This Practice Round was a Bethlehem Steal

Bethlehem Golf Club/Executive Course
Bethlehem, Pa.
Yards: 4906, Par 68
Score: Practice Round
Date: May 24, 2008

While doing the "family thing" in the Lehigh Valley over the Memorial Day weekend, I got an opportunity to get in an 18 hole practice round at the Bethlehem Golf Club's nine-hole Executive Course on Saturday. The course is part of a the City of Bethlehem's magnificent golf facility located along Illicks Mill Road. In addition to the Executive Course, there is a 36 bay Driving Range (second picture below) and an 18-hole course that plays over 6200 yards from the white tees (down from its original 6674 yards). But with my lack of on-course experience this season, I decided on a practice round at the Executive Course, which I considered a steal at only $14 for green fees.
Like most nine-hole courses, Bethlehem's Executive Course features split tees: white for the front nine and blue for the back nine. The front plays shorter at 2325 yards, while the back nine plays from 2581 yards. There are seven Par 4s and two Par 3s for a Par of 34 per nine holes. Total, the Bethlehem Executive Course plays to an 18 hole Par 68 at a total of just over 4900 yards. While the course is fairly wide open, several holes play either uphill or downhill, and the greens are small, raised, undulating and very fast; it's almost like trying to putt on uneven linoleum. Because of the recent rains, the rough was also a bit thick.

For this particular practice round, I left my 3-Wood out of the bag, opting instead for my 15-degree Nickent 3DX DC Utility hybrid. I drove the ball fairly well off the tee, but because there are no yardage markers on the fairways, I often found myself under-clubbing on my second shots. The windy conditions didn't help matters, as it was often difficult to judge what direction the wind was coming from. My short game was also extremely rusty and putting was a nightmare. But it felt good to be out on the course hitting shots and trying to get the ball in the hole.

Here's a short breakdown on the holes at Bethlehem's Executive Course (the yardages are listed for the front and back nine):

Hole #1/10, 319/338 yards -- A slight dogleg left (first picture above), the fairway is guarded by pine trees on the left and right. Two bunkers guard the raised green.

Hole #2/11, 274/300 yards -- From an elevated tee, the hole plays downhill with the fairway sloping to the right. The green (below) sits atop a mound, with a bunker to the right.
Hole #3/12, 276/303 yards -- This hole plays uphill, with a row of pines protecting Illicks Mill Road down the left side. The fairway slopes to the left and the green is also raised, with a shallow bunker short and the right of the green.

Hole #4/13, 265/288 yards -- From an elevated tee, the hole straight downhill to a green that is a slight dogleg left. Rough protects the whole left side, with a bunker short of the green to the left. Behind the raise green is an extreme drop-off and certain death for any approach shot that is long.

Hole #5/14, 109/127 yards -- The first Par 3 is a wide, but shallow green that is raised and slopes severely from right to left.

Hole #6/15, 360/372 yards -- The longest Par 4 on the course, it doglegs left. Rough and trees hinder shots on the left that don't reach the dogleg or run through the fairway on the right. The green is two-tiered with a severe back-to-front slope.

Hole #7/16, 320/350 yards -- A fairway bunker on the right side can collect short tee shots, but the fairway is generous. The green is again raised and undulating; second shots should land short and run up on the green.

Hole #8/17, 132/151 yards -- An uphill Par 3 (below) that features a small raised green that slopes severely from back to front. A bunker short right and three large pines can interfere with stray shots.
Hole #9/18, 324/352 yards -- A straight away Par 4 that plays slightly downhill to another raised, undulating green. A few pine trees left and right of the fairway can hinder approach shots if you stray far enough from the fairway.

Photos by The Muni Golfer