Unexpected trip to Pittsburgh, sneak in a round?

kn3 · July 31, 2014

Some unexpected family duties are taking me to Pittsburgh this weekend (my girlfriend's mother was admitted to the hospital, so we're driving out there from NYC to take her back home and spend a couple days getting her set up). I'm hoping to squeeze in a round Saturday afternoon between shopping trips and chores to allow them some mother/daughter time.

I see a lot of public courses on GolfNow and other sites with openings, so I need some direction. I played Totterridge last time out there and enjoyed it, but as I'm staying SW of downtown in Beechview, that's an hour drive and a little far to return to. I'm hoping to get a quick afternoon round in without the course being too crowded. Any recommendations? Thanks.

IvanDAG · July 31, 2014

May look at Lindenwood, It is a little west of town in Washinton County. It has been a while since I lived up there but I lived in Brookline and it was a 30 minute trup out to Peters Twp.

sheppy335 · July 31, 2014

Linewood is close and so is South PArk.

IvanDAG · July 31, 2014

[quote name='sheppy335' timestamp='1406823992' post='9824661']
Linewood is close and so is South PArk.
[/quote]

Wow, but then I guess it has been a long time since I was up there. When did Lindenwood Close, The web site is still active and you can schedule a tee time.

asommers14 · July 31, 2014

Could always stop in Latrobe and play the course Arnold Palmer grew up on http://www.springhillsuiteslatrobe.com/specials.php

GPoppaPump · July 31, 2014

The previous post on Lindenwood was to say it was close, not closed.

For SW of the city, here are your options:

1. Quicksilver (best of the area)
2. Lindenwood (27 hole complex, make sure you play the red and blue 9's)
3. Village Green
4. Butlers Lakeside and Woodside (go Lakeside, but prepare for 5 hour round, and a course that will prorate a refund/raincheck for holes not played, I about threwup when they gave me a raincheck for 16 holes (for a replay that was $18.05 and expired within a month) when first two holes took literally 65 minutes. I digress).
5. Seven Springs (not resort, Elizabeth)
6. Hickory Heights (I hate it)

If you are looking to do a little more driving it will certainly open up options, that area just isn't the tops. Go with Quicksilver, stacks up well to Totteridge. All others are step below in area.

IvanDAG · July 31, 2014

[quote name='GPoppaPump' timestamp='1406830068' post='9825281']
The previous post on Lindenwood was to say it was close, not closed.

For SW of the city, here are your options:

1. Quicksilver (best of the area)
2. Lindenwood (27 hole complex, make sure you play the red and blue 9's)
3. Village Green
4. Butlers Lakeside and Woodside (go Lakeside, but prepare for 5 hour round, and a course that will prorate a refund/raincheck for holes not played, I about threwup when they gave me a raincheck for 16 holes (for a replay that was $18.05 and expired within a month) when first two holes took literally 65 minutes. I digress).
5. Seven Springs (not resort, Elizabeth)
6. Hickory Heights (I hate it)

If you are looking to do a little more driving it will certainly open up options, that area just isn't the tops. Go with Quicksilver, stacks up well to Totteridge. All others are step below in area.
[/quote]

My mistake and I appolagize

Smiller1172 · July 31, 2014

Quicksilver is your best bet taking into consideration where you are staying

OldGolfer87 · July 31, 2014

From Beechview area ... I saw someone suggested South Park ... 2 others I thought might be close Seven Springs at routes 51 and 48 and Riverview which is about 10 minutes from Elizabeth bridge /route 51 and possibly Cedarbrook which is a 51 and 70 but it's about 1/2 hour from Beechview ......that's the bad things sometimes about golfers and Pittsburgh that there is one 9 hole course inside the city limits so dependant on where you are coming from there are not many close 18 holes courses to play

kn3 · August 1, 2014

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I'm happy to drive a half hour, even 40 minutes if it means the quality of golf is much better, I'm just trying to avoid the hour drive each way that a lot of courses that I look up seem to be. Hey, looks like Oakmont is 28 minutes away, maybe I'll see if they have some last minute tee times

pingeye · August 1, 2014

Quicksilver is the course I usually play when in Pittsburgh. It's a nice track however a couple holes are a little target golf. Overall it's a nice facility. I think the Champions tour (Seniors back then) played there however moved away from it as it was too hilly.

CMUgol4 · August 1, 2014

I grew up in Elizabeth and played Butler's maybe a 1000 times. Played it a few years ago and was pleasantly surprised... It's conditions are way better than I remember.

GPoppaPump · August 1, 2014

If you are looking for the best public golf, do quicksilver. Other better options but longer drives would be Olde Stonewall ($150) and Nemacolin Mystic Rock.

kn3 · August 5, 2014

Thanks again for the suggestions. Quicksilver was booked with outings and tournaments all weekend, so I ended up playing Lindenwood Sunday morning. It ended up working out for the best, since there were heavy thunderstorms that hit most of the area but somehow missed Lindenwood.

I found the course solid. Good conditions, greens deceptively difficult. I had to play Gold/Blue, so it was a little short, but certainly a place I'd return. I preferred Blue to Gold, so I'd probably aim to do Blue/Red as you suggested if I return.

One frustrating thing was that they refused to make any reservations for singles; I had to show up and take my chances with there being an open spot. It ended up working out fine (especially given the threatening forecast), but it was a bit of a turnoff that even the afternoon before they were unwilling to slot me into an opening or give me any guarantees. I understand if you don't want to book a single into an open foursome, especially far in advance, but it seems a bit restrictive as is.