Springwood Golf Club

$16 (cart included), played on Tuesday, July 2016 at 9:45 AM

Our group of travelling seniors played here Tuesday, 7-12-16 after being re-routed from our preferred course, Heritage Hills (we had scheduled tee times there a full week in advance, but upon arrival, were informed that there was a long-scheduled scramble happening, so we were involuntarily shuffled off to Springwood. Had our group not been so large and travelled so far, we would have declined. As it turned out, we should have gone elsewhere.)

When we got to Springwood, we were met with a $20 fee, which we thought was a concession to our having been relocated. Not so - it was because the course is an unholy mess as a result of construction and re-routing. We were given a crude hand-drawn map of the revised layout, and off we went. Not a fun experience: some new holes that were built years ago but never used, some new holes entirely, and some butchery of previously employed holes. Cart paths, of course, have not been redone, so one can wander around without any assistance; no on-course help/ranger, either. The current situation is supposed to last only a few weeks as new drainage is put in to accommodate homes being built around the course. However, we could not get any sense of whatever "the plan" may be.

Our recco: STAY AWAY until this mess is worked out...probably at least a month from now, say 9-1-16 or later.

$36 (cart included), played on Friday, June 2013 at 2pm

Great layout and good condition. Very good value for the price

$26 (cart included), played on Monday, May 2011 at noon

I really like the layout of the course - has a little bit of everything. Was great when it first opened and is still very good, but could be even better with just a little sprucing up. One of the best public courses in York county IMO.

$21 (cart included), played on Tuesday, August 2008 at 10am

I have previously rated this course, about a year or so ago. Our group returned 8-31-10, and the course is much improved, thanks to the new management team. Still very tough, and underrated on both slope and rating IMHO.

Springwood Golf Club is not a course for someone who has persistent troubles hitting it staight, or who might be intimidated by sight lines off the tee.

Conditions today were pretty good. Fairways are really excellent, especially considering the brutally hot summer we've had. Greens were good, held the ball well, putted medium fast and true. A few greens had burned spots on them, but mostly around the edges, so minimal impact on play. First-cut rough was a little longer than is comfortable: probably should lower the mowers an inch or so. Bunkers were terrible: little sand, and LOTS of rocks. ON the bright side, new golf carts!

Clubhouse operations have imroved dramatically in the last year. Kitchen is now open for lunch, and service is very good. We traditionally have a couple of pitchers of beer and french fries, with a few guys getting sandwiches. Positive reviews all around: a pitcher of Yuengling Lager is $8, and a good-sized order of fries is under $3, all served with a smile.

We recommend Springwood!

$41 (cart included), played on Tuesday, September 2009 at 10am

Excellent course for the money. It is always in great shape.

$10 (cart included), played on Tuesday, July 2009 at 10am

Course was in fantastic shape other than the sand traps, too many rocks in them. Used tee time golf pass for price. Course is worth $35 - $50 easily. Nice bar and food.

$10 (cart included), played on Tuesday, April 2009 at 10am

Our group of travelling seniors played here 4-28-09, a warm and breezy day, for only $15 per person. We used the Tee Time Book, which gets you one free play, paying only the cart fee of $15. Afterwards, it is $28 with the TT Book, and that is still a pretty good rate for this fine layout.

Springwood is only about ten years old, but has had a checkered past, as shown on the website http://www.hhgr.com/swhistory.html. The course is very well designed, but suffered serious neglect and is only now beginning to be restored to the level it deserves by the current management team.

Design: very challenging with lots of verticality, close-in rough, occasional water, and enough sand to keep one honest. No two holes look alike, which is nice at this price range. Tee boxes are large, flat, and usually tiered. Fairways are pretty wide in the landing area, but in many cases, there is not much room for error off the short grass. Greens are moderately large, most are irregulalry shaped, all are contoured, and a few are tiered (notably #18). Bunkers are plentiful, as befits an Ault design. Almost every hole has serious trouble close behind the green: it is much better to be short than long on this course.

Course is not walkable for seniors.

Conditions today were less than perfect: tees, bunkers and fairways were OK, but the rough is very juicy with lots of clover, making it very hard to find a ball. Greens were terrible: aeration had occurred at least two weeks earlier, but the surfaces had not been rolled, sanded, or cut, so every putt was a mystery: entertaining to watch, but tough to score. When we arrived, the guy in the pro shop said that the greens had been aerated, but were back in shape...NOT!!

Pro shop is small, with limited supply of "stuff." Snack bar dos not exist: beverage bar is opne at about noon, and has a full liquor license (not every PA course has this, due to blue laws), but no food is served until after 4:00 PM. These hours are not particularly helpful to someone finisheing up around 2:00 PM or so, and the staff did not seem to care very much either way. The attitude seemed to be "take it or leave it." From the lack of cars in the parking lot, and the absence of players, looks like most people are leaving it. A shame, as this is a nice course, and needs some more TLC.

One other comment: the course is rated/sloped at 69.7/123, but I think it plays much tougher than that: I would give it about a 70.2/128 or so. I recommend you give it a try.