Lehigh Country Club

Along the Little Lehigh Creek lies the private Lehigh Country Club, which celebrated its centenary in 2010. The club moved to its present site in 1928 and the master router William S. Flynn—perhaps the most respected and influential architect of the “Philadelphia School” of golf course design—was responsible for the layout.

The 206-acre site selected for the club’s new 18 holes comprised farmland belonging to the Kemmerer and Kline families, purchased by a syndicate of forty-two club members. Built by Flynn’s business partner Howard C. Toomey, the course opened on Memorial Day 1928 under the supervision of Paul Weiss, the former construction supervisor who became the first greenkeeper.

The routing of the fairways has long been regarded as masterful, with elevation changes in excess of one hundred feet negotiated during three of the four creek crossings—at the par-four 4th, the par-three 7th, and the par-five 11th. Such is the severity of the terrain in places that it is doubtful any modern architect would contemplate laying out a course on the site today.

Flynn’s courses are particularly noted for their strong short holes, and Lehigh follows that tradition with the creek influencing play at two of them: the downhill 7th and the 184-yard 13th. There are only two par fives on the card—one on each nine—and they dogleg in opposite directions at the 6th and 11th holes.

Trees have been thinned in recent years to widen playing corridors, while architect Ron Forse has been involved in a bunker restoration programme aimed at improving drainage and reinstating original design features. During the 2024/2025 offseason, the 11th green complex was restored to Flynn’s original design under Forse’s guidance, further reinforcing the course’s architectural integrity.

Ongoing course improvements remain a priority, led by Director of Grounds John Chassard and Course Superintendent Jim Lanza, who continue to make incremental upgrades to playing conditions. In spring 2025, the 7th tee complex—one of the course’s signature holes—was rebuilt to include a new White tee set further up the hill, alongside an expanded teeing area for the Black and Blue tees.

The club looks ahead to a significant milestone in its modern history, with the inaugural Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic, presented by Sodexo, set to bring PGA Tour Champions golf to Lehigh for the first time.