Penn State Golf Courses, University Park, PA

I played this course yesterday, and the course was in very nice shape. The sand was fluffy and light, the fairways (what little I saw of them) were in good shape, and the greens were soft and held nicely. The course was well worth the price, as my group all had American Cancer Society golf books, with which you only pay the cart fees (also good for several other courses in the area). A wonderful treat for a duffer like me.

Overall I really like the course and its layout, but I was left quite a bit disappointed by the conditions. It’s been a hot dry summer thus far and thus totally expect that any non irrigated / wild areas to be brown and dry. However, a lot of the primary play surfaces such as tee boxes and fairways also had large patches of dead totally dry grass and/or nuisance species that have crept in and overtaken the grass. A few other things like the odd dandelion growing out of a bunker wall or sand that was hard and compacted also just contributed to the impression that course maintenance was being left to slide a bit.
As things were on the day I played, I’d say the current conditions do not justify the prices being charged. However, if the maintenance was a bit better I’d happily pay to play here again since I really did enjoy the course itself.

I didn't let the name "Penn State" determine my review...I based my review in comparison to over 150 other courses I've rated. Sorry...there wasnt' anything about the Blue Course that made it any more special than other courses costing much less. Sure it is mid-summer when the fairways are continuosly watered and the rough somewhat burnt...greens somewhat chewed and the round somewhat hot. But from tee to green, there just wasn't that special "catch of the eye" to a course that cost over $50 a person. The only holes I would consider scenic are the Par 3 14th over a pond with a fountain and the Par 4 15th with a swarm of traps on the right side of the rough. Bunker placements in the fairways on the back offered more challenge to some of the drives, but I found that by hitting the ball straight (which is what you're supppose to do), there was little trouble. It's a good round of golf...but nothing out of the ordinary...just pricey for what it is.