Area golf courses offer a variety of challenges

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The fairways might look a little greener even though they’re not.

Those hooks and slices won’t be that bad all things considered.

And if a putt ends up a few inches short, it’s better than no putt at all.

Area golf courses opened Friday as Governor Tom Wolf gave the OK after shutting them down in March. It’s a late start, and there are some restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s better than waiting even longer.

If golfers can gain any solace from the month-long closures, it’s that April’s weather was miserable. Cold, wind and rain would have made for horrible conditions and, perhaps, some golf establishments shutting down all or parts of their courses. And as if in one final defiant act, April dumped anywhere from 1-3 inches in the area on its final day Thursday.

Hopefully, May’s weather will be bettter … it would be a challenge to be any worse than April.

So to help those heading out, here’s a list of public golf courses in the area. There’s also over a dozen private courses, but we’ll stick to links accessible to everyone.

First, a couple note:

• The list was compiled using mostly information gleaned from golf course websites. Where courses had no website, other sources were used.

Every effort was made to make the list as accurate as possible, but there is a chance of an error or two. We’ll take a Mulligan if any are found.

• Public courses offer an incredible variety.

Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor has an 18-hole layout, but also has a 9-hole, par 27 pitch-and-putt course. Sleepy Hollow Golf Course in Greenfield Township is a bit of a drive, but does offer an extra hole. Yep, 19 holes of golf for the price of 18 holes.

• Most golf courses offer walk-up players, but with so many golfers itching to play it’s best to call ahead and reserve a tee time. It’s also best to do so a few days in advanace.

• The Center of Disease Control has guidelines courses must follow including social distancing, one golfer per cart and masks in certain areas. Clubhouses, pro shops and restaurants/bars will remain close. Restaurants can offer takeouts.

Golfers might also find some kind of filler in the cups to prevent the ball from dropping in completely.

• Two courses have closed since last year.

Twins Oaks, a 9-hole course in Dallas, was sold in January. The new owners have no plans to open the course this year, according to the course’s Facebook page. Scranton Municipal Golf Course closed its doors earlier this week.

ARNOLD’S GOLF COURSE

490B West Third Street

Nescopek

18 holes/5,132 yards, par 70

Phone: 570-752-7022

Website: arnoldscourse.com

BERWICK GOLF CLUB

473 Martzville Road

Berwick

18 holes/6,469 yards, par 71

Phone: 570-752-2506

Website: berwickgolfclub.com

BLUE TRAIL GOLF COURSE

260 Country Club Drive

Mountain Top

Blue: 9 holes/3,548 yards, par 36

Ridge: 9 holes/3,547 yards, par 36

Trail: 9 holes/3,417 yards, par 36

Phone: 570-618-8500

Website: blueridgetrail.com

EDGEWOOD IN THE PINES GOLF COURSE

22 Edgewood Lane

Drums

18 holes/6,721 yards, par 72

Phone: 570-788-1101

Website: edgewoodpa.com

EMANON COUNTRY CLUB

543 Old State Road

Falls

18 holes/5,665 yards, par 70

Phone: 570-388-6112

Website: emanoncc.com

FOUR SEASONS GOLF CLUB

332 Slocum Ave.

Exeter

18 holes/5,524 yards, par 70

Phone: 570-655-8869

Website: none

HOLLENBACK PARK & GOLF CLUB

1050 N. Washington St.

Wilkes-Barre

9 holes/2,341 yards, par 32

Phone: 570-821-1169

Website: wilkes-barre.city/department-public-works/parks-recreation/pages/golf-courses

HOMESTEAD GOLF COURSE

Route 106

Carbondale

18 holes/4,821 yards, par 67

Phone: 570-282-5197

Website: none

JACK FROST NATIONAL

Route 940 and Jack Frost Mountain Road

Blakeslee

18 holes/7,256 yards, par 72

Phone: 570-443-2414

Website: jackfrostnational.com

LAKELAND GOLF CLUB

Route 107

Fleetville

9 holes/1,525 yards, par 32

Phone: 570-945-9983

Website: lakelandgolfclub.weebly.com

LEHMAN GOLF CLUB

80 Golf Course Road

Dallas

9 holes/2,351 yards, par 34

Phone: 570-675-1686

Website: none

MARJON GOLF CLUB

1360 Griffin Road

Roaring Brook Twp.

9 holes/2,691 yards, par 35

Phone: 570-842-7922

Website: facebook.com/MarjonGolf/

MORGAN HILLS GOLF COURSE

219 Harveyville Road

Hunlock Creek

9 holes/3,040 yards, par 36

Phone: 570-256-3444

Website: morganhillsgolfcourse.com

MOUNTAIN LAUREL GOLF CLUB

100 Mountain Laurel Drive

White Haven

18 holes/6,747 yards, par 72

Phone: 570-443-7424

Website: mountainlaurelgolfclub.com

PINE HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

140 South Keyser Ave.

Taylor

18 holes/6,150 yards, par 71

9-holes, par 27

Phone: 570-562-0138

Website: pinehillscc.net

ROCK CREEK GOLF COURSE

Route 374

Nicholson

18 holes/4,616 yards, par 67

Phone: 570-222-2500

Website: none

ROLLING PINE GOLF COURSE

335 Golf Course Road

Berwick

18 holes/6,469 yards, par 72

Phone: 570-752-1000

Website: rollingpinesgc.com

SAND SPRINGS COUNTRY CLUB

10 Clubhouse Drive

Drums

18 holes/6,390 yards, par 72

Phone: 570-788-5845

Website: sandspringsgolf.com

SHADOWBROOK INN & RESORT

201 Resort Lane

Tunkhannock

18 holes/5,907 yards, par 71

Phone: 1-800-955-0295

Website: shadowbrookresort.com

SKYLINE GOLF COURSE

118 Petrilak Road

Greenfield Twp.

18 holes/4,695 yards, par 66

Phone: 570-282-5993

Website: skylinegolfcourse.net

SLEEPY HOLLOW GOLF COURSE

140 Sandy Banks Road

Greenfield Twp.

19 holes/5,546 yards, par 72

Phone: 570-254-4653

Website: sleepyhollowgolfcourse.com

STONE MEADOWS GOLF COURSE

310 Buck Road

White Haven

18 holes/5,200 yards, par 70

Phone: 570-472-3870

Website: none

STONEHEDGE GOLF CLUB

55 Stonehedge Drive

Factoryville

18 holes/6,600 yards, par 71

Phone: 570-836-5108

Website: stonehedge-golf.com

SUGARLOAF GOLF CLUB

18 Golf Course Road

Sugarloaf

18 holes/7,006 yards, par 72

Phone: 570-384-4097

Website: sugarloafgolfclub.com

SUMMIT HILLS GOLF CLUB

1235 Country Club Road

Clarks Summit

18 holes/6,004 yards, par 72

Phone: 570-586-4427

Website: none

THE CLUB AT THE HIGHLANDS

Highland Boulevard

Archbald

9 holes/2,500 yards, par 35

Phone: 570-521-4660

Website: clubatthehighlands.com

WEMBERLY HILLS GOLF CLUB

66 Club House Lane

Olyphant

9 holes/2,944 yards, par 36

Phone: 570-563-1902

Website: wemberlyhills.com

WILKES-BARRE GOLF CLUB

1001 Fairway Drive

Wilkes-Barre

Phone: 570-472-3590

Website: wilkes-barregc.com