Galen Hall Golf Club

Most challenging local course I've played. Moderate to high rough, fast greens that are difficult to read, and uneven lies.
Length isn't a factor but putting the ball in the proper spot is.
Overall good conditioning. Some basic distance markers would be helpful and the cart paths are sub par. Staff is friendly.
The turn is remote but food and drink are available.
In short, this course is a great test. Old school layout in a scenic area, a good value and definitely worth playing.

I really enjoyed the rolling terrain and challenging greens. Although short it made me use all of my clubs. Reachable par 5's are always fun for us weekend golfers. The rough was US Open like but without the staff and fans to find your ball. The "Moat" was the reason I went and I loved it. And got par unlike my playing partners who were local..

I stopped here on my way back to the Philadelphia for a late afternoon round (Thanks GolfNow!) and had a great time. It was a really fun course to play for the first time. There are a lot of long, blind holes and a spectacular island green par three as well. I played in the lat Fall and found the course to be in immaculate condition. Everyone at the Clubhouse was super friendly, and they have some pretty neat built in beverage coolers recessed into the bar.

Best summary of this place is that if it wasn't more than 90 minutes from my house I would definitely be playing here a lot more!

. Overall, course was in decent shape, especially for the season. Value for the money was great. Staff friendliness is hard to rate because they were hard to find and rarely in the shop.

A WONDERFUL OLD WELL MAINTAINED GOLF COURSE THAT IS NOT ONLY CHALLENGING BUT SITS IN A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION.THE GREENS ARE FAST AND VERY DECEIVING GEAT COURSE

Definitely will play it again. Greens are tough and fast. I love the moat hole.

Of all the courses I've played, this one stands out because of some very unusual holes.

Hole #2 is a par 5 with a blind uphill drive that goes about 120 yards, then a 45 degree slope downhill for 350 yards. And you have to hit it over a road. Then on hole #3, you get to hit an approach shot over another hidden road that's carved out from the slopes.

Hole #4 is a 195 yard downhill par 3 if played from the back tees (170 from whites). The green is protected by a creek about 35 yards in front. If you don't know your club distances, your ball might take a bath, or have to settle for a layup.

Hole #15 is a 193 yard par 3 if played from the back tees (132 from whites). Unless you can positively land it on this 30 yard diameter island green completely surrounded by water, you have to lay it up.

Hole #14 is a long 453 par 4. On your drive, there is a diagonal creek that requires you to either curb your drive or hit a super long drive. That leaves a 195 - 220 yard second shot. But then there's a second creek that runs about 100 yards in front of the green, plus a hazard right in the middle of the fairway. Needless to say, this is the toughest hole on the course.

Hole #17 is a steep 184 yard uphill par 3 from the back tees (168 from whites). Most people may hit a driver and overshoot it. If the pin is placed in the front side of the green, chances are any over-putting will see your ball roll off the green.

In many occasions, the greens are carved out from the base of hills. If you happen to land your shots on the banks, it will take imagination and luck to make a good shot.

Overall it's a pretty tough test. You are constantly hitting either uphill or downhill. The fairways are in good shape. On the greens, the colors look patchy but putt smooth with good speed. This might be the ultimate test of your skills.

This course is madenning and fun at the same time. If I did not know better, a masachistic Scottsman (more likely PA Dutchman in that area) is responsible for this root canal of a course. There is not a flat spot on this course and especially the greens are extremely challenging and the pin placements were brutally ridiculous and unfair. The cart paths need a ton of work - especially on the back nine. The carts themselves need major attention to the brakes due to severe downhill extremes on this course on the front and back.
There was no water on the course till hole 17 and the snack shack and the availability of hot dogs that were supposedly on special were non-existent. The snack shack was unmanned and closed. The vending machine at the snack shack did not even work. They comped us some fries at the bar after the round to compensate which was not neccessary but appreciated.
You cannot be in some of the rough and score. The bunkers are brutal around some of the greens and the slope on some of them - especially the par 3s will break your hot on even good shots! This course will make you curse and seduce you into thinking that you can shoot so much better the next time. This is not reality because I went back later that week for an even better price through golfnow.com and I was even worse on this flipping mess of a course. I will go back though and shave off at least 10 strokes.
You have to be straight and long is not a big requirement here. Accuracy is vital and very difficult with the lies you will have - even in the fairway. Enjoy!

the course as a whole has many surprises from a terrain perspective but overall the course is a joy to play and a challenge for all skill levels