Galen Hall Golf Club

I have played here before but the conditions seem to be getting worse. The cart paths are awful. The bunkers need attention. Quite a few torn up parts of turf. The layout is fun but it will be hard to come back if other conditions don’t improve.

1st round of the New Year. Got a day in the 40’s in January. Course is 1 1/2 hours away but worth the trip. I read a lot of reviews both positive and negative but the draw of Tillinghast made it worth a try. And the Gordon’s have done some really good design/restoration work in the area so what the heck.

Pro Tip: Take a cart if you’re not in tip top shape. The last couple of holes will kick your butt. Straight up hill. I was the only walker i saw. Should’ve been an indicator.

Course was very wet. Top inch or so was frozen. There’s no place for the water to go so it was a quagmire. The entire course was casual water. A few of the greens were so frozen it was like hitting to Macadam. Happened on the first hole. I hit pin high and bounce well over the back off the green almost OB.

Other than that, we really enjoyed playing Galen Hall. A couple of holes are quirky. The most called out hole is #2. It’s a blind tee shot with a road crossing through it. Playing for the first time is what made it the most challenging. We had no real idea where or how far to hit it. The third hole also has a road running through it that you cants see.

The par threes are very challenging. There are five of them and they are among the most interesting and challenging collection of any course. The 7th was a real short par 3 of about 140 yards that played to more like 175 given the uphill, wind and temps. The green is very small and is crazy hard with severe slope. The most hole 15 is one of the hardest “island” greens I’ve ever played. 185 from the back with no margin for error. The 17th is about 175 uphill and plays more like 205. Good luck. I needed oxygen after walking up this hill.

I’ll be back to play this is warmer temps with more receptive greens. It’s a blast.

I really like the layout. The elevation charges and the course's relationship with the topology is fantastic. My son thought the back was better and the front was not his favorite but I thought both front and back were equally enjoyable,. The teeboxes were pretty beat up but the fairways were nice, The greens were slow but I think the conditions for this time of year were better than could be expected for an inexpensive muni.

I love this course, BUT today I find out the Golfnow price is like $5.00 More than what they were charging at the course. Also, #4 which is a beautiful, tough par 3 had a closed green for some reason, so it was reduced to a Frankenstein created semi mowed rough/fairway green with a hole in the middle...this was unplayable period and RUINED the round which I was playing great other than this which the people in the group said to just pick your ball up once on the green and take two putts. It was horrible. Not going back until next year when they fix it.

Interesting and challenging course. Course was in great shape

Greens were ok. Some of the tees are dirt. The bunkers have a lot of rocks and stones. The replacement superintendent added some new bunkers a few years ago must to make it tougher to play also added high grass around them I think he forgot to add sand in them. Goose droppings on some greens and fairways the cart path on two hill is a death run. I was told numerous carts have rolled on the path. One last thing they tore the restrooms down and there are none to use.

Cart path on two is very dangerous. The bunkers have tons of stones in them and the new bunkers have tall grasses around them which slows play while you hunt for your ball the new superintendent has made the course even harder to play. They tore the restrooms down at hole 12 and nowhere to go.

Played Galen Hall with 3 of my brothers today, conditions were tough (high 50s, rainy and very windy) but we had a great time. I wouldn't say the course is in great shape but it's a phenomenal course regardless. The layout is very interesting and challenging, incredible value for the price. If I didn't live over an hour away I'd play this course all the time.

got roll on the fairway, but unfortunately, the greens weren't holding. That's golf! it took some skill to get up and down.

The course had some significant changes in elevation and blind shots. The greens were also small compared to easier courses. These attributes, along with some tilted fairways added to the challenge. I truly enjoyed my first play on this course and will be back to enjoy the challenge again. If you are a golfer looking for a different experience I would recommend this course.

The attached photo is from the second hole green up toward the significant fairway hill.

Amazing Findlay/Tillinghast design !
They are turning over in their graves as the course was jammed with tight interval tee times. 5+ hours was brutal !
Snack bar at the turn was closed despite being told it would be open - hungrier than normal after waiting on every shot !
Course could use some TLC on the tees and traps, but I can overlook that based on their operating budget - but no ranger in sight all day is inexcusable as they are bringing in increased revenue and admittedly were understaffed.
What a conflicted day enjoying the deign on almost every hole and then getting frustrated with the wait on every hole !

A lot of ups & downs. Greens in great shape. Tee boxes & fairways in good shape. Some cart path problems.

I always enjoy this course. It has a good layout, with several interesting holes. The course demands that you hit the ball to the correct place, as The ball will run completely off some of the sloping fairways. The greens have a lot of undulations, and can be severe on some holes. Friendly staff, and a nice outdoor area set up under the pavilion for a beer afterwards.