(POCONO MOUNTAINS, PA) – Labor Day is next week, which means fall is right around the corner. But there are still two solid months of golf remaining in the beautiful Pocono Mountains (www.800poconos.com), where ideal conditions and stunning vistas make fall the favorite time of year for many golfers.
It’s also a great time to follow the foliage, north to south, by combining fall rounds on some of the region’s 35 courses with a family vacation and some exciting seasonal events. To ensure the leaves are at their peak color, check the Fall Foliage Forecast (570.421.5565), which provides weekly updates from mid-September through the end of October.
FALL FUN:
• Harvest and Heritage Days (570.253.5492; www.visithonesdalepa.com) in historic downtown Honesdale, set for October 8 and 9, is perfect for every member of the family. This popular festival features music, a wing and chili taste-off, an antique car cruise, craft vendors, old-fashioned hay rides and pumpkin painting.
• Pennsylvania’s first Ironman 70.3 Pocono Mountains triathlon (http://www.ironmanpoconomountains.com) is scheduled for October 2, in and around the scenic Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The event begins in Bushkill and concludes with a finish down Main Street in historic Stroudsburg. Ironman 70.3 Series races consist of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile run. The day also will include a multisport expo and other interactive events.
• Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Days (570.325.5810; www.jimthorpe.org/) are held in Jim Thorpe on Saturdays and Sundays through October 23. There’s truly something for the entire family during these fall foliage weekends. Train rides, vendors, crafters and goodies from the Jim Thorpe Farmers Market are always popular. Or rent a bike and ride in the surrounding hills or along the Lehigh River on the newly-opened rail-trail. There’s also free entertainment at different venues throughout downtown, and seasonal specials at restaurants and shops.
FALL GOLF:
• The Country Club at Woodloch Springs and Skytop Golf Course are wonderful golf options near Honesdale. Woodloch Springs, nationally recognized by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine, is an immaculately conditioned, challenging gem, but four tee boxes make it fun for all handicap and age levels. The fall-foliage views on the 16th hole are alone worth the green fee. The 6,656-yard Skytop has received 4.5 (out of 5) stars in Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play.” The popular layout features wide, tree-lined fairways and small, challenging greens.
• Fernwood Hotel & Resort Golf Course and Mountain Manor Golf Club are both convenient for fans traveling to the Ironman 70.3 Pocono Mountains on October 2. Fernwood’s course, located in Bushkill, features beautiful surroundings, making it a perfect way to relax. Mountain Manor, with three nines averaging 3,260 yards apiece, also features lovely views, as well as a newly renovated golf shop, bar and grill.
• Jack Frost National – one of Golfweek’s top-10 “Courses You Can Play” in the state – sprawls across 200 acres of magnificent terrain 2,000 feet above sea level. The 7,200-yard beauty features forgiving fairways and undulating greens surrounded by wooded valleys that explode in fall colors. There’s also an impressive state-of-the-art practice facility.
FALL DEALS:
• Woodloch Resort’s (570.685.8000) Stay and Play Package includes lodging for one night in a beautiful guest home, 18 holes of golf with cart and range balls, dinner in one of the Woodloch Dining Rooms, nightly entertainment, and use of all resort facilities and amenities with endless activities. Guests receive a 10% breakfast and lunch discount, and 10% pro shop discount. Available seven days a week through October 31, rates start at $239 per person, per night, based on adult double occupancy, plus tax and service charge. Restrictions may apply. For more information visit: http://woodloch.com.
• The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, celebrating its centennial this year, offers a Golf Package (570.424.4000) that includes overnight accommodations, breakfast, cart, and green fees for 18 holes on its 18-hole championship island course. Available seven days a week through November 19, midweek rates start at $108 per person, per night. Includes tax and service charge. For more information visit: www.shawneeinn.com
• Chateau Resort & Conference Center (570.629.5900), located in Tannersville, offers a “Golf ‘N Stay Package: Fore for Four” special, which includes mountainside accommodations; 18 holes of golf (including cart) at a choice of nearby Jack Frost National, Buck Hill Falls Golf Club or Mount Airy Golf Club; a healthy start grab ‘n go; 20% discount at the Mountainview Restaurant and Lounge; and 19th Hole Reception cocktail hour featuring complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drink specials. Midweek rates start at $94 per person, per night, based on double occupancy; includes tax and service charge; subject to availability. The special runs seven days a week through October 31. For more information visit: www.chateauresort.com.
About the “Pocono Mountains: Discover Golf’s Great Destination Secret”
The Pocono Mountains has long been known to avid travelers and mountain aficionados for its lush, relaxing family-friendly ambiance and romantic setting, as well as its fall foliage, winter skiing, spring-summer outdoor recreation options and natural beauty. Numerous lakes, parks and other environmental wonderlands are found throughout the four-county Pocono Mountains region.
A venerable destination that has welcomed generations of travelers, the Pocono Mountains has undergone a renaissance over the last few years. While renovations have swept through stately and historic resorts, other properties have joined the mix. Gaming at Mount Airy Casino Resort and the award-winning Jack Frost National — named a “Best New” and “Best You Can Play” course by leading industry publications — are two of the many exciting additions.
Attributes of the golf-and-resort properties and destination include:
• Home to more than 35 golf courses with hundreds of holes for beginners and avid golfers alike; close proximity gives golfers chance to play 36 in a day
• Two NASCAR races held annually
• Golden Era of Golf Architecture period designs strongly represented by legendary designers Donald Ross and A.W. Tillinghast
• Hiking, biking, camping, spas, horseback riding, boating, fishing, hunting and many other activities
• Attractions, festivals and other special events
• Meeting and conference facilities
• Great food at a wide array of eating establishments and resort restaurants
• Bed & breakfasts, country inns and resorts
• Antique shops, outlet malls and other unique shopping venues
Contact:
Janeen Driscoll, Buffalo Communications
910.690.9711
jdriscoll@buffalocommunications.com
www.twitter.com/PoconoTourism
Gary Trask, Buffalo Communications
978.228.0314
gtrask@buffalocommunications.com
www.facebook.com/PoconoTourism
