If you love golf but not trying to spend a lot this is the place for you. I paid $30 for cart and…read moregreens fee at 3pm on Saturday. Prime Outlets are just down the road so after you shoot a round of even par, you can stop by the Nike store and buy a Sunday red collared shirt. So buddy of mine heard good things about this course so we decided to check it out. This course is too far and is nice, but not nice enough to warrant the drive often. The course had a pleasant design and is definitely fun to play. The fairways were well maintained but the greens needed work. There were a lot of ball marks that were not repaired or incorrectly repaired. Note: After you pay go to the first tee and get in line, otherwise you will lose your spot. There is no starter (well, there was but he's the cashier and not outside) so we actually got punked by a foursome that jumped in ahead of us.

I have had the pleasure of playing upwards of 100 rounds of golf at Black Rock over the years, and…read moreduring a late August visit, was very disappointed at what has become of this one time gem. I first played Black Rock the year after it opened. It was rough, very rough, but had a wonderful soul for a county golf course. The layout makes you hit a variety of golf shots with all of your clubs. For the first ten years, it matured beautifully. Today, it needs a good haircut, as it is getting a bit shaggy. Tee's - The tees were overgrown and many had significant weed issues. The tee markers had not been moved in days, and the teeing area's were worn. They are in dire need of a good program of aerification and top dressing. The white tee on 15 has lost the left side of the tee because of tree growth. Fairways - Generally in good condition, although mowing height is quite high. Weeds here and there. Rough - US Open rough had nothing on Black Rock rough on the day that I played. On the areas that irrigation was able to reach, it was thick and tough to play out of. Lack of rain on outer areas was apparent and often normal for this time of year. Bunkers - The bunkers are in terrible shape. Footprints everywhere, thin sand in places and thick in others. Edging is non existent, and is consistent with the lack of attention paid to the playing surfaces. Greeen's - Where do I start. What were once wonderful, quick and challenging greens are a long lost memory. There was a decent stand of turf, but I'd love to know what height they are mowing. Bottom line, my best guess is that they roll 7.5 on the stimp, and it was tough to hit a putt close. For example, on 13, with the pin back left, I left two putts short as they would not roll out. In the old days, they were likely to roll off the green. Green collars were also very shaggy, and there were numerous greens where corners had not been cut. The pines that were planted to provide definition to fairways could have been better planned. I know, they are cheap, but they are also showing their age. There are many trees that could have been used that would have provided for a far better long term grow in. On the positive side, it was good to see that an overlay has been laid down on all cart paths. Let's hope that the County gives Daryl and the Superintendent some budget to restore this golf course and bring it back up to standard.

Welcome to quite possibly the smallest state park in all of Pennsylvania. Located just outside or…read moreMercersburg you will literally stumble upon this park. More on the park in a bit. James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, they only President to come from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the only bachelor President thus far. I'm not going to delve into the politics of him, but I did learn a few things about him while visiting. Did you know that he was engaged to be married, but his fiancé passed away shortly after breaking off the engagement. Which then led to him becoming the bachelor president. Leading to his favorite niece to serve as the First Lady during his presidency. Harriet Lane Johnston served and then led the first efforts to create this memorial that lies within the state park. The park, like I stated, is rather small, it's a small trek of land straddling a creek with multiple picnic areas. It's a nice diversion from the area and you honestly feel like you are far off the beaten path. Also held within the state park is the memorial. Buchanan's Birthplace State Park is just that. The gated pyramid structure sits near where the birth of President Buchanan happened. The park's plaques give a more descript imagery of what I just said, but whatever. The pyramid itself started to be constructed in October of 1907. The work being done by 20 men with the aid of a small railroad they built to transport materials. The pyramid is made up of 50 short tons of American Gray Granite and 250 tons of mortar and native stones. It is 38 feet square and 31 feet tall. After completion the Pennsylvania General Assembly accepted the monument from his niece's trust and Buchanan's Birthplace State Park was established in 1911. They say that this was a town based off of frontier commerce where people would stop along their treks to wherever. It was called at that time Stony Batter, after his ancestral homelands back in Scotland. A modest little outpost with a few cabins, barns, stables, orchards, storehouses and a general store. You wouldn't know it by looking at this land now. This can be a real quick stop on your trek. Or it can be a longer stop for you if you wish. The multiple picnic areas are nice and can be used by anyone that enters the park, first come, first served. Careful on the narrow lanes, the bridges are one-laned and there isn't much room to pull off to allow for two cars in some spots. There are dedicated parking areas throughout, be mindful of that. It is definitely a hidden gem that is rather peaceful. It is also a nice place to gather some knowledge of a president that isn't as notable as others.

Widely considered to be America's worst President (let's not have a Trump/Obama debate, mkay?)…read morebecause he failed to handle the secession of the South and his inability to confront the issue of slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War. Nonetheless, this heavily forested state park has picnic areas and a stream that is known for its native trout population. It is quite secluded and other than a park ranger driving past, there was no one else coming or going during my visit. Up the road, you will find a parking area and a 31-foot-tall pyramid built on the site where James Buchanan, the country's 15th president, was born. The monument was built from locally quarried stones and made to look rustic. Buchanan was born at the site in a log cabin. Back then, his father owned the property, which was called Stony Batter. It was a small hub for frontier activities and commerce, and included a smattering of dwellings, barns, and stores. It's a nice spot to get completely away from civilization for a bit. Small fact number one: the park was the first land donation in Pennsylvania to be turned into a park. Small fact number two: Buchanan was the only President of the United States born in Pennsylvania which was one of the original thirteen colonies. [Review 15575 overall - 566 in Pennsylvania - 1079 of 2021.]

Greens are in great shape!! Golfers need a rest station on the course or sani pots at the very…read moreleast so this is the only reason for the 4 star rating.

First time playing the course and it is in rough shape. The fairways are pretty bare of grass and…read morethe rough is somewhere between 3-4 foot grass and thick weeds. The tee boxes are very chewed up and mostly dirt. There was some charity golf event going on so our foursome had to play the back nine twice. Reviews have been unkind on the back nine and great on the front. It is like two seperate courses I guess. I am an average golfer. Low 90s for most courses. The back nine was really hard. All shots have your feet up/down or slanted in some way. Crazy bounces and the nothing is flat even in the fairway. I hit the most fairways of my foursome and that did not mean the next shot was going to be easy or flat. Some long holes, but nothing too crazy. Par 3 -203 was a little long for accuracy. Tons of waste areas in the perfect drive landing spot or second shot. Laying up does not work for the scoring. Greens very decent. Bunkers are not sand. Dirt/mud. Luckily I did not find one of them all day. Lost balls- yes please. You cannot go looking for them. The rough is like a links course. No searching even with a hacksaw. Overall, might take the fun out of golf on the back, Player 1 - 15 lost balls, Player 2 - 9 lost balls Player 3 - 8 lost balls and Player 4 (me) 4 lost balls. All of them shoot low 90's or bogey golf for the most part. The course needs some real love (money) to get it to a more playable condition.

Greens have brown dead spots all over. Putts bounce in all directions. No way it's worth $60 in…read morecurrent condition of greens.

I'm a new member at Greencastle Golf Club in the last few weeks, and I'm drawn to the breathtaking…read moreviews here. On our weekly ladies' outing this Thursday the wildlife was out enjoying the weather and the landscaping too :-)

Five stars for the gold and service, three stars for the lodging and food…read more Rooms are clean but spartan with no comfortable chairs. Luckily the weather was nice so we could sit outside. Golf courses are fantastic and well maintained. Package price for golf, food and lodging can't be beat.

Agree with Matt S. The staff at Penn National was the worst I have ever experienced. Unfriendly and…read moreunhelpful. Will never go again.

Truly a fantastic experience here. Showed up on a Friday in June and we were able to get out…read morepretty quickly. Easily one of the cheapest rounds (9 holes) that I have ever paid for and I enjoyed every bit of it. Fun track that is very walkable and is tree lined, but there is also space to miss. Also they fairway cut everything, so there is no rough to deal with. They also do a great job of cleaning up below the trees, so it's very playable from everywhere. Pushed up greens that are challenging to hit, but the short grass around them help. The sixth hole (I believe) is a dogleg left par 5 that I would love to play again and again. If it were anywhere closer I would not think twice about joining. I hope to be back soon! Be sure to download the map of the area before coming here as I lost cell service on the way.

Amazing course. I came here for 9 holes and it was truly a great experience. The course was a great…read morebeginner course. I think this is definitely a good course to work on skills. It was also very well maintained and the staff were helpful and very informative. Not to mention the pricing was also amazing.

Park was nice. Nice pavilion to have lunch. Bathrooms were clean. Really good softball fields.read more

Really wanted to give a zero. Sept 2022 a blonde female (White Chevy Traverse PA ZFX-2595) arrived…read moreand went after my 5 yr old Autistic son as he was playing with an unsecured garden hose, she then proceeded to tell me about him not playing in the water. The water wasn't on. My son cannot turn on an outside spigot. I never taught him that. She then went inside the concession stand, my son apparently had followed as she left the door open. She then was in my face saying that he couldn't be inside...no shit..she was combative until I told her that he was Autistic, non-verbal and that he doesn't understand. I was notified again about the garden hose on 10 October by a male (Red Chevy truck PA ZCJ-2967) with blonde in the passenger seat. These persons are connected to The Athlete's Edge in Greencastle, PA. I've suggested a locking hose reel and a water key. If you have children this isn't the place for them. I've never gone after other people's children the way these persons do. Unsafe and aggressive

This small pocket park at the corner of Church Street and Main Street in Thurmont was a nice spot…read morefor a stop. There is no free parking immediately nearby but I found a spot in a store parking lot across the street. The park features some very pretty landscaping and plantings, a number of tables and a small gazebo. There is also a Little Free Library, a notice board and a caption that provides some history of the Town of Thurmont that used to be called Mechanicstown. [Review 15584 overall - 632 in Maryland - 1088 of 2021.]