You’re driving up through the winding gaps of Middle Smithfield Township, and suddenly the trees open up to this massive, rolling expanse of green. That’s the Country Club of the Poconos golf experience. It’s weird, honestly. Most people hear "Poconos golf" and they think of flat, resort-style fairways where you can spray the ball anywhere and still find it. This place? It’s the total opposite. If you aren't ready to lose a sleeve of balls by the fourth hole, you might want to just stay in the clubhouse.
It's a Jim Fazio design. That name carries weight in the golf world, mainly because Fazio doesn't really believe in "easy." He built this track into the side of a mountain, literally.
The Reality of Playing Country Club of the Poconos Golf
Let's get the big thing out of the way: the elevation changes are brutal. You’ll stand on a tee box where the fairway looks like a thin ribbon of green a hundred feet below you. It’s intimidating. You’ve got wetlands, rock outcroppings, and thick Pennsylvania forest hemmed in on every single side. If you hit a slice, don't even bother looking for it. The woods here swallow golf balls whole.
The course plays as a par 70. That might sound short on paper—it tips out around 5,900 yards—but those yards are deceptive. You're rarely hitting from a flat lie. You’ll have the ball above your feet, then below your feet, then you’re hitting a 7-iron that needs to travel like it's a 5-iron because the uphill slope is so steep.
Why the Layout Divides Opinion
I’ve talked to locals who play here every week, and they love the "target golf" aspect. You can't just whale on a driver. You have to think. However, if you talk to a high-handicapper who just wants a relaxing afternoon, they might tell you it’s a nightmare.
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The greens are usually in decent shape, but they're fast. And because they're built on a mountain, the breaks are subtle and mean. You think a putt is going left, but the "mountain effect" pulls it right toward the valley. It’s a mental grind.
The Environment and Value Trap
One thing that genuinely surprises people about Country Club of the Poconos golf is the wildlife. You are basically golfing in a nature preserve. It’s common to see black bears scurrying across the 14th fairway or hawks circling the ridge. It adds a layer of "wow" to a round that you just don't get at a municipal course in the suburbs.
But here’s the kicker regarding the "Country Club" name. It’s a public course. Don't let the name fool you into thinking you need a silver spoon and a blazer to get on the first tee. It's accessible. It’s affordable. Sometimes, honestly, it’s a bit too affordable, which means on a Saturday in July, the pace of play can crawl. If you get stuck behind a group that insists on looking for every lost ball in the brush, you're looking at a five-hour round.
The Infamous Back Nine
The front nine is tight, sure. But the back nine is where the course really shows its teeth.
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There are holes where you're forced to lay up because of massive ravines. You have to trust your yardage book or your GPS. If it says 160 to the edge, play it to 150. The wind whips through the gaps in the hills and can knock a ball down mid-flight. It’s basically a chess match with grass.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Amenities
People show up expecting a Five-Star resort experience because of the "Country Club" branding. Manage your expectations. The clubhouse is functional. The grill room serves a solid burger and cold beer, which is really all you need after getting beaten up by the terrain for four hours. It’s a "golf first" kind of place.
- The Pro Shop: Small, but they have the essentials.
- The Staff: Usually local folks who know the course inside and out. Ask them where the pin is on 18; they’ll tell you the truth about how much it actually breaks.
- The Cart Path: Hold on tight. Seriously. The paths are steep and winding.
Is it Worth the Drive?
If you’re coming from New York City or Philly, it’s about a two-hour haul. Is it worth it?
If you want a challenge and a scenic view that feels like you're deep in the wilderness, then yes. If you’re a beginner who struggles to get the ball airborne, you might find it frustrating. There aren't many "bail-out" areas. You either hit the shot, or you're dropping.
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There’s a certain satisfaction, though, in carding a good score here. A par on some of these holes feels like a birdie anywhere else. You’ve earned it. You navigated the rocks, the trees, and the slopes.
Tactical Advice for Your Round
To actually enjoy Country Club of the Poconos golf, you need to change your strategy. Forget your ego.
- Leave the driver in the bag on the shorter, tighter par 4s. A 4-hybrid in the fairway is infinitely better than a 300-yard drive that’s currently being inspected by a squirrel 40 yards deep in the oak trees.
- Watch the weather. Being in the mountains means the weather shifts fast. If clouds gather over the ridge, it’s going to rain in ten minutes.
- Buy the extra balls. Seriously. Even the best players lose a few here.
- Aim for the center of the green. Don't hunt pins. The tiered greens are treacherous, and being on the wrong level is a guaranteed three-putt.
The course represents a specific era of golf design where "difficult" was the primary goal. It succeeds at that. It’s rugged. It’s a bit unpolished in spots. But it’s authentic Poconos. It doesn't try to be a manicured Florida course. It’s a mountain course, and it wears that identity on its sleeve.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning to head out, check the local tee time aggregators first, but always call the pro shop to verify the "aeration status." Nothing ruins a mountain golf trip like showing up to freshly punched greens.
Book a mid-morning tee time to let the mountain fog burn off, or you'll be hitting into a white wall on the first few holes. Dress in layers; the temperature at the top of the ridge can be 5 or 10 degrees cooler than in the valley below. Pack a high-quality rangefinder with slope adjustment—without it, you're just guessing on the elevation, and at the Country Club of the Poconos, guessing usually leads to a double bogey.