Bethlehem Golf Club, Bethlehem, PA

I played Bethlehem about three or four times in the past (three to five years ago). I always had a wonderful experience (played once with a Lehigh University Journalism Professor who went to school with Tom Weiskopf - great stories). I was in the area recently and decided to play the course again. The staff was friendly and helpful as always. Unfortunately, the conditioning of the course has gone down, in my opinion. My earlier impression was that Bethlehem was a top conditioned muni, but not at this time. The greens are still very challenging (you better be on the proper side of the hole), but some were a bit beat up. The fairways were not like I remembered them. Maybe my opinion is clouded because on the last hole I hit a nice drive, stuck a mid iron to four feet.....and missed the birdie putt! Bethlehem is still a very interesting municipal track, better than what I am used to where I live, BUT, it has diminished over the past couple of years.

Nothing to write home about but some interesting holes. This is another course that tries to make up for a lack of distance with severely sloping greens. Tee boxes and fairways can be fairly beat up but greens were a decent speed (at least on the day I played). Helps to know which greens will accept an approach shot and which ones when hit on the front of the green with a high, spinning lob wedge will roll over the back of the green.