HARTEFELD NATIONAL GOLF CLUB
Course Architect: Tom Fazio
Year Opened: 1995
Location: Avondale, Pennsylvania
Slope: 143 Rating: 74.4
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,969
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 5 579 Yds 10 - Par 4 425 Yds
2 - Par 3 162 Yds 11 - Par 3 186 Yds
3 - Par 4 410 Yds 12 - Par 4 346 Yds
4 - Par 4 450 Yds 13 - Par 5 581 Yds
5 - Par 5 534 Yds 14 - Par 3 198 Yds
6 - Par 3 198 Yds 15 - Par 4 392 Yds
7 - Par 4 406 Yds 16 - Par 5 552 Yds
8 - Par 5 472 Yds 17 - Par 4 446 Yds
9 - Par 3 223 Yds 18 - Par 4 409 Yds
Par 36 3,434 Yds Par 36 3,535 Yds
Key Events Held: Bell Atlantic Classic (1998-99),
Exelon Invitational (2003-05),
U.S. Open qualifier (2005).
Awards Won: Best New Public Course (1996) by Golf Digest,
Best Public Course in Pennsylvania (1998-2000) by Golf Digest.
Ranked #24 in Pennsylvania (2003) by Golf Digest.
Website: www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Hartefeld-National.
HISTORY: The land that Hartefeld National rests upon has history galore,
dating back to 1682 when King Charles II granted William Penn land to settle
the mostly wooded lands between the colonies of Maryland and New York. The
drive into Hartefeld is pre-Revolutionary. During the war, the British marched
north on this very road in an attempt to capture Generals Washington and
Lafayette. On September 9, 1777, British General Robert Howe led his army of
12,000 along with another 6,000 Prussian mercenaries down the road to tangle
with the Americans in the Battle of the Brandywine. It came as no surprise in
the 19th Century and the Civil War, that this area was used in the Underground
Railway, given the strong Quaker influence and the close proximity to the
Mason-Dixon Line. Following World War I, Captain Charles Webster Robinson
built a village or "colony" as he called it of modest homes for rent to young
families. This land along with adjacent properties, constitute much of what
makes up Hartefeld National Golf Course. The current Ladies' Shower Room in
Hartefeld House (the clubhouse) was originally part of an abandoned plantation
house that was built in 1740 in Tyaska, near Salisbury, Maryland. Soon after
opening, Hartefeld played host to the Champions Tour's Bell Atlantic Classic
for two years. Both events held at Hartefeld were decided in playoffs by
Jay Sigel and Tom Jenkins. When Sigel captured the 1998 tournament, he set a
course record of 62 during the second round, which included an amazing 27 on
the front nine. His nine-under score is still a Champions Tour record which
featured an eagle and seven straight birdies, the best eagle-birdie run in the
history of the Tour.
REVIEW: The course opens up with a long par-5 with an ample fairway to get you
going. From there its an easy lay-up to a large green that slopes hard to the
left with a false front. Birdie is an extreme possibility, but don't be upset
with a simple par. At 162 yards, the second hole seems to be a push over,
however, this severe downhill three-par is anything but. The green is fronted
by a difficult bunker and the putting surface is very narrow, just six paces
deep and very undulating. Another easy driving hole is the third. Although
uphill, the fairway is 50 yards wide in some places. This will leave an uphill
second shot to a two-tiered green surrounded by sand. The putting surface
cannot be seen from the fairway, so an extra club will definitely be needed.
Your first real test is the fourth. A solid par four at 450 yards from the
tips, the tee shot plays from an elevated box to a fairway flanked left by
sand and right by out of bounds. The green is raised, but situated in a bowl
for a perfect amphitheater. The putting surface features a false front, so
don't be short, as your second shot will roll back down the fairway. Although
the green is relatively flat, the speed is very quick from back to front. The
word fun explains the fifth. At just 534 yards, this par five can be reached
in two. That is if your tee shot is long and true and you can negotiate the
myriad of bunkers short of the green. The hole slopes down to an undulating
fairway, very receptive and wide. From there, depending upon the lie, a long
iron or fairway metal will get you home. However, you must avoid fescue and
eight bunkers bordering the green left and front for any shot at birdie. The
signature hole of Hartefeld is the par-three sixth, which requires a long or
mid-iron over water and a severe bunker front and left of the green, the
largest and most undulating putting surface on the course. Escaping with par
will not be an easy chore. Interesting, to say the least, as the routing of
the course now puts you back at the clubhouse, leaving a fairly long walk to
the seventh tee. Another wide fairway awaits on this short par four. But don't
be deceived, as the a large swale fronting the green will gobble up its share
of errant shots. This will make the hole look short, making the right club
selection a must. In tournament action, the eighth plays as a rugged par four,
however for the average golfer, the hole is an easy par five. A forced carry
over fescue and scrub, the tee shot needs to favor the left side of the
fairway, as a stand of trees guard the corner of this dogleg right. The green
is most difficult with two tiers, sloping from left to right and back to
front. I forgot to mention, a gaping bunker, front and left will gobble up
most wandering shots. Bailing out right is the play, so don't be ashamed. The
front nine finishes with its third par three. The ninth is a mighty 223 yards
from the Fazio tees. A large greenside bunker occupies the entire left side of
the green while trees guard the right. Pinpoint accuracy is a must.
The inward nine opens easy enough with a downhill par four. However the green
is most difficult and is fronted by a very deep cavernous bunker. The putting
surface features a large hump in the center, making a two-putt strenuous. Most
players will under club on the 11th. Looks are deceiving, as this par three
does play uphill. The green is guarded on the left by wetlands and a very deep
bunker, one that will leave you sightless of the flag, so bail right. The 12th
is one of the easier holes on the course at just 346 yards. Playing uphill, a
long iron or fairway metal is required off the tee, setting up a wedge to a
shallow green. Birdie is a must on this fairly bland hole. It's risk-reward
time as you reach the par-5 13th. Although 581 yards, the hole plays downhill
off the tee and can be had with a big blast. A driveway some 300 yards out
crosses the fairway and if reached, then knocking your second shot on is
possible. The easy way out is to layup short and left of the green and pitch
to an elevated green. The putting surface is two-tiered and extremely long,
making for a most difficult two-putt. The final five holes in my estimation
are the jewels of the course. The downhill, par three 14th is a beauty. Miss
long and left and a ravine awaits, miss right and you'll be faced with a very
tough, downhill chip to a green that slopes from back to front. The ravine
continues on the 15th, as your tee shot must carry 200 yards to the fairway.
Once there however, a short iron awaits to an elevated green that's guarded by
a menacing bunker on the right. Pin placement is key to selecting the correct
iron to this long, narrow green. If the flag is back-left, be happy with par
and move on. A long hike of sorts presents itself on the 552-yard, uphill
16th. Although surrounded by trees at the tee, the hole is virtually without
the leafy substance through the green. Just a straight uphill climb that
requires three shots to a very difficult surface. This two-tiered green can
fool you, so trust the yardage and add a club. There is no shame in making
par. Driving is key on the outstanding, downhill 17th. Not the longest at 446
yards, precision must be made off the tee as to avoid a large bunker on the
left side of the fairway and out of bounds right and left. The long, shallow
green has a pair of bunkers up front and a wooden fence back and left, so club
selection and execution is key. The 18th ranks as one of the best finishing
holes in the area. The dog-leg right requires both accuracy and length off the
tee. Your tee ball must favor the left side, as the hole is flanked right by
trees and it must carry the uphill climb to the fairway. A medium length iron
is needed to reach the green, however depending upon pin placement, an extra
club may be needed. The putting surface is two-tiered and quite severe in
speed. Miss on the wrong section of the green and your next shot might not be
a putt. Set down from the clubhouse, the 18th green provides a natural setting
and a great place to watch the final foursome.
OVERALL: At just under 7,000 yards from the tips, Hartefeld National is not
one of those overpowering courses that knocks you to your knees. It is a fair
test with ample fairway targets on most holes, and very accessible greens. The
course's best attribute is its beauty and conditioning. The undulating greens,
manicured fairways, not to mention the outstanding views will give even the
struggling player a reason to smile. The downside, well there really isn't
one, except that the course will be open to the public only through 2003. The
rates aren't the best either at $110 a pop during the season, but it's worth
it. With numerous sets of tees, Tom Fazio created a course that players of all
levels can enjoy.
