whose work graces Winged Foot, Bethpage, and Ridgewood.) 

 Last year when I was at Conewango Valley, I was having a lengthy discussion with the head professional and during our conversation, he mentioned if I wanted to see a crazy set of greens, then I needed to check out Pennhills Club in Bradford. I laughed because I have played this course several times, and indeed the greens need to be seen to be believed.

(The par four seventh is named the "bathtub green". This view is from behind. The front is a lower tier, then it rises to a back tier. The back tier has a "tub" in the middle, making a horseshoe around this indentation...

...this side view gives a better visual. Unless one is stone dead on the approach, the putt or chip is very difficult. They even put the flag in the tub. It's a perfect example how a green can completely make a great hole!)

(The par five thirteenth sports a bariattz green. The front and back tiers are separated by a swale. This is the best one I've personally seen.) 

I read Walter Travis focused on the four corners of his greens. He felt the best pins are placed in those quadrants, and the player who just plays to the middle is not guaranteed a two putt par. However, the player who is overly aggressive and misses is left with a very difficult recovery shot. Birdies and pars are earned, so knowing when to be aggressive and when to throttle back is important at Pennhills. 

(The 213 yard par three second has contours in the middle on both sides. The terrain leans a bit to the left, so bunker in foreground is close to where a low runner lands to skirt onto the green. A par is an excellent score...

...this is photo from back left of two green. Note the distance of the bunker from the green. The steep slopes feed the ball right to it, making for a very difficult bunker shot. This style of bunkering is prevalent throughout the Travis nine.)

(The 445 yard fifth is a very good hole. A creek fronts and guards the left side...

...this photo back right of five green shows all the nuances of Travis' holes. Any time one is close to the edge, the possibility of finding trouble is there.) 

One of the things I love about Pennhills is the intimacy of the tee boxes. It ranges from a simple walk from the previous green, to a beautifully secluded marker.

(Men's tee next to bridge; womens front)

Dick Wilson is credited with the additions to Pennhills, however, he used Travis' routing and his blueprints. This is important to know because the flow never stops, but rather it moves gracefully upon the terrain.  

(Wow! Just look at that green! A back right and back left tier separated by a slight swale that has a front and rear flat. Twelve is 467 yards, and besides the treacherous green, a creek crosses the fairway 250 yards off the tee. While it's listed as a par four, I would take five any time I played it.) 

(The 426 yard island fairway fourteenth is well known. The creek crosses the fairway twice, and the player must decide how close he wants to drive it near the water. The option to carry both is about 270 yards. Most are hitting 200 yard approach shots!) 

(The 224 yard par three seventeenth has a vicious green comprised of two bowls. Like the twelfth, this half par hole is one where a three feels like a birdie and a four like a par.) 

There are a few things I would criticize. The first is the conditioning. The greens are beautiful, but the fairways are a tad too long for my taste. The second is the ending. Eighteen is only 305 yards. One of the creeks crosses about 210 from the tee, so even a hybrid leaves a wedge approach. 

(The Wilson holes have a different bunkering style. They're pushed up next to the putting surfaces. This makes them more in play but easier to play a good recovery shot.) 

I originally gave Pennhills a five, but after seeing it again, I'm wondering if it should be a six. The greens were so cool, they transcend the few complaints I have towards it. Several greens I didn't even discuss, like number three with it's rumpled tiers, and the fourth where a pimple like feature dominates the left side. If one were to amble over to Bradford, one would not be disappointed. 6 (very good)(worth two hr drive)

(Little features like bridges enhance the experience of playing golf. Pennhills has several throughout.)