Galen Hall

The Galen Hall Golf Club website describes its layout as: “Something of a mountain course; short but challenging… built on historic South Mountain and as such it features a mixture of hilly terrain as well as undulating fairways.”

Peter nominated Galen Hall as a gem in November 2015 and we felt compelled to add it to the Top 100 website. Peter’s comments follow:

“Galen Hall is not my home course. It is located in Wernersville, Pennsylvania near where I grew up. The course from the back tees plays to a par of 72 at 6,271 yards. It was built in the early 1900s as part of a resort and the original nine was designed by Scotsman Alex Findlay. A.W. Tillinghast designed the second nine in 1917 and the 15th, a 193-yard par three, is considered America’s, if not the world’s first island hole. It is aptly called the "Moat Hole" and has not been altered in nearly 100 years.

The course is on hilly terrain with a number of challenging holes, including several other tough par threes. This is an old course that has not had its original character changed. Long hitters will have an advantage but the greens are small and fast and from an earlier time. For golfers who enjoy the opportunity to experience a page from golf’s history in America I believe Galen Hall is a hidden gem for sure.”