Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club Blue Hole #1 By John Zimich
Flaming Foliage. Pleasant temperatures. In many cases reduced rates. That plus getting in a
stress free round of golf in four hours or less.
In most cases that’s what a golfer finds during the upcoming fall season following the long
Labor Day holiday weekend.
And there is no better places to find the brilliant colors of fall than in the Pocono Mountains
and in the mountain area of Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club and the Wilkes-Barre Golf Club.
Spectacular fall colors can be seen almost on every hole when playing the Great Bear Golf
Club or sister course Shawnee on the Delaware. The latter has 27 holes nestled on an island
along the waters of the Delaware River.
Great Bear is a signature course designed by Jack Nicklaus.
“Fall is certainly a great time to play golf in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Chris Wegner,
head golf professional at Great Bear. “Both our course and Shawnee are in great shape and we
have already aerated the greens in preparing for the fall season.
“We have great specials, particularly when it comes to acquiring new memberships. We’re
a golf club with all the amenities of a private one. But we still are open to daily play.”
Wegner said Great Bear and Shawnee have several sets of tees that can cater to the scratch
player and high handicapper. He added that unlike some other mountain venues there are no
blind approach shots to the greens at Great Bear.
Shawnee Golf Resort Blue Hole #2 By Matt Siptroth
He noted that after a slow start to the season because of the weather Great Bear has
exceeded monthly expectations during the summer months and is hoping the trend continues
through the months of September and October.
Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club, located in the mountains near Nuangola, is another 27-holde
masterpiece of Ault, Clark and Associates. The latter architectural firm also designed Toftrees at
State College, The Woods Course at Kingsmill, Va., and the TPC at Avenel in the Washington
D.C. area.
Carved out through the woods and valleys, one also will find spectacular fall vistas when
playing the 27-hole layout.
“Unlike some clubs, we continuously blow the leaves off our fairways,” said Tony Barletta,
club manager at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club. “The course is always in great shape and the vistas
of fall are unmatched.”
He noted that the 27 holes are the best he has seen in his 17 years at the helm of Blue
Ridge.
“All of the projects, including drainage work, that have been carried out over that period
are certainly paying off,” added Barletta. “After a slow start because of weather we have had a
tremendous year and it will continue until we close for the season.”
Other great courses to play in the Pocono Mountains with spectacular vistas of the fall
include layouts like Pocono Manor, Pocono Farms, Mountain Laurel, Buck Hill Falls Golf
Club, Skytop Lodge Golf Club and Pinecrest Lake Golf and Country Club.
