Beauty and Brawn Combine for a Special Course
From its inception, Moselem Springs Golf Club’s course in Fleetwood, Pa. has been considered one of the finest championships layouts in the region, and country for that matter.
This George Fazio design is a stunningly scenic test of skill and has hosted a U.S. Women’s Open, as well as state and regional tournaments. And it continues to dazzle those playing the scenic and challenging routing. A lot of clubs bill themselves as a country club for a day, but Moselem Springs is just that for those who play the almost 7,000-yard course (from the tips), which plays to a par of 70.
The club was owned by the Flippin family since the early 1960’s and was sold to Jaindl Farms (a major agricultural/development company in Lehigh Valley) this year and is now managed by Kemper Sports. “We have seen steady play again this season as golf has experienced a resurgence the last few years,” reported Head Golf Professional, Brett Nelson. “The golf course has been in great shape all year and the members have been enjoying it.”
Nelson continued, “Moselem Springs is a very scenic and serene golf course, so it feels like a getaway for members and guests while challenging all levels of golfers. Our local members range from Reading to Allentown, while our non-resident members come from all around us, many from Philadelphia and New Jersey areas. Moselem has a traditional layout with difficult greens. It was a tree-lined course for many years but recent tree removal has opened up sight lines to many holes.”
After a visit from Tom Fazio recently, the club announced that new improvements are coming to Moselem Springs. Fazio visited Moselem Springs and its sister course, The Club at Twin Lakes, with a vision for the future of the Jaindl Family-owned courses. While visiting Moselem Springs, a course he helped his uncle George Fazio build as a teenager, Fazio discussed a master plan for the golf course.
Upgrades to be made within the clubhouse start with an enhanced member dining experience. This includes comfortable lounge seating added to the lobby, and additional televisions installed in the clubhouse and on the patio. After thorough examination of the golf course, improvements under the direction of Fazio will include softening (lessening the slope) of a few back nine greens this fall, and additional tree planting to better camouflage the clubhouse and the parking area. Forward and senior tees are also in review for potential renovation.
The course at Moselem Springs Golf Club has several sets of tees that offer a playable and enjoyable round for all levels of golfers, including juniors and beginners. The course was the vision of Hawley Quier, former publisher of the Reading Eagle newspaper in Reading, Pa., who came from a golfing family. In Quier’s words, “Some years ago, on what must have been the hottest day of that summer, I sought relief for mind and spirit in the spring-fed pond on what was termed the ‘family farm’ at Moselem Springs. Moments later, raising my head from the surface of the water, I recall, vividly looking over the terrain and saying to myself, ‘What a wonderful natural setting for a golf course!’”Quier’s daydream came true with skillful planning, design, and construction.
If you are a fader of the ball off the tee it will serve you well at Moselem Springs, as a number of holes trend that way from tee to green. But, there are several doglegs left that will necessitate you draw the ball, or at least bend it a tad to the left off the tee box.
The 401-yard par-four first hole is, of course, a slight dogleg right that is otherwise fairly uncomplicated. The second is also a slight dogleg right that plays 405 yards from the tips. The third hole is a strong par-three, playing 193 yards. The fourth hole plays lightly downhill with the straightaway par-four measuring just under 400 yards. The fifth is another par-three that plays almost 200 yards and features a tee shot over water to a green that is heavily bunkered.
The sixth hole is a slight dogleg left, a 412-yard par-four that sets you up for the seventh, a rather short par-five that is one of only two long holes on the course. It can be reached in two by the big hitters if you put your tee shot on this dogleg right at or around the bend of the fairway.
The eighth is a very strong,474-yard par-four where two solid shots are a must to get to the green, and the ninth is a shorter par-four playing 371, but there is a stream that runs along the left side. The 10th is a par-four of around 400 yards, which leads to the 11th, another dogleg right hole off the tee.
The 12th is a dogleg left, 506-yard par-five that has bunkers you must avoid. If you hit it long the green on 12 can be reached in two to set up an eagle or birdie opportunity. The 13th is a very long par-three, playing 228 yards, and has most players hitting a 3- or 5-wood off the tee.
The 14th is a straightaway, tough par-four playing almost 450 yards from the championship markers. The 15th is a rather short, 165-yard par-three, but bunkers guard the front of the green, making proper club selection a must.
The round concludes with three par-fours, the first and second of which play around 400 yards. The 18th is around 450 yards from the back and has a stream on the right running all the way to the green. It’s a real pretty finale and recording a par will make the food and beverages taste better in the clubhouse after your round.
An indication of the strength of Moselem Springs is its slope and rating; 136 from and 73.1 respectively from the back tees that total 6,826 yards. The next tees down play 6,580 yards and plays to a slope of 132, while the third markers down measure 6,056 yards and have a slope of 128. The forward tees play 5.766 yards, have a slope of 124, and a rating of 67.4.
The practice facilities at Moselem Springs Golf Club feature a large putting green, a driving range and a short game specialty area. The driving range tee affords the player a chance to hit a few balls and loosen up before play because of its nearby location to the first tee. A short game specialty area lets the player to be creative by using approach areas, and a practice putting green is also located close to the first tee. It is a good test before you start your round as it is fast, and has undulation which creates breaking putts that you will find on the course. Complimentary range balls are available at the driving range and short game specialty area.
Whether it’s a business venture or an outing with your closest friends, Moslem Springs has stay and play packages to accommodate your needs. There is a conference room for business, and you can enjoy a breakfast menu offered exclusively to overnight guests when they book a stay and play package.
The club is offering specials for residents, non-residents and national members. Contact Nancy Murphy at 610-944-7616, extension 22 for more information.
Moslem Springs Golf Club
Fleetwood, Pa.
610-944-7616
www.MoselemGolf.com
