Olde Stonewall Golf Club- Ellwood City, PA

Before playing the course, I really didn’t know what to think of Olde Stonewall. The whole Medieval theme, complete with a castle clubhouse, felt a bit contrived and gimmicky; giving the impression of more show than actual substance. A Vegas creation. However, given the reviews, and my proximity to the course that weekend, I decided to give it a shot, despite the steep greens fees. It was excellent.

Designed by course architects Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, the course opened to rave reviews in 1999. Carved out of old farmland and wooded hills along the Connoquenessing River, over 750,000 tons of cubed stones were used to line the holes, explaining the name that doesn’t quite seem to go along with the course’s overall theme. Kept in impeccable condition, it is an impossibly scenic course, with fantastic elevation changes on the back nine. It is definitely worth playing at least once, with off season rates presenting a better value.