Review: Rich Valley Golf Course (Part 1)

If you've ever driven down Interstate 81 in central Pennsylvania, you'll know Rich Valley. It's a telling indictment of the general quality of the course that the most interesting thing I can say about Rich Valley is "you can see it from a major highway." The second-most interesting thing I can tell you about this course is that the front nine is about as easy and forgiving as golf can possibly get. If you can't turn in a good score after nine here, then that's entirely on you. And believe or not, it used to be easier. I played a few high school matches here 15 years ago (oh god, it's really been that long), so all those small trees along the fairways you'll see in the pictures below? They were a lot smaller in my high school days. In another 15 years, who knows? This course might even be almost threatening. 

The first hole is routed a bit oddly, necessitated by the limited space in this corner of the property. It's just 330 yards and doglegs nearly 90 degrees about 225-250 yards out. If you're a longer hitter and want to go straight at the green, you absolutely could do that. It's not that far, and there's not a huge amount of trouble in the way. For most of us, this hole is a long iron or fairway wood, followed by a wedge up to an elevated green with a single bunker front left.

The first hole.

The first green.

The second hole has technically changed from the last time I played the course. The pond in front of the green, which from the picture you can see is undergoing construction, is actually completely new. It used to be a native area filled with brush. Not a massive change in the grand scheme of things, either way you don't want to end up short, but it's interesting that they changed it. Beyond the pond, this is a straightforward 175-yard par 3. No other hazards beyond the water short and the greens not complicated, so as long you don't chunk your tee shot, this is a pretty easy par.

The second hole.

Having walked completely around the clubhouse, the third hole plays alongside the first, with the tees for the two holes essentially on top of each other. At 340 yards, it's also not a very long hole, with the ideal line off the tee partially obscured by a tree. You can of course bail out with a wood or long iron left and still leave yourself a wedge or short iron for the second shot, so if that tree continues to grow and completely blocks off driver as an option, the hole won't be unplayable. The green is slightly elevated and protected by one small bunker front right. 

The third hole.

The third green.

The fourth hole is the one exception to the front nine's general rule of "hit it literally anywhere and you're fine." The hole is 365 yards and plays between trees right and internal O.B. left, which is something you really don't see very often. Frankly I have no idea why they have it here, it's not like going left gives you an advantage. It certainly didn't stop me from hooking a 3 iron onto the third green. If you're more competent off of the tee, the second shot is a short iron over a large bunker to a semiblind green that runs from front to back. Because of that front-to-back tilt, the bunker behind the green does come into play. 

The fourth hole.

The fourth green.

The fifth hole is how to do a tough par 3 in a not annoying fashion. It's 220 yards and slightly downhill. There are four small bunkers around the green, which is notably domed, falling away from the center on all sides. It's a tough par, but you shouldn't make more than a bogey or double if you mess it up, since there's no severe hazards or opportunity for penalties. Not a revolutionary hole by any means, but it's solid enough.

The fifth hole.

The fifth green.

The sixth hole is 330 yards and is nearly drivable if the wind is favorable. Aside from O.B. right and a tiny fairway bunker left (which can be cleared easily if you use a driver), there's really not much to worry about on the tee shot. The green is slightly elevated and has four small bunkers around it, two on each side. This is the start of a four-hole stretch alongside Interstate 81, and yes, you are very aware of that when you're putting on this green. Trucks whizzing by at 60 MPH about 200 feet away are quite loud.

The sixth hole.

The sixth green.

The seventh hole is 540 yards, making it the longest hole at Rich Valley, something you are acutely aware of when the hole is playing into a generous breeze. This hole is literally as simple as they come. There are no hazards on the tee shot. Just hit it as far as you can. Same for the second shot too. There are two bunkers about 20 yards short of the green, but into the wind most golfers won't reach them, and they're too far away to really worry golfers on their third shot. The green's also pretty simple. 

The seventh hole.

Approaching the seventh green.

The seventh green.

Rich Valley has only three par 5s, and it's interesting that two of them come back to back. This one's 50 yards shorter and actually requires a modicum of thought. Well, on the drive anyway, as the landing area is pinched by bunkers on each side of the fairway. Avoid them and you'll have a wide-open shot at going for the green in two. It's completely undefended aside from the rather deafening traffic noises. If there's a hole here to make birdie on, it's this one. 

The eighth hole.

Approaching the eighth green.

Look out, Pebble Beach, there's a new competitor for most scenic eighth hole.

The ninth hole is a 400-yard par 4 with an odd sort of almost dogleg; the fairway initially bends left around a bunker than turns hard right further up toward the green. Like the third hole, there's an oddly placed tree in play; this one's about 100 yards from the green and can block out shots from certain parts of the fairway. Provided you don't have to worry about that, the second shot is a wedge or short iron to a fairly large green with a long, narrow bunker right.

The ninth hole.

Approaching the ninth green.

The ninth green.

That's it for this week, next week we'll take a look at the slightly more compelling back nine. And you wouldn't want to miss that.