Lehigh Country Club
Architect: William Flynn Year: 1908 2319 S Cedar Crest Blvd, Allentown, PA 18103 Phone: 610-433-7443 Course Access: Private http://www.lehighcc.com/ |
Lehigh Country Club
Lehigh CC was designed by Master Golf Architect William Flynn back in 1927 and is one of the most beautiful and natural parkland courses in the world. Situated along the Little Lehigh (stream) in the rolling hills of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, the course follows a routing that is pure Flynn genius. Eminently walkable, Lehigh features some very dramatic topography and changes of elevation of 105 feet from the lowest point on the golf course to the highest. The design has a collection of some of the best greensites Flynn ever conceived. With three sets of tees ranging from 5500 to 6600 yards and playing to a par 70, Lehigh offers plenty of challenge and enjoyment to all levels of golfers.
There is not an indifferent hole on the course and each one presents its own unique challenges. As we all know, Flynn believed the ground game was integral to a great golf course and Lehigh is no exception. All but three of the greens are often best attacked using the contours of the approaches.
The set of four par threes is second to none ranging in length from 177 yards to 226 yards from the back tees. Each is different and all are difficult but great fun to play. Lehigh’s two par fives are two of the best holes on the course. Both offer risk reward options and tempt the bold golfer to reach the green in two. The 11th is the more dramatic of the two with an 80 foot drop from an elevated fairway to the tiny green below tucked just beyond the Lehigh stream. The par fours offer great variety in shot options and design. The shortish ones in particular, are all a thrill to play and loaded with character.
Huge specimen trees frame holes and fairways but rarely interfere with well-struck golf shots. It’s hard to find a much better walk anywhere! Sling your clubs over your shoulder or take a caddy and Lehigh is as good as parkland golf gets.
There is not an indifferent hole on the course and each one presents its own unique challenges. As we all know, Flynn believed the ground game was integral to a great golf course and Lehigh is no exception. All but three of the greens are often best attacked using the contours of the approaches.
The set of four par threes is second to none ranging in length from 177 yards to 226 yards from the back tees. Each is different and all are difficult but great fun to play. Lehigh’s two par fives are two of the best holes on the course. Both offer risk reward options and tempt the bold golfer to reach the green in two. The 11th is the more dramatic of the two with an 80 foot drop from an elevated fairway to the tiny green below tucked just beyond the Lehigh stream. The par fours offer great variety in shot options and design. The shortish ones in particular, are all a thrill to play and loaded with character.
Huge specimen trees frame holes and fairways but rarely interfere with well-struck golf shots. It’s hard to find a much better walk anywhere! Sling your clubs over your shoulder or take a caddy and Lehigh is as good as parkland golf gets.
Course Photos
COURSE REVIEW BY: CHRIS MAVROS, GOLFADELPHIA
In Allentown, Pennsylvania, sits Lehigh Country Club, designed by William Flynn and opening for play in 1927. Set among the banks and hills on each side of Little Lehigh Creek, the masterful routing is a grand tour of the Lehigh Valley, on display all while you play a few hours of inspired golf. It’s one thing to be able to get dramatic property to work on. It’s quite another in what one does with it. Most of the courses Flynn worked on were set on remarkable property but he always found how to best use it, both in terms of how it plays yet deeper than that, how the round is in harmony with its natural setting, unfolding just like it would as if you were floating down a river. Inspiration, intrigue, strategy, temptation; even tragedy. It’s all within the round, revealing itself slowly, some how in tune with you on each shot.
I found this was certainly the case at Lehigh. Starting out in the hills far above Little Lehigh, the creek finally reveals itself at the Fourth from high above. In fact, much of the valley is in view from that tee, which is the playing grounds for most of the round. From there, you plummet down to the creek, across and up the other side. Circling the hills on that side for a bit, you meet the valley once again from the high banks above on that side. Plummet back down then climb up the other side. And again, yet instead of climbing after crossing a third time, you sidle alongside the creek for a spell before finally coming up in those hills from the beginning holes, where the journey ends. Growing up as a distance runner, it very much reminded me of a cross country course. The starting stages time enough to get your bearings and develop strategy, the thrill and abandon of the steep hill and water, then some time to collect oneself, before doing it all over again. The point is the rhythm of the terrain comes naturally, whether one decides on a civilized round of golf or instead sets out to sprint around them like some kind of raving madman. But really, there’s an ideal path and there’s everything else. This is where Flynn made the difference.... Click Here To Read Hole By Hole
I found this was certainly the case at Lehigh. Starting out in the hills far above Little Lehigh, the creek finally reveals itself at the Fourth from high above. In fact, much of the valley is in view from that tee, which is the playing grounds for most of the round. From there, you plummet down to the creek, across and up the other side. Circling the hills on that side for a bit, you meet the valley once again from the high banks above on that side. Plummet back down then climb up the other side. And again, yet instead of climbing after crossing a third time, you sidle alongside the creek for a spell before finally coming up in those hills from the beginning holes, where the journey ends. Growing up as a distance runner, it very much reminded me of a cross country course. The starting stages time enough to get your bearings and develop strategy, the thrill and abandon of the steep hill and water, then some time to collect oneself, before doing it all over again. The point is the rhythm of the terrain comes naturally, whether one decides on a civilized round of golf or instead sets out to sprint around them like some kind of raving madman. But really, there’s an ideal path and there’s everything else. This is where Flynn made the difference.... Click Here To Read Hole By Hole