Hickory Heights Golf Club Review

Today Kathy and I played Hickory Heights Golf Club in Spring Grove, PA.

However, due to the recent damage and destruction that Hurricane Ida left in its wake, we have decided to not rate this course as we normally due!

Hurricane Ida came through and dumped a lot of water in the area!

When we got to Hickory Heights Golf Club everyone was happy to see us, welcoming and were excited we had chosen to play their course.

Tony (the starter) told us that the rain and wind from Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on the course. As we played we saw downed trees, washed out bridges and mud everywhere.

Even with all that, it was still a beautiful course. The staff was doing everything they could to repair, clean up and get Hickory Heights Golf Club back to its full glory. They were working and cleaning up everywhere. Even so, some of the traps had standing water, many of the fairways were still slick with mud, and the grass was showing signs of dying from the excess water.

With all that in mind we didn’t think it would be fare to rate this course.

Hickory Heights Golf Club is close to the campground where we are staying. It was easy to get our desired tee time…..and it only cost $26 per person with a cart. Tony was very friendly and really took the time to tell us about the secrets of the course in order to play a good round. He was also very careful to let us know that due to Hurricane Ida, the hillsides would be a little too slick for the cart for now and we should use the cart path as often as possible.

Hickory Heights Golf Club is a well rounded course that has streams, lakes, and old trees everywhere. Kathy and I noticed that as dense as the trees were, none of them were really in the way. Even if you hit into them you could get out and move the ball forward without too much trouble.

The weather scars left behind by Ida were dwarfed by the beautiful landscape and design of Hickory Heights Golf Club. Trees, bending fairways, running brooks and streams make for a gorgeous course!

We didn’t see any bathrooms on the course. That made it hard for Kathy, and anyone that is not willing to turn to a bush for a little relief. Both Kathy and I think there should be a few bathrooms on the course. Nothing special – just one room with a toilet and sink. 

We also didn’t see any beverage/food cart on the course. It could be that we played during the week and someone does go around on the weekend. There were a few beverage vending machines, and that did work as a substitute…it’s just, we like that a person comes around with snacks as well as drinks, and checks on you.

Hickory Heights Golf Club is a bit short. They make up for this by including a couple of holes with sharp doglegs. They also left one or two short par 4s open and straight enough to be tempting to go for the green.

But, if you can’t hit the ball over 300 yards then it is just a pipe dream!

Naturally I did try to make it on both of those short par 4s! I came close on one and the other was a disaster. I wanted to hit it so badly that I pulled it hard left into a large bushy area. When I got there I saw the out of bounds marker. So of course I applied the new OB penalty and dropped in the fairway.

I was not happy. I could have had an easy par if I just teed off with an iron. But instead I had to write down a 6. Again – not happy with my choice.

The day was a  great one! Once they have recovered from the storm I would play Hickory Heights Golf Club again.

Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting. Written by Marc Festa