Mayapple at Mayapple Golf Links

Mayapple Golf Links sits in the Cumberland Valley near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a region known for its rolling farmland and views toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. Designed by Ron Garl and opened in the mid-1990s, the course occupies former agricultural land that Garl shaped into a links-style layout, though the inland setting and Pennsylvania topography differ from traditional seaside links terrain. The design incorporates open fairways, strategic bunkering, and grassed mounding intended to evoke links characteristics while working within the natural contours of the valley.

The routing takes advantage of elevation changes across the property, with several holes playing uphill or downhill and offering views of the surrounding countryside. Garl's design emphasizes ground game options and wind as a factor, with relatively few trees framing play compared to parkland courses common in the region. Water features come into play on select holes, and the bunkering style reflects Garl's preference for bold, visible hazards that define strategy from the tee and on approaches.

Mayapple functions as a daily-fee facility serving the Carlisle area and travelers along the Interstate 81 corridor. The course provides a contrast to more traditional tree-lined layouts in central Pennsylvania, offering golfers a different strategic challenge through its open design and emphasis on shot placement over forced carries. The property's setting in the Cumberland Valley places it within a region that has produced several notable courses over the past few decades.