Green Hills Golf Course is a Public, 9 hole golf course located in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania.
Green Hills Golf Course first opened for play in 1933. The course was designed by Sir Robert White of St. Andrews, Scotland.
Green Hills Golf Course was built in 1933 by a famous Prohibition-era bootlegger named Max Hassel. The story begins when Max Hassel was denied membership to the Berkeley Country Club in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. As a result, Max set out to create his own golf course using the area surrounding his Robeson Township estate as his location. His goal was to design a strictly private club that only he and his guests would enjoy.
Max Hassel commissioned Sir Robert White of St. Andrews, Scotland, to be his course architect. White was already well known at the time, being the first president of the PGA of America. His accomplishments include Pine Lakes, the first golf course in Myrtle Beach, the Berkeley Country Club, where Max was barred as a member, and even Merion Country Club in Philadelphia, where White served as one of the consulting architects. Green Hills Golf Course was completed in 1933, the same year that Max Hassel was killed in a cross-fire with other mobsters.
Green Hills Golf Course is a unique and challenging masterpiece. It was designed in the 1930s by Sir Robert White. White was commissioned by the legendary bootlegger Max Hassle to create an upscale, private club that would require sound strategy and precise shot-making, yet be fair enough for a novice.
Being that White was from St. Andrews, Scotland, he incorporated many themes that are typical from that region of the world: rolling hills, natural roughs, deep bunkers, and the utilization of pure contours. One of the most notable features are the intricate green complexes. Each green is guarded by deep bunkers and areas that demand a flawless short-game. Luckily, they also contain bailout areas that smart golfers can play for in the event of a poor approach shot.
Every season, the greens are heralded to be among best in the area. They are fast, lush, smooth, and brilliantly designed. Each green is inundated with all kinds of breaks which make them extremely fun to putt on.
Throughout the course there are "green zones" that consist of natural, British Isles-style grasses. They are tactically positioned to force the golfer to strategize.
Green Hills Golf Course plays to a 9-hole par of 36 and a maximum distance of 3,408 yards. Each hole has 4 tee positions with the foward tees measuring 2,326 yards.
$21 (cart included), played on Sunday, June 2010 at 6am
This golf course is a true gem of Berks County. The design is equivolent to many of the great Philadelphia area courses (Aronymink, Merion, etc.). I've played many of the world's top-ranked courses, and this no doubt levels with the best. The greens roll truer than any other course I've experienced (including Pebble Beach, Monteray/Carmel, and St. Andrews, Scotland). It truly is a shot-maker's delight, offering a wide range of choices tee to green, and (if your level permits) I recommend playing the course at least once from the tips- it is the only known affordable tract I'm aware of that will give you a legitamate PGA tour-like experience (just e prepared to shoot a higher than normal score!). Great staff, great conditions, and great experience- I'll definately be back!
Latest Golf Course Reviews
$10 (cart included), played on Friday, March 2014 at 8am
This is a nice course and EXCELLENT PRactice course. The pace of play is relaxed so you can move as fast as you want. The Layout is tough there is no such thing as an even lie at Green Hills but that really gets you practicing difficult lies. Sand Traps could be improved but in the last few years they really made some nice renovations. It is only a nine hole course but with different Tee boxes you can play 18 and feel like you play 18 different holes! The first two holes are a par 5 and the second has a MEAN slope to the left right into Pine trees a fairway splitting drive can end up in the 3rd fairway! But this is all part of the challange of this course.