Review: Mayapple Golf Club (Part 2)

It's time to check out the back nine at Mayapple, go here to see the front.

The tenth hole is a mid-length par 4 that's pretty straightforward. There are fairway bunkers left, but with all the world to miss right, those bunkers hardly present much threat. The second shot will be a wedge or short iron up to a semiblind green where the only real bad miss is one long. Other than that, the green is wide open.

The tenth hole.

Approaching the tenth green.

The tenth green.

The eleventh hole is 160 yards and plays to a large, shallow green that, kind of like the fourth, is slightly elevated above its surroundings. There's also a bunker short left, just like at the fourth. At least the green is different, though in general the eleventh is kind of just repeating what the fourth hole already did.

The eleventh hole.

The twelfth hole is 370 yards and is quite possibly the friendliest driving hole in existence. Technically the fairway isn't that wide, of course, this isn't St. Andrews, but there is just nothing for you to worry about on your drive. The green is a little bit better defended; while it is quite large there are bunkers left and behind, so the wedge second shot isn't a complete cakewalk. Still, this is a very easy hole.

The twelfth hole.

Approaching the twelfth green.

The twelfth green.

The thirteenth hole is 385 yards, and it's certainly more interesting than the previous par 4s on the back nine. The fairway bends hard right around mounding about 250 yards out; if you take on the mounding, you can cut a lot of distance off this hole, leaving just a partial wedge on the second shot. Play safely, and the small green here is a much less inviting target.

The thirteenth hole.

The thirteenth green.

The fourteenth hole is a 420-yard par 4, which is decently long. Unfortunately, that's about all this hole has to offer, as the hole is completely bunkerless. There are some pine trees close in to the right side of the fairway which you obviously want to steer clear of, but considering the green is tilted to be more receptive from approach shots from the left, there's really no reason to come anywhere close to that right side.

The fourteenth hole.

Approaching the fourteenth green.

The fourteenth green.

The fifteenth hole runs parallel to the previous hole and, while it's 35 yards shorter, is a much tougher hole. For one, there's O.B. running down the left side, but even beyond that, there are two fairway bunkers very much in play. If you want to go with an aggressive driver, a draw threaded between them is very much the play. Otherwise, a 3 wood or long iron to the wide portion of the fairway out to the right is safe, though it will leave a tough second shot, as this green is on the small side, tilted more than most of the greens at Mayapple, and has three bunkers around it, two right and one left. 

The fifteenth hole.

Approaching the fifteenth green.

The fifteenth green.

The sixteenth hole is quite a short hole at 320 yards, though I wouldn't exactly call it drivable. You could try, I suppose, but with dense trees left of the fairway yielding to a pond by the green, any sort of hook will result in a penalty. A fairway wood or long iron is the smarter choice here, and does a lot to take a big number out of the equation. This could be a birdie hole, but I think the risk is not worth the reward; better to take par and go.

Also, there's a long bunker right of the fairway, but for reasons unknown to science, the cart path runs between it and the fairway. Not much of a hazard, in my opinion, but what do I know?

The sixteenth hole.

Approaching the sixteenth green.

The sixteenth green.

The seventeenth hole is the shortest hole at Mayapple, playing 140 yards over a pond. Obviously, that's kind of the dominant feature here. I'm sure a lot of people end up where my brother and I did, on the right front corner of the green (or just off it). It's a safe spot, and getting up and down from there isn't too difficult. Unless you need to make up some shots on your opponent quickly as the round draws to a close, there's no reason to challenge this flag. Play for the par, and you'll be much happier for it.

The seventeenth hole.

The seventeenth green.

The eighteenth hole is 420 yards, just like the fourteenth, but this hole is actually mildly interesting. Mildly. The fairway is quite wide, but there's a large bunker left and O.B. in the form of the driving range right, so you don't have unlimited space. A good drive will leave a shortish iron up the hill to a semiblind green with a bunker behind, oddly enough. I don't imagine it gets too much action, but it is at least present and gives you something to think about.

The eighteenth hole.

Approaching the eighteenth green.

The eighteenth green.

It's another strike against central Pennsylvania public golf, because Mayapple is very much not a quirky or interesting course. No, it falls pretty solidly on the boring side of things, which I suppose is better than being bad. And it's certainly more interesting than Rich Valley, its neighbor a few miles north. That is a very, very low bar to clear, but it does manage it.

Unfortunately, Mayapple really loses when it comes to price; it cost $50 per person to walk, and even for a weekend, that is way too much for what Mayapple offers. Penn National costs about the same, and those courses are way, way more interesting and better maintained than Mayapple. Halve the price and I'd consider playing here again, but until then, you're better off playing elsewhere.