Fernwood Hotel and Resort in Bushkill, Pa., was Styled to a Tee’s third stop in our groundbreakingPennsylvania Is a Swing Stateseries. And by being last, the property got one lucky break and one not so lucky. We’ll start with the unfortunate. My partner, Robert, developed a crick in his neck overnight and begged off playing a third round in three days. I’m not certain whether he was heeding caution to dodge more serious injury, or to prevent further lightening of his wallet. Regardless, missing his aesthetic sensibility is Fernwood’s loss, almost as much as our readers.
On the positive side, however, after getting over the disappointment of being left to play alone, my mood immediately lifted at the prospect of playing for the third time in as many days, the first time that has happened in over a year. I reasoned: as well as I had been driving the ball lately I might be able to take advantage of Fernwood’s shorter course. Without burying the lead, I was right, shooting 80, a score I’ll take almost any day. Full disclosure here: I can honestly say my enjoyment of the course was not affected by heady play. Even if the result hadn’t been so encouraging, Fernwood has features that still would have beckoned me for a return trip.
Here’s one such example. The day I played was election Tuesday and I had to make it back to New York City at a decent hour to vote. I walked into Fernwood’s golf shop already bracing myself for having to spend perfunctory time talking to a public relations professional or making small talk with the head pro, but, instead, Fernwood’s PGA professional Rich Millard received me warmly, and, knowing I was in a bit of a rush, gave me some quick pointers about the course — including something to the effect that the first few holes are very straightforward, and the real action starts at number 5 — and then sent me on my way. So, pressed for time, I was loving this place already.
Like other courses reviewed on our site, I played from the tips (back tees). At Fernwood, however, that only stretched the distance to 6,174 yards. As forewarned, the first four holes were short and without the type of challenges usually protecting such holes. I started evenly enough, opening with four straight fours (two holes are par threes) but even with a two-par, two-bogey start I had the feeling that I could post a reasonable score. True to Millard’s scouting report, Fernwood’s fifth is where the course’s character began to reveal itself, as the mountain layout took me up slopes where tilting fairways, sidehill lies and treacherous greens prevailed.
To give you an idea of the difficulty of the greens: on the long 200-yard par-three 16th hole, I hit a 7-wood to the front edge of the green. I had about 35-uphill feet to the pin. My first putt nearly made it to the hole but, upon coming up two feet short, reversed course back to my feet. I hit my second attempt much firmer, so much so that it rolled a good six feet past the cup with about four feet of unintended pull (missing left). If not for a very clutch draining of the remaining 10 footer, I would have double bogeyed, severely damaging my psyche with two holes left to play.
My fragile outlook undamaged, I teed off on 17, blasting it down the middle. On the way past the foursome who had graciously let me play through on the 15th, I attempted to return the favor by suggesting they exercise caution on the 16th green. Their response: "We know. We play, ‘Once you get on that green, it’s an automatic two-putt,’ and we pick up our balls. You could putt that green forever."
When you play Fernwood I would suggest anything less than 36 putts a round is rolling it well. I took 34 and, as a reward, I offer Fernwood a free marketing pitch: "Take the Fernwood Challenge. Three-putt fewer than three greens and win a free round of golf. Prize redeemable midweek only. Must be attested to by credible playing partner." Or something to that effect.
Upon completion of my round, I did wonder who takes the architectural credit for Fernwood. The card says Nicholas Psiahas in 1968. While I don’t knowPsiahas, further research reveals that he’s the architect of record forBlackhead Mountainin the northern Catskill region of New York State. Robert’s report on Blackhead is that as a golf course, it would make an excellent ski slope. But if it were a ski slope, you’d certainly think it would make for a memorable golf course.
In fairness, he says, that while Psiahas is credited with that golf course, it’s unclear whether he did the entire design, as nine holes date from 1990 and another nine — ostensibly most of the holes on the upper half of the mountain — are from 1999. Robert says Blackhead is a twisting track right out of the Rockies with blind shots, picturesque vistas and a number of memorable holes. Also, playing late one season, he was accosted by a randy eight-point stag who bounded within 10 feet of him, forcing him (and here I mean Robert) to assume an aggressive response, regrip his mid-iron and start flailing back as the stag got within about 10 feet.
But enough about golf. Robert claims that my sporting and leisure tastes run to extremes: golf and Nascar; soccer and water skiing. Well, he can add horseback riding to the list. My eyes lit up as I was rolling into Fernwood’s parking lot because there is a rather impressive stable with rentals available for guests’ riding pleasure.
That’s but one of the unknown delights of many Pocono’s area resorts, they really are four-season destinations. As part of Fernwood’s 440 acres, in addition to golf and horseback riding, the resort offers indoor and outdoor pools, live entertainment, four themed restaurants and daily scheduled activities. Gina Bertucci, Fernwood’s vice-president of marketing, showed me how guests might spend a typical day at the resort and what that itinerary would look like.
Sounds so good, the next time I visit I might just follow that schedule "to a tee!" — Rico Williams
[Editor's note: A phone call to Blackhead Mountain Lodge confirms that Nicholas Psiahas, who is no longer alive, was indeed the architect for both nines. Further, Blackhead Mountain was the last course he did before retiring. Though he created the plans for the back nine, he was less involved in the contruction.]