By TONY LEODORA
Some golfers enjoy a cold beer (or more) during a round of golf
Others prefer to wait until after the round, while sitting in the comfort of the clubhouse, for their adult beverage of choice. Celebrate the accomplishments on the golf course … or drown the sorrows.
And, of course, there are those who prefer both courses of action.
For a pleasant change, the historic area of Gettysburg suggests more than just a clubhouse pitstop. They suggest an entire tour. And Fall is the best time of year for one of these tours.
Yes, for years the historic tours of the Gettysburg Battlefield have attracted visitors from across the country. But this is a different type of tour – one that should really appeal to visitors who are taking advantage of the excellent golf in the immediate area.
After a round of golf, the folks at Destination Gettysburg, suggest the Adams County Pour Tour. It is the newest attraction in the Gettysburg area – one that shines the spotlight on a trail of craft wine, beer, cider and spirits.
“This is something new in the last few months,” explains Stacey Fox, vice president of Destination Gettysburg. “It took off immediately and has become extremely popular.”
That does not come as a surprise. What’s not to like?
The Gettysburg area already has a great collection of golf courses. They include:
The Links at Gettysburg – Close to the hallowed grounds of the defining battle of the Civil War, the course sprawls across rolling hills. The natural features on the property enhance the layout. There are 35 steep rock cliffs, offset by stone-lined tee boxes. There are also 10 lakes and waterfalls that come into play throughout the course.
Mountain View – This well-kept course is one of the most player-friendly in the area. It provides nice views of the nearby mountains and is a great value. The course stretches to 6,420 yards from the tips and is very walkable.
Carroll Valley – This interesting golf course is now part of Liberty Mountain Resort, which provides accommodations for golf in the summer and skiing in the winter. The 6,600-yard layout features rolling terrain and is intersected by picturesque Tom’s Creek. The course boasts a very unique design – with five par 5 holes and six par 3s.
Penn National – Just a few miles outside town, in Fayeteville (PA) is a 36-hole resort that provides comfortable and convenient accommodations and two very different golf courses. The Founders Course and the Iron Forge Course have been called the Yin & Yang of daily fee golf. Founders was designed by Edmund Ault in 1966 and Iron Forge was the work of Bill Love in 1997. Two distinct styles.
If that seems like a nice bit of variety … you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
The Adams County Pour Tour includes 14 different partners – all throughout Downtown Gettysburg and the surrounding countryside. Places like Reid’s Winery, Thirsty Farmer Brew Works, Brookmere Wine and Tasting Room, Battlefield Brew Works/Spirits of Gettysburg Distillery and Mason Dixon Distillery are just some of the stops along the trail.
Destination Gettysburg has made the Tour fun by creating a Passport that allows visitors to collect stamps along the way and become eligible to win prizes. Grab the Passport and a Trail Map and explore (responsibly, of course) the liquid treasures of the area.
Of course the Adams County Pour Tour gets even better by adding the many interesting accommodations and restaurants throughout the area to the list of golf courses. Toss in the colors of fall and call it the ultimate Stay, Play, Wine and Dine.
Full details can be found at www.destinationgettysburg.com.
