![]() ![]() ![]() Now in charge at one of Pittsburgh’s most traditional munis, Houser said while accompanying me for a few holes that he has a vision to turn Grand View “into one of the best public courses in western Pennsylvania.” A Pittsburgh-born, lifelong devotee of the game, Houser cut his teeth in the PGA down South, mostly in Georgia, before returning to the area last year to work as an assistant pro. The TLC currently being given to the Grand View turf is part of a reinvestment in the property by ownership, and overseen by first-year head pro Josh Houser. Nevertheless, there were a couple of occasions when I played ‘preferred lies’ from a pockmarked fairway or two. I’ve mentioned here that I prefer a firm course over a soft one - lucky me in 2020! - so seeing some brown out there doesn’t bother me much. There were noticeable burned-out patches on most of the fairways as well, although the greens were still entirely receptive. Unfortunately, over the course of this dry, hot summer, turf conditioning has become an issue.ĭuring my July visit, the teeing grounds were undergoing a needed facelift, with a full dose of vertical mowing in addition to re-sodding. I didn’t have my best and the course exposed me.Ī look down the 10th (left), first (center), and sixth (right) holes at Grand View Golf Club. I’m a pretty steady 4-handicap these days, but I hovered around bogey golf on the first weekend of May. Take my results at Grand View this summer, for instance. The stretch from 12 through 17, in particular, stands out in terms of putting a premium on accuracy. It’s no exaggeration to say that you could lose a ball on nearly every hole if you don’t have your swing tamed to a decent degree. Make no mistake, though, this place brings some serious bite. I’m talking elevated greens and downhill approaches, obviously, but also landing areas for drives (and layups) that require a good deal of thought beforehand. The variety of targets in your sights at Grand View is about as extensive as you’ll see in the region. I alternated between marveling at the grand views (har har) and figuring out how to navigate these choppy waters. Your mileage may vary, but on a recent visit, I pulled driver just four times in 18 holes, and one of those was definitely a mistake that I got away with.Īt the same time, don’t equate a healthy caution off the tee with a lack of enjoyment. Typically, I’m the type of golfer who appreciates a little space to smack the driver, but Grand View is the kind of place that twists your arm and demands discipline. It took some serious creativity and engineering ingenuity to tuck 18 holes onto this sloping property.īut the lack of distance belies a diverse, exacting golf experience that sticks with the player long after the round is done. Like many courses tucked into the severe topography of western Pennsylvania, Grand View doesn’t have much room to stretch as it meanders and slaloms along. Sounds like a rollercoaster at Kennywood, which is appropriately located just across the river valley. The tagline, emblazoned across the side panels of the golf carts at Grand View Golf Club, grabs your attention.
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