Art Wall Jr. Wins Green Jacket
A Pocono Manor regular, Art Wall Jr. brought the club national glory by capturing the 1959 Masters. His membership and victory still give the course a unique place in Pennsylvania golf lore.
The verdict
Hidden Gem in Pocono Mountains
Pocono Manor delivers a legit classic experience: old-school shot values, storied architecture, and strong regional pedigree. Expect strategic mountain golf with Ross and Flynn fingerprints—historic, playable, and tougher than it looks.
Course DNA
Difficulty
73
Scenery81
Conditioning68
Shot Variety78
Walkability67
Green Complexity75
Wow Factor80
Design Quality82
At a glance
Quick facts
Course architects
Donald Ross & William Flynn
Famed member
Art Wall Jr., 1959 Masters champ
Course setting
Rolling Pocono Mountains terrain
Shortest hole
77-yard par 3, 7th
Longest par 4
480 yards, 2nd
Historic events
1961 TV all-star, 1967 Arnold Palmer exhibition
Recent challenges
2019 fire, rapid revival
Club’s mystique
Golden Age mountain retreat with lore
The design
The architecture
Pocono Manor is classic Golden Age mountain golf, shaped by the hands of Donald Ross and William Flynn—two titans who stamped the course’s routing and green complexes with brains and subtlety. The layout winds through rolling Poconos terrain, balancing positional drives and clever angles rather than brute force. Expect shot-making demands, elevation-influenced approaches, and a collection of greens whose old-school slopes reward local savvy.
Donald Ross and William Flynn’s collaboration is visible in the cunning use of elevation and the creative, vintage green shapes—golf’s Golden Age on full display.
Defining features
- Distinctly routed 18 across rugged terrain
- Short and long par 3s, including a wedge-length 7th
- Strategic, angular par 4s favoring shot placement
- Sizable, undulating Ross/Flynn greens
- Minimal earthmoving—routing follows land
- Natural bunkering and sloping approaches
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 2
The Mountain Gauntlet
PAR
4
YARDAGE
480
Stretched to 480 yards and playing uphill, the second is an early proving ground—long, straight, and requiring a tagged drive just to reach the fairway’s best angle. The green sits subtly perched, exacting a premium on a well-struck approach.
Play it smart
Position the tee shot center or left-center to avoid tree trouble and set up a level stance for the lengthy iron or wood approach.
Where it bites
Stray left or short and you’ll face difficult rough and blocked looks; miss right and trees or fairway slopes can kill your scoring chance.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approaches off sidehill or sloped lies
Adjust stance and ball position; trust less club and a punchier swing to control ball flight.
Delicate wedge into the 7th green
Take your highest-lofted wedge, commit to a full but smooth swing, and favor below the hole.
Long iron into the 2nd or 13th
Accept the middle of the green—don’t chase pins here; short is always better than missing long.
Second shot on reachable par 5s
Check your lie on sloping fairways and factor for run-out; better to lay up short than gamble with a downhill or blind shot.
Recovery after missing fairways
Take your medicine—chip back and avoid compounding mistakes; the rough is often thick near trees.
Windy conditions on exposed holes
Club up and keep it under the wind; a lower flight pays off on longer par 3s.
Watch
See it before you play it
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Generally solid but can vary; expect decent greens and some rustic mountain turf, with occasional spots needing care.
Pace
Medium—resort pace with a few natural delays on hilly holes.
Vibe
Historic, unfussy, welcoming atmosphere with a resort-retreat feel.
Dress code
Standard golf attire recommended; no strict enforcement reported.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Get Fit for Uneven Lies
Practice uphill, downhill, and sidehill shots—expect to use these on multiple approaches.
02
Pack for Mixed Weather
The Poconos can see quick shifts—bring light layers and rain gear just in case.
03
Wedges in Top Shape
Sharpen those short irons—a few par 3s and half-wedge shots define the day.
04
Stamina for the Hills
The walk is doable but tiring; stay hydrated and choose good shoes or a push cart.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1911
Donald Ross develops original plans
- 1912
First nine holes open for play
- 1924
William Flynn expansion to 18 holes
- 1959
Resident pro Art Wall Jr. wins Masters
- 1961
Hosts televised all-star golf with Snead, Demaret
- 2012
Historic lodge renovation
- 2019
Fire damages lodge; course restored and reopens
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Golden Age Duo at Work
With Donald Ross laying the first nine and William Flynn finishing out the 18, Pocono Manor’s routing is a rare blend of strategic Ross greens and Flynn’s cunning land use. It’s a living museum of elite early-century golf design.
Surviving the 2019 Fire
After a devastating fire gutted the historic resort, the course was revived—becoming a rally point for local golf culture and a testament to resilience. The fairways were among the first amenities to return.
Arnold Palmer’s Exhibition Match
In 1967, Arnold Palmer teed it up here alongside Art Wall Jr., drawing a massive crowd and leaving a mark on the Manor’s legend as a crossroads for golfing icons.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Art Wall Jr. represented Pocono Manor when he won the 1959 Masters.
2
The shortest hole is just 77 yards—one of the shortest par 3s you'll play.
3
The lodge and course survived a major fire in 2019 and were among the first amenities to reopen.
4
Donald Ross and William Flynn, two architectural titans, both touched the design.
5
Hosted a '60s All-Star TV golf event with legends like Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret.
Build the trip
If you're making a Pocono golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Great Bear Golf Club
Public
Strong Nicklaus layout, regionally admired, easily bookable
Jack Frost National Golf Club
Public / Resort
Modern mountain golf with big views, great complement
Skytop Lodge Golf Course
Resort
Classic resort golf with a scenic, relaxed vibe
Pocono Hills Golf Course
Public
Affordable and playable, close for a second round
Buck Hill Falls Golf Club
Private
Notable classic, historic challenge if you can secure access
Mount Pocono or Tannersville for central access to courses and lodging
Course DNA
If You Like Pocono Manor Golf Course
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match7.4
Stonewall Resort Palmer Course
Roanoke, West VirginiaWhy it matches: Stonewall Resort Palmer Course is a natural next stop after Pocono Manor Golf Course: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match7.8
Astoria Golf & Country Club
Warrenton, OregonWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Astoria Golf & Country Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match7.8
Kebo Valley Club
Bar Harbor, MaineWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Kebo Valley Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Pocono Manor Golf Course.
Community Sentiment
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