If you’re driving through Moosic, Pennsylvania, specifically heading toward the Montage Mountain area, you might miss the entrance. It’s tucked away. Private. Almost unassuming for a place that has spent years being whispered about in the same breath as the best tracks in the country. Honestly, Glenmaura National Golf Club doesn't need to shout. It has the terrain to do the talking for it.
Most people think of Scranton and they think of The Office or coal mines. Golfers think of rock. Massive, jagged outcroppings of orange and gray stone that define the visual identity of this Hurdzan/Fry masterpiece. It’s a beast. Built in the early 1990s, the course was carved out of the mountainside with a level of aggression you just don't see in modern "minimalist" designs. It’s bold.
What Actually Makes Glenmaura National Golf Club Different?
It isn't just the exclusivity. Plenty of clubs are hard to get into. What sets Glenmaura apart is the literal physical elevation change. You aren't just playing golf; you're navigating a topographical map that looks like a crumpled-up piece of paper.
Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, the architects behind the layout, had a specific vision here. They didn't want a "resort" feel. They wanted a championship test that felt like it was discovered rather than manufactured. Interestingly, despite the dramatic cliffs and the drops that make your stomach do a somersault, the course is remarkably fair if you can hit it straight. If you can’t? Well, the local pro shop probably does a brisk business in ball sales.
The club opened in 1993. Since then, it has hosted numerous prestigious events, including the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) tournaments where future PGA stars cut their teeth. It was a staple on the Nationwide Tour (now the Korn Ferry Tour) for years. Players like Jim Furyk and Stewart Cink have walked these fairways. They’ll tell you: the greens are lightning. They are often described as "glassy," and if you find yourself on the high side of the hole on a hot July afternoon, a three-putt is a very real, very painful possibility.
The Famous Three-Hole Stretch
You can't talk about Glenmaura without talking about the "Waterfall Hole."
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The 15th is a par 3 that feels like it belongs in a painting. You’re hitting over a massive ravine toward a green framed by a cascading waterfall. It’s iconic. But the real meat of the back nine starts even earlier. The 13th and 14th holes force you to respect the mountain. You're dealing with side-hill lies that would make a mountain goat nervous.
One thing most people get wrong about Glenmaura is the idea that it's just a "mountain course." It’s actually quite technical. You can’t just bomb a driver everywhere. There are spots where a long iron is the only smart play because the fairway just... ends. Or it turns 90 degrees around a wall of rock. It’s about target golf.
Life Inside the Gates
It is a private club. That means if you don't know a member, you're likely looking at the gates from the outside. The membership isn't just local Scranton folks; people travel from Philly, New York, and Jersey to maintain a membership here. Why? Because the pace of play is a dream. You can often play 18 holes in under three hours if you're moving. That’s the luxury of a truly private, low-volume club.
The clubhouse itself is understated elegance. It’s not a sprawling, golden-fauceted palace. It’s wood, stone, and locker rooms that smell like cedar and expensive Scotch. It feels like a retreat. The staff knows the members by name, and the dining room serves a steak that rivals anything you'd find in Manhattan.
The Hurdzan-Fry Legacy in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a golf state. We have Oakmont. We have Merion. Those are the historic, flat(ish) cathedrals of the game. Glenmaura National Golf Club represents the modern era of Pennsylvania golf. It’s the "new" classic.
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When Hurdzan and Fry designed this place, they were working during a period where "stadium golf" was popular, but they pivoted toward "nature golf." They used the natural stone as hazards. Instead of digging a bunch of artificial bunkers, they just left the boulders where they were. It’s brilliant. It saves on maintenance and looks intimidating as hell.
One specific detail often overlooked: the drainage. Mountain courses usually turn into swamps after a heavy rain. Not here. The way the course was engineered allows water to shed off the slopes rapidly. You can have a morning downpour and be playing off tight, dry turf by 1:00 PM. That’s a testament to the construction quality that happened back in the 90s.
Is it Really That Hard to Play?
Yes and no.
If you are a 20-handicap, Glenmaura will be one of the longest days of your life. The forced carries are real. You have to be able to carry the ball 150 yards over junk just to reach some of the fairways. However, for a low-handicap player, the course is a "second shot" dream. The fairways are actually wider than they look from the tee box. The challenge is the approach. Because the greens are tiered and fast, being in the wrong "quadrant" means you're basically guessing on the break.
The wind also plays a massive factor. Since you're high up, the gusts coming off the valley can change a club selection by two or three numbers. You might hit an 8-iron on a par 3 one day and a 5-iron the next. It’s a thinking man’s game.
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Misconceptions About the Club
- "It’s just for the wealthy elites." While it is a private club with an initiation fee, the culture is surprisingly "golf-first." It’s not a social club where people go just to be seen. People go there to play.
- "The course is too short." It’s around 7,000 yards from the tips. On paper, that’s standard. On the mountain? It plays like 7,400. The uphill holes are grueling.
- "It’s a cart-only course." Most people do ride because the treks between holes are significant, but there are a few purists who walk it. They usually have very strong calves.
The Future of the Club
As we look at the landscape of Pennsylvania golf in 2026, Glenmaura remains a anchor. It hasn't tried to "modernize" by adding goofy features or lengthening it to 8,000 yards. It knows what it is. It’s a rugged, beautiful, and punishing test of golf that honors the Northeast Pennsylvania landscape.
The maintenance standards have actually improved over the last decade. The bunker sand is pristine, and the fescue areas are managed so they're penal but not "lost ball" every time you miss a fairway by a foot. They’ve found a balance.
How to Get on (The Real Strategy)
Look, honestly, if you want to play Glenmaura National Golf Club and you aren't a member, you have three real options:
- Charity Outings: Every year, a handful of local charities host tournaments here. It’s the most expensive "charity scramble" you’ll ever play, but it’s a guaranteed entry.
- The Reciprocal Play: If you are a member at another high-end private club, have your Head Pro call their Head Pro. This is the "secret handshake" of the golf world. It works more often than you’d think.
- The State Amateur Circuit: If you’re a high-level stick, watch the Pennsylvania Golf Association (PAGA) schedule. When they hold qualifiers or mid-am events here, anyone with a low enough handicap can register.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
If you do manage to snag a tee time, keep these things in mind to avoid looking like a total amateur:
- Aim for the middle of the green. Seriously. Don't pin-seek. The slopes will funnel a good shot toward the hole, but a "great" shot that misses its spot by two feet will end up 40 yards away in a bunker.
- Watch the grain. Even though these are bentgrass greens, the mountain "pulls" the ball. Putts generally want to break toward the valley, regardless of what your eyes tell you.
- Pack extra layers. The weather at the top of the mountain is often 5 to 10 degrees cooler than it is down in Scranton. If it’s breezy, it gets chilly fast.
- Respect the rock. If your ball is near one of the outcroppings, don't try to be a hero. You’ll snap a wrist or a club shaft. Take the drop.
Glenmaura National isn't just a golf course; it’s a landmark of the region. It proved that you could build a world-class facility in a place formerly known for industry and grit. It’s refined grit. It’s the kind of place that stays with you long after you’ve turned in your scorecard and headed back down the mountain.
Make sure your short game is dialed in before you go. You'll need it. The mountain doesn't give many breaks, but the view from the 18th green at sunset makes every double-bogey worth it.
Next Steps for Golfers:
Check the current Pennsylvania Golf Association (PAGA) tournament schedule to see if any upcoming "Open" or "Amateur" qualifiers are slated for Glenmaura. If you're looking for a membership, contact the club’s membership director directly for a private tour; they occasionally have openings for "National Members" who live outside a 50-mile radius at a different price point.