Great Bear Golf Club

[harpua728]

East Stroudsburg, PA

Has Great Bear gone fully private or are there still ways for the public to get on? I played this course a few times a few years ago and loved it. Not sure if i can still get on though. Anyone know for sure?

[luxman]

According to their website they are fully private.

[jimboski93]

I used to work at Great Bear back in 2000/2001 when it was semi-private.

I called at the end of last year to see about playing a round, but the person in the pro shop said it was private. They also seemed perplexed that I would inquire, as if to say that it's been completely private for as long as they had worked there.

Great course... I miss it. I was a 16 year old HS student who got to play for free. Pretty much the best summer job ever.

[harpua728]

what a shame - it was (i guess still is) a great course.

Can you recommend any others in the area?

[_MS22_]

I think they claim to be fully private however if you call and ask nicely for a tee time as merely a guest they have no problem setting you up.

I played about 5 rounds there last year never once with a member. I think the rate for a weekday was somewhere in the $70ish range which is a steal for the course.

The course is always in impeccable shape and the greens are some of the best I and most challenging I've played.

Never hurts to call.

[philsRHman]

Was lucky to play it once and echo the above comments. Very nice design, great shape. Got on by knowing someone in the pro shop, but I understand it's strictly private. Honestly, though, in this economy, if you call politely and are flexible to play when they're slow, you just might get on. Worst they can say is no.

[jimboski93]

Other courses to look at - a bit tough b/c Great Bear is head and shoulders above the rest.

Courses to look up:
Shawnee - Tillinghast, but I never liked it
Water Gap CC - private, but offered rounds to the public as of last year or year before
Glen Brook (cheapest out of this group, but a great value)
Cherry Valley
Hideaway Hills (always in good condition, nice island green if you are in the TPC mood)
The Architects - a bit further away, but a real nice course. Each hole is designed in the spirit of a famous architect.

[spock1130]

I loved Great Bear, played it twice and both times in great shape. Not sure if you can still get tee times there though.

[birdieboy52]

[quote name='harpua728' timestamp='1274716220' post='2463650']
Has Great Bear gone fully private or are there still ways for the public to get on? I played this course a few times a few years ago and loved it. Not sure if i can still get on though. Anyone know for sure?
[/quote]


Isn't the course somewhat remote from large population areas? Where do they draw their members from?

[Mike Armitage]

[b]Great Bear will reopen today (April 22 2011) under new management as a semi private club[/b]
The club went through some troubled times in 2010 and initially announced it would not open for the 2011 season after an attempted sale fell thtru at the 11th hour.
A group of members and local residents has formed an LLC to initially managed and then later acquire the club from the current owners.

The key staff members are all still involved, 90% of the membership have returned and the are actively looking for new members.
Public play is pretty much unlimited during the week - Some Tee times are blocked for members at the weekends.

I say all this as a member of Great Bear since 2006 and also a member of the group that "rescued" the club.
Looking forward to getting out there later today.
Vome and try it - the course is an exceptional Jack Nicklaus design and is in great playing condition

[harpua728]

This is great news! I love that course. What are the guest greens fees going to be?

[jimboski93]

That is exciting. I'll have to plan a trip soon. I hope the new owners are able to maintain the quality conditions.
I see the greatbeargolf.com website is no longer up and running.

[Mike Armitage]

The course is in great shape and well worth a visit. Staff are doing a great job. Tee times are pretty open midweek and on weekend afternoons
Pro shop phone number is 570-223-4653

[Mike Armitage]

Green fees are around 75 at the weekend, cheaper mid week including cart

[JTK37]

Heading up this Sunday the 19th, Father's day for a round with Dad. Can anyone comment on current conditions? Perhaps the weekend rates? Looking forward to it, Joe

[JTK37]

I got to play the course about 10 times last season, enjoyed each and every round, good condition, love the layout, very accommodating staff and reasonably priced for public play. Does anyone know if the course will be operating in a semi-private manner again this year. I have not been able to get in contact with them at all. Thanks, Joe

[Mike Armitage]

The club was taken over by the Bank at the end of the 2011 season and is currently up for auction.
We are pretty confident that it will be bought and operated with the same semi-private structure as before.
Opening may be a bit delayed but hopefully by mid-April they will be up and running
Course has wintered very well and the superintendent has done some great clean up work

[JTK37]

Any updates Mike?

[bergsnyc]

[quote name='JTK37' timestamp='1336969307' post='4909598']
Any updates Mike?
[/quote]I was just at the club last week. It is still closed, but they are trying to arrange another sale. The greens and fairways are still being maintained (thank God!), but the rough is ROUGH and the traps have weeds in them. The fact that they are still mowing is a good sign. I have been playing in the Poconos for over 23 years and this is, by far, the BEST course in the area. We've lost a few courses in the last two years (Tamiment, Evergreen and now Mountain Manor). Let's hope Great Bear is a success story!

[bp29]

[quote name='bergsnyc' timestamp='1340495803' post='5155702']
[quote name='JTK37' timestamp='1336969307' post='4909598']
Any updates Mike?
[/quote]I was just at the club last week. It is still closed, but they are trying to arrange another sale. The greens and fairways are still being maintained (thank God!), but the rough is ROUGH and the traps have weeds in them. The fact that they are still mowing is a good sign. I have been playing in the Poconos for over 23 years and this is, by far, the BEST course in the area. We've lost a few courses in the last two years (Tamiment, Evergreen and now Mountain Manor). Let's hope Great Bear is a success story!
[/quote]

This is sad to hear. I played there a couple times and it's one of Nickalaus's best IMO. Agree it is the best in the region. Good Luck.

[JTK37]

I was up at Shawnee for a few days with an outing and took a ride over as well. The fact that they're still maintaining the course looks to be a good sign. Spoke with a few guys, most common thought was that their had been a "sale" at the silent auction but the deal hit a snag at closing and may fall through leaving it up for auction again if they can't iron everything out. Most likely not opening for this season at all. A Huge loss. Found this course last father's day and played 1-2 a week after that. Fell in love with the lay out, conditions and staff. Miss it greatly

[jimboski93]

I had planned to play when I was in the area in mid-May. I called the different phone numbers on the website but just got an endless loop of ringing.

How'd you guys get on? Did someone pickup when you called or did you just show up?

[JTK37]

[quote name='jimboski93' timestamp='1341602136' post='5227868']
I had planned to play when I was in the area in mid-May. I called the different phone numbers on the website but just got an endless loop of ringing.

How'd you guys get on? Did someone pickup when you called or did you just show up?
[/quote]

Jim the course has been closed all of this season.

[Ninja]

[quote name='JTK37' timestamp='1340678826' post='5167858']
I was up at Shawnee for a few days with an outing
[/quote]

[color=#000080]Was thinking of spending a couple nights at Shawnee with my better half....how is the course there?[/color]

[JTK37]

[quote name='Ninja' timestamp='1345572215' post='5510514']
[quote name='JTK37' timestamp='1340678826' post='5167858']
I was up at Shawnee for a few days with an outing
[/quote]

[color=#000080]Was thinking of spending a couple nights at Shawnee with my better half....how is the course there?[/color]
[/quote]

I was there the days leading up to Fathers day. Greens were in good condition and rolling very well, not fast but true. Fairways were somewhat spotty as usual. Layout is fun, old school Tillinghast(sp?). Room for the driver on some holes, lots of playing for position off tees as well. Some long par threes and shorter 4's, decent mix.

[Ninja]

[color=#000080]We've opted to stay at Mt. Airy Casino (for a little more action) but will probably still make our way down to Shawnee for a round, thanks![/color]

[JTK37]

Ok, who can come up with the cash?

http://www.hilda-allen.com/PAgreatbear.htm

[jimboski93]

This article says Great Bear was bought for $850,000 by the owner of Shawnee.
Hope he can get the course back in shape.

[url="http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/great-bear-golf-and-country-club-has-new-owner-1.1376555"]http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/great-bear-golf-and-country-club-has-new-owner-1.1376555[/url]

[pocono1]

curious if anybody has heard anything further on Great Bear for 2013 ? Always wanted to play it ... hopefully, it will be open and priced similarly to Shawnee (we can hope)

[JTK37]

[quote name='pocono1' timestamp='1357452271' post='6176731']
curious if anybody has heard anything further on Great Bear for 2013 ? Always wanted to play it ... hopefully, it will be open and priced similarly to Shawnee (we can hope)
[/quote]

I'm hoping the same. I've already contacted them requesting information. Fell in love with the course when it went semi-private in 2010 and played a ton in 2011. Well worth the 1.5hr drive from North Jersey. Just hoping they don't try to become a "private" course again. However I believe past history should preclude that from happening.