Iron Valley GC
Cornwall, PA (Between Harrisburg, Reading, and Lancaster)
2000, P.B. Dye
Directions:
--50 mi., 60 mins from home
PA TPKE
EXIT 20
RT.72 NORTH to
RT. 322 EAST for 2.6 mi.
Exit LEFT @ Cornwall
Course is 500 yds. on right
New clubhouse opened Spring '07
Per my buddy Gil: Tough and worth both the $ and the drive. Very tight, front cut out of woods, the back is a moonscape but still tight. Fairly tricked up, lots of blind shots, reminded him of Scotland Run. Lots of severe elevation changes and cliff dropoffs, moreso than even a Paxon Hollow, not a level lie or shot on the thing. Severely undulating greens, concrete hard and very fast, real easy to 3 and 4 putt. Gil's buddy John's dad Jim loved the front, but hated the back enough to never go back. Too tricked up with too many railroad ties for him.
From the website: Before beginning its new life as a golf course, the land saw a very different type of industry, iron ore mining. For more than 200 years the site produced iron ore that was used for industrial applications all across the country. The ore was used in the manufacturing and production of shot, cannon and stoves, which were used in the American Revolutionary War.
The combination of natural terrain, extreme elevation changes and challenging layout make Iron Valley Golf Club, truly, "A Course Like No Other". P.B. Dye's design features pull together the distinctly different landscapes that make up the Mine Nine Holes and the Tailings Nine Holes. The course is very playable at 4,905 yards from the "forward" tees and 5,878 yards from the "regular" tees. However, from the "championship" tees and the "professional" tees, measuring up to 7,086 yards, the par 72 Iron Valley Golf Club is a strong test of golf.