I am relatively new to the Pittsburgh area (I moved here for grad school a little over one year ago). It looks like I will finally has some time to play this spring and I would like to find a good "homebase" for playing/practicing. I am looking for a recommendation for a club to join. These are the general things that I value:

A) A good driving range / putting green / mid-range practice facility
B) Good course (obviously) with back tee yardage > 7000 yards
C) I would love to get into a good game with quality players

It doesn't really matter if it is private or semi-private...but since I am in school I can't afford 20k a year.....

I really appreciate any help you guys can provide.

Thanks!

Joel

oakmont, hehe

i agree....if only i had money and connections

I live in Pittsburgh and I'm a caddymaster at a Private Club. I need a little more info to begin helping you.

-What area of Pittsburgh will you be living?

-How much is feasible for you to spend a month?

-What would be the MAX you would spend on initiation if any?

I know the area pretty well and could help you. Let me know.

I have a great deal for you at my former club in the North Hills $125/month paybale in 2 installments. But course is only 5,900 yds, and the range is 160 yd. max. Great super fast small greens though with penal rough. Good collection of Par 3's.

awesome place, played it many times great course. Range is just ok, pretty much your hitting straight up a hill, but has a short game area.

http://www.birdsfoot.com/

OAKMONT !!!!!!!!!!!!! If you have the means the USGA highly suggest it.

Ya birdsfoot also, I am going to get a season pass this year, my buddies and I are also recent college grads and always looking for new games.

It all depends where you are living. If you are out my way Birdsfoot isnt bad at all. More information is needed!

From talking with him I think he lives in Squirrell Hill.

the only other place i can think of that fits the requirements listed would be Quicksilver golf club in Midway Pa off of 22 west toward Weirton , its over 7000 yrds , has a decent practice facility and i beleive you can get a membership without large monthly payment or bond , as of who plays there ..dont know as it's one of the higher priced daily fee courses in the area .


ps .. i also thought of Deer Run but i didnt think they had a practice range or facility ?????

yeah i was going to recommend this course as well I play there prob. 2-3/mnth. so if any of you want a game let me know i have played with other members of wrx and the "other" site always a great time

Squirrell Hill to Quicksilver is alittle of a hall. Nice place though, he could always try South point but i think it is pricey. BirdsFoot is a alittle bit of a hike but membership isnt to pricey.

I believe it's a lot easier to travel to Quicksilver from Squirrel Hill than Birdsfoot , i know as i live in that area , i like Birdsfoot but getting there takes forever at times , as for Southpoint , it's private unless that has changed this year , if you live this area the closest decent public course is 20 to 30 minutes anyway so i just got use to travelling , and as for the CC's they just cost way to much which is a shame as places like Edgewood or Churchill are nice and are 10 to 15 minutes away at most but are price wise out of reach for most golfers

I think that if you live in Squirrel Hill one of the closer courses would probably be Longue Vue Club. It might be more pricey that your looking for but it has a nice range, nice 7000+ course, short game area, and great clubhouse
Just my 2 cents

Oh yeah I live 5 minutes away from Longue Vue and am going to be a caddy there so I'm a little bias

You could try Alcoma Country Club in Penn Hills not sure if it is close to 7000 yards but does have a range. I dont think it is to pricey as for my Grandmothers neightbor belongs there and he isnt loaded at all.

I never thought of that one but it thought i went public a few years back ?? There is also another one i forget which is Duquesne Club in West Miifflin it's public under another name now but i dont know about length, a range or the price as even though from me it's 15 minute or so away ive never been there

I was told to try Totter Ridge it is long and difficult has a range and isnt overpriced.

There is always Grande View hehehe

Cranberry Highlands is a nice course in the northern area of the city in Mars/Cranberry. Pretty easy course if you're in the fairway but extremely deep and thick rough. Fun Course with a decent range.

Thanks for all of the feedback. I am going to start a survey of courses as soon as we get above 45*.

Where is your favorite local golf shop? Is there one that carries a good range of clubs (I have been to The Golf Shop....just like to have options)?

Thanks again!

As of local West Pa golf shops , there is not many ... The golf shop , Dicks sporting goods , there is one in Butler that i dont remember the name and Corsi's in Greensburg , i believe that is it in the Pittsburgh area i dont call any of them a favourite but we are very limited ,obviously there are CC pro shops but they want top $$

I am surprised how few options there are for golf stores. Thanks for the suggestion on the two shops.....I will have to find them this weekend....

I dont think it meets your requirements, but I would recommend playing Olde Stonewall. Has anyone played this course. I did a few years ago and loved it!

I haven't but know a few people who have and they have nothing but good things to say. I have played cranberry highlands and really enjoy that course. As for the OP I agree with Birdsfoot, wouldn't be to bad just take 28 North. Traffic thru Harmar will suck but after that you're home free. Alcoma did go public, it's about 5 minutes from my house but last year three of the greens were ruined and for 45 on a weekend it didn't seem worth it. If you get a break from school, on Mondays I could probably get you out with me and a friend to Fox Chapel for free. Hes a caddy and bring whoever since they are closed that afternoon. That is one of my favorite courses I have played in this area. Totter Ridge is also a wonderful course, very difficult, but I think you have to know somebody.

Im from the Philadelphia area but I played Longue Vue last summer in the State Amateur. Tough course they had the rough super deep and the greens lightning fast. I dont think its over 7000 but that doesnt really matter bc the course is definitely over 6800 and will test you everyday. Really enjoyed playing it. It definitely offers some "long views", the view off of the 4th tee is spectacular. I think its the 4th. downhill par 5. But for some reason i think it may be a bit of a stretch pricewise??

Couldn't agree more. This was our home course when I played at Carnegie Mellon. Really cool layout and lots of good holes...short and long par 4's, 2 & 3 shot par 5's, rough par 3's. Great track, and maybe the 2nd best greens in Pittsburgh (aside from Oakmont).

Birdsfoot is a good deal.. but a horrible practice facility, straight uphill.. the course is decent. Players arent really prevalent at birdsfoot. You really need to check out Totterridge. One of the best/most difficult courses, great practice facility, great players and a pretty good price. It is in greensburg. If you want a good cheap course, check out St. Jude.. no practice range but good price and great course also some of the best Am players in western pa.

Other than the super exclusive clubs like fox chapel, oakmont, field club... ect I would check out St. Jude and Totterridge... depending on where you live.

try shannapin cc or even wild wood but shannapin a a great hilly course that is truly a challange and is one of my favorites!

Another thumbs up for Totteridge!

http://www.totteridge.com/

The Golf Shop in Robinson hands down. Golf Galaxy was a close 2nd, but it closed up for good too bad.

I just got a job @ Shannopin CC.

Is totteridge public (doesnt look like it from their website)? it does look really good....

the golf shop is big, sterile and super corporate. dicks should stick to sporting goods. they don't carry alot of players stuff. they are margin ho's. when golf galaxy was open it was much better. and when second swing was open there were three shops in 1 square mile. it was great. now the golf shop scene is dominated by dicks,... both literally and figureatively.

Totteridge is not a public facility , and i believe membership there comes with a high price tag

I'm not sure where in the PGH area you are residing, but there is a New golf opportunity near the Airport called Shadow Lakes (formerly Beaver Lakes CC). Saposedly they are offering a package to the public that includes a very reasonable social membership, which allows access to the course. Our league was offered a great deal to move to the course for 2008 and has accepted.

If your not familiar with Beaver Lakes CC, it is one of the top course in the PHG area and has held several USGA events to include the U.S. Am qualifier.

You can Google "Shadow Lakes Aliquippa" for more info. The Post-Gazette has a recent article.

I'm sorry, Ive played there numerous times in qualifiers tri state opens etc.. and it is not a top course in the PHG area... I dont know who voted on that one.

Try Montour. Great course!

I guess that depends on your taste in golf, Gimmicky Overrated Tourist Attractions or A Solid Old Style true test of the game. If you played there in Numerous Qualifiers, Tri-State Opens, Etc. there must have been a good reason that site was chosen to hold those events.

I just played Pittsburgh National the other day and loved it. It's semi-private, but has great clubhouse and restaurant, and the course is in awesome shape. 7000 yards too.

On another note, I live about ten minutes from Cranberry Highlands, and I'm not a huge fan. So far this year the course has been in pretty poor shape... long bumpy greens and renovations all over the place. My high school team at Seneca Valley plays our home matches there. I can tell you this though: it's EXTREMELY overpriced. It's just not worth fifty or sixty bucks to play that course on the weekend.

YOUGHIOGHENY COUNTRY CLUB IS A GOOD TRACK. SHORT BUT FAST GREENS AND DEEP ROUGH AROUND THE GREENS. ITS IN ELIZABETH