The wooded valleys and rolling ridges of Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains were made for golf, and within an easy drive of New York and Philadelphia sits a varied collection that runs from a Jack Nicklaus Signature course to A.W. Tillinghast's very first design. These are the seven best golf courses in the Poconos, ranked, with our verdict on each and how to play them.
Photograph: Great Bear Golf Club, via Google.
The Poconos are one of the most accessible golf escapes in the northeast, a compact mountain region threaded with resorts and country clubs and reachable in a couple of hours from the big cities. The terrain does the heavy lifting, with elevation changes, mountain streams, lakes and stands of hardwood giving the best layouts genuine drama. We judged these courses on the quality of the design, the conditioning, the playing experience and the value, and we leaned toward layouts a visiting golfer can readily play as part of a trip.
Every fact here, from designers to opening years, was checked at the time of writing. The order is our editors' view, so reasonable golfers will reshuffle it, and the region rewards mixing a marquee round with a couple of fun, scenic public courses. With resort lodging at Shawnee and Skytop and plenty of rental options across the mountains, a multi course Poconos trip is easy to build. If you want these worked into a costed itinerary, that is exactly what our concierge does.
Reviewed June 2026 by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts verified at publication. How we research and review.
Our top pick and the region's marquee round. Great Bear is the only Jack Nicklaus Signature course in northeast Pennsylvania, a polished design that works three lakes, streams, wetlands and gently sloping hills into a memorable test. Beautifully conditioned and the most complete championship experience in the Poconos, it is a semi private club that takes visitors and the round most traveling golfers will want to tick off first.
A living piece of golf history. The 27 hole layout at Shawnee, completed in 1911, was A.W. Tillinghast's very first design, with most of its holes sitting on an island in the Delaware River. It has hosted a long line of golfing greats and the old Shawnee Open, and the riverside setting paired with the classic inn makes it the best resort base for a Poconos golf stay. Atmospheric, walkable and full of character.
The modern mountain test of the group. Designed by Terry LaGree, Jack Frost National stretches to around 7,200 yards and uses the natural contours of the Poconos to full effect, with dramatic elevation changes, undulating greens and long views across the wooded valleys. A demanding, well presented public course that the better player will relish from the back tees.
The grand old club of the Poconos. Buck Hill opened its first nine in 1907 to a design by Robert White, the first PGA of America president, and Donald Ross added eighteen more holes in the years that followed, giving the 27 hole course a true classical pedigree. Set across rolling, wooded mountainside, it is a timeless and characterful round for golfers who love the old architects.
The course at the grand Skytop Lodge is a classic mountain resort layout of about 6,656 yards, with varied elevations and well placed hazards that ask for thought rather than brute length. Paired with one of the most elegant historic lodges in the Poconos, it makes a relaxed, scenic round and an excellent base for a couples or society stay away from the busier public courses.
A fun, dramatic public course set between Stroudsburg and Jim Thorpe, a par 72 of around 6,933 yards with big elevation changes, four lakes and more than sixty bunkers. The mountain setting and the roller coaster routing make it one of the most enjoyable rounds in the region for a group, with plenty of memorable holes and excellent value.
A novelty worth the round. Opened in 1980 to a Hal Purdy design, Mount Airy was modeled on a list of the best golf holes in America, with holes reinterpreting famous templates from courses such as Pebble Beach, Merion and Augusta National. Part of the Mount Airy casino resort, it is an entertaining, easy going round and a good change of pace on a Poconos golf trip.
Designers, opening years and layout details verified June 2026 from the clubs and recognized golf databases. Great Bear is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design; Shawnee was A.W. Tillinghast's first course, completed in 1911; Buck Hill traces to Robert White in 1907 with later Donald Ross holes; Mount Airy was designed by Hal Purdy and opened in 1980. Rates and availability change, so always confirm directly before booking. Looking for tee times? Check availability and book a round.
| Course | Setting | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Great Bear | East Stroudsburg | The marquee Nicklaus round |
| Shawnee Inn | Island in the Delaware | History and a resort base |
| Jack Frost National | Mountain valley, Blakeslee | A modern back tee test |
| Buck Hill | Buck Hill Falls | Classic Ross era architecture |
| Hideaway Hills | Near Jim Thorpe | A fun, dramatic group round |
A shorthand only; tell us your dates and group and we will match the courses to you.
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and which courses you have your heart set on, and a concierge will secure the tee times, build the itinerary and cost it to the head, with no obligation.
Great Bear Golf Club in East Stroudsburg is our top pick, the only Jack Nicklaus Signature course in northeast Pennsylvania, with lakes, wetlands and rolling terrain. The historic Shawnee Inn, A.W. Tillinghast's first design from 1911 on an island in the Delaware River, and the modern mountain test at Jack Frost National lead the chasing group. Always confirm tee times before booking.
Yes. The Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania pack a strong variety of courses into a compact, drivable region within easy reach of New York and Philadelphia, from a Jack Nicklaus Signature layout and a Tillinghast classic to modern mountain courses with big elevation changes. Resort lodging at Shawnee and Skytop and the wider Pocono base make a multi course buddies or society trip straightforward.
The Pocono golf season runs roughly from April to October, with late spring and early autumn the most reliable for comfortable temperatures and firm turf. Summer is the peak season and the mountain air keeps it cooler than the cities, while the fall foliage makes September and October especially scenic. Courses close for winter, so always confirm current rates and tee times before booking.
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course designers, opening years and layout details verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.