Links at Gettysburg

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is noted for hosting one of the most devastating battles in American military history. Those in the region hoped to attract visitors for more than just such somber remembrances, one of the instigators for the creation of the public access Links at Gettysburg.

Architect Lindsay Ervin did most of his work in his home state of Maryland, however he learned from working on that region’s western half that the best play is often to use the natural terrain to create memorable golf holes. This occurs on several occasions at Gettysburg, where red rock formations occasionally show themselves from under the hilly terrain.

The first instance is perhaps the most dramatic, as players will shoot downhill to a par three green surrounded by a natural stone amphitheater. A shot too long may rebound back, but a shot too short will end up in a creek fronting the green.

A short par four at No. 8 has a similar appeal, with a red-colored cliff edging the right side of the fairway. A well-placed slice (if such a thing can be imagined) might bounce back. A poorly-placed slice (more common) may end up high above the fairway.