Deep in the Sewickely suburb of Pittsburgh lies Allegheny Country Club, a great club with a unique old-style feel. As you drive through the winding roads of Sewickley and through the ACC entrance it’s as if you’re taking a step back in time. The stately clubhouse sits atop the property with views of the surrounding course and rolling hillside. A calm club atmosphere greets you as you make your way to the first tee.
The front nine matches traditional feel perfectly. The holes wind through the property with stone walls bordering the perimeter. The opening tee is lined with adirondack chairs perfect for spectating. It’s an intimidating tee shot and a shot offline brings the local police department into play, which is just on the other side of the main driveway. The short par-4 prompts many to layup, however a long enough drive clears the trouble making for a straightforward approach to a small target. A great risk reward hole.
The par-4 second hole winds downhill with O.B. on the right. The left-to-right sloping fairway brings fescue into play down the left side. The approach is tough to judge, especially to a back pin as its downhill to an angled green.
The third hole is a great par-3 playing significantly downhill and plays about 160-170 from the men’s tee. The back to front green makes for tough up and downs, especially if you’re long. A good short game pays dividends on this hole.
After that, you take a walking incline up pulley up to the 4th tee, a feature I’ve never seen elsewhere (see above picture). The fourth is an uphill par-4 with bunkers guarding the left side. The approach is up and over the hillside to a small green at the intersection of the entrance with stone walls bordering, a beautiful sight.
The great mix of holes continues on the short par-4 sixth that borders the road, to an elevated postage stamp green. It’s tempting to pull out the driver, but the green is nearly impossible to hold, and the surrounding bunkers (especially left) will put your short game to the test.
The sixth hole is a long par-5 that doglegs slightly left, with a fairway that is strategically sloping away from the green down to the bottom of the hill. If you hit it too far, the approach becomes more difficult up to the elevated green with a false front. The large green complex slopes left to right, sending errant chips and putts back down the fairway.
The seventh hole heads back up towards the clubhouse with a creek running between the end of the fairway and the green. Laying up makes for a semi-blind approach if you’re too far back. The best approach being from 120-140 out, however a drive to that distance brings the hazard into play – a clever design. The wild swails on the green undulate into a bowl in the front of the green. Any pin in the bowl creates eagle opportunities, however a pin up to makes for easy 3+ putts.
The creek in front of the sixth winds through the eighth, brining water into play on the scenic par-3. Another challenging back to front green makes this medium length par-3 a terrific hole.
The front nine closes on a stout uphill par-4, the no. 1 handicap hole. The ninth is a hole that requires two really solid shots to get home in regulation. The massive green sits atop the hill, and as I learned first hand, even when on in two can leave you a very long uphill putt. A terrific end to an old style front nine that makes amazing use of the land.
As you head to the back nine, you transition from the quaint parkland course to a open links style layout. The scene from the 10th is beautiful, looking out over much of the back nine. The par-5 is a great downhill driving hole to a left-to-right winding fairway. Trouble lurks left, and going right adds significantly distance to the lengthy hole. The small green makes shorter approaches more favorable, but it takes two great shots to get within that distance.
The eleventh sits at the bottom of the hill and heads back toward the clubhouse, making for a breathtaking view of the clubhouse. It’s a straight way hole with an elevated green, easing you back into the nine after the stout tenth.
The twelfth is a classic Western PA hole up and over the hillside with tree line on the right. The approach is downhill to a narrow green stretching from front to back. Accuracy is the key on this medium length par-4.
The first par-3 of the back nine follows, with the thirteenth featuring an uphill tee shot to a very difficult back to front green (a common theme at ACC). Fast greens make being above the hole dangerous, even from close range.
The fourteenth has a similar feel to the eleventh, although a tougher driving hole, semi-blind as the fairway winds down the hillside. Most drives roll to the bottom of the hill, which is the key to having an attackable approach.
After a tough stretch of holes, the short par-3 fifteenth gives you a sigh of relief and a potential birdie opportunity with the short approach. Although short, the Tiny Tim style green makes for a small target.
The home stretch consists of three challenging par-4’s, which’s puts an exclamation make on the championship golf course. No lead is safe as you tee off on the sixteenth, straight up the hill to yet another a severe back to front green. Hitting the fairway is key as the big false front makes judging the second shot a challenge.
Seventeen and eighteen border and fit more closely with the holes on the front nine. The seventeenth is a downhill par-4 to a green that slopes away from you, a really clever design and use of the topography. The hole winds ever so slightly downhill. With the green sloping away from you, it’s paramount to get your approach past the pin. Otherwise, it’s a putt or pitch that is tough to stop.
The home hole heads right back to the clubhouse and is a very straightforward but lengthy hole that sharing fairways with seventeen. The narrow green makes longer approaches tough to get close. If trying to close out a championship, making par is not a given.
Overall, Allegheny Country Club exudes excellence in every way. The pristine course and clubhouse are unique from other country club’s both in the area and elsewhere. The mix of parkland and links golf keeps you on your toes and the laid back atmosphere makes for a relaxing escape. It’s a place that both serious and aspiring golfers can appreciate.
George Wolfe