
Highlands Course
Highlands of Donegal

About this course
The Highlands of Donegal sits in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, a region of rolling farmland in Lancaster County. Designed by Ed Bedell, the course occupies terrain characteristic of southeastern Pennsylvania's piedmont landscape, where gentle elevation changes and open agricultural land provide the canvas for golf architecture. Bedell, a regional architect active in the Mid-Atlantic, worked to incorporate the natural contours of the property into the routing. The layout moves across varied topography, with holes that rise and fall through the property's natural ridges and valleys. The design takes advantage of elevation changes to create visual interest and strategic variety, asking players to manage uphill and downhill approaches as well as shots across sloping fairways. Mature trees frame many holes, and water features come into play on several, adding both aesthetic definition and tactical considerations to the round. The Highlands of Donegal operates as a semi-private facility, welcoming both members and daily-fee play. The club serves the local golfing community in Lancaster County and draws visitors from the broader Pennsylvania region. Its accessibility and setting in Pennsylvania Dutch Country make it a practical option for golfers seeking a round in the area, and the clubhouse provides standard amenities typical of courses in this market segment.
Quick facts
- Location
- Mount Joy, PA, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1998
- Designer
- Ed Bedell
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,469 yards
- Difficulty
- 71.8/130
Getting there
The journey to Highlands of Donegal begins at either Philadelphia International or Baltimore/Washington International, each roughly an hour and a quarter's drive from the rolling farmland of Lancaster County. The route northwest from either hub traces a gentle arc through Pennsylvania Dutch country, where the urban corridor gradually yields to open pastures, weathered barns, and the occasional horse-drawn buggy - a landscape that feels deliberately unhurried. As you approach Mount Joy, the terrain begins to swell into modest ridges and wooded hollows, the final miles unfolding along quiet country roads that lead to the club's secluded gates, where the Old World name hints at the dramatic, links-inspired terrain waiting beyond.

FAQ
Common questions about Highlands
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Highlands was designed by Ed Bedell.
Yes. Highlands is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Highlands is 71.
Highlands plays 6,469 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Highlands is 130.
Highlands is a 18-hole course.



