Private

Back 9 Course

Centre Hills Country Club

State College, PA, USA
matttomczuk
9 holesPar 363,507 yds39.2/137

About this course

The Back 9 at Centre Hills Country Club is a nine-hole course in State College, Pennsylvania, designed by Ed Ault with contributions from Francis James. Centre Hills itself dates to the early twentieth century and sits in the Nittany Valley near Penn State University, serving as a golf facility for the local community in central Pennsylvania's rolling terrain. Ed Ault, a prolific mid-century architect who designed and renovated hundreds of courses primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, brought practical routing sensibilities to projects of varying scales. His work typically emphasized playability and efficient use of available land. The involvement of Francis James suggests either original collaboration or subsequent modifications, though specific details of their respective contributions are not widely documented. The course occupies terrain characteristic of the region—moderate elevation changes, tree-lined corridors, and the kind of compact routing common to nine-hole layouts serving university towns and smaller communities. As a nine-hole facility, it offers a straightforward round for members and guests, likely featuring a mix of par threes, fours, and fives that can be played twice from different tees for an eighteen-hole experience. Centre Hills functions as a traditional community club in a college town setting, providing accessible golf in an area where Penn State athletics and academic life dominate the local culture. The course serves both recreational golfers and those connected to the university community.

Quick facts

Location
State College, PA, USA
Access
Private
Year built
1992
Holes
9
Par
36
Length
3,507 yards
Difficulty
39.2/137

Getting there

The journey to Centre Hills Country Club begins at University Park Airport, a compact regional hub just minutes from the club, or for those connecting from further afield, Harrisburg International Airport roughly ninety minutes to the southeast. The drive into State College traces the contours of central Pennsylvania's Nittany Valley, where rolling farmland gradually gives way to the wooded ridges that cradle Penn State's college town. As you climb into the hills east of campus, the landscape turns quieter and more secluded, the final approach winding through mature hardwood forest before emerging at the club's understated entrance - a fitting arrival to one of the region's most enduring private retreats.

FAQ

Common questions about Back 9 at Centre Hills Country Club

Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.

Back 9 was designed by Ed Ault and Francis James.

Back 9 at Centre Hills Country Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.

Par at Back 9 is 36.

Back 9 plays 3,507 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.

The slope rating at Back 9 is 137.

Back 9 is a 9-hole course.

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