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4.6
103 Reviews (103)
5 Stars
64
4 Stars
34
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.5
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.2
96.1%
Recommend this course
99 out of 103 reviews
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5 Stars
0
4 Stars
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3 Stars
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2 Stars
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1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
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0
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0
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Conditions
0
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Recommend this course
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About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Par 71
Length 7025 yards
Slope 143
Rating 73.5

Great Bear Golf Club in East Stroudsburg offers northeast Pennsylvania's only Jack Nicklaus-designed course. Formerly known as Great Bear Golf & C.C., it changed ownership in 2012 but both the quality and popularity of the course have remained constant since it first opened in 1997. The course has garnered plenty of recognition over the years including being ranked as one of he best golf courses in Pennsylvania by both GolfWeek and Golf Digest. Nicklaus utilized the natural features of the site including the lakes and streams, rolling terrain, and abundant wetlands. In addition to all of the natural hazards, he also added nearly 50 strategically placed bunkers. Great Bear is a fair test but Nicklaus incorporated playability into his design as well, giving it appeal for a wide range of skill levels.

Course Details

Year Built 1997
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season April - November
Architect Jack Nicklaus (1997) David Heatwole (1997)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School Academy Yes - "Bird Golf Academy"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed No
Walking Allowed No
Dress code Collared shirt required

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Showers, Lockers, Locker Rooms

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Tennis

Accolades

Reviews

4.6
103 Reviews (103)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Always in dood shape

Good day of golf although it was cold and windy. Didn’t know it was cart path only until I arrived. Still a good day of golf

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 27
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Someone Please Buy It

Booked via TeeOff. Took some convincing to get some folks to drive from Northern NJ to East Stroudsburg, PA (1 Hr. 15 Mins), but finally got our foursome.

Entering the neighborhoods around the Course, you won't feel uncomfortable but you'll be a little surprised at the difficult times that have fallen on the homes - that MIGHT be the theme for the Course but stay tuned.

The immediate neighborhood has some large beautiful houses and well maintained - The Estates at Great Bear I think. Not sure of the entirety but we never saw a car in the area - even with the cart paths crossing the roads.

Pull into the parking lot, 8:51AM tee time, pulled in around 8:15AM. Staff only cars on the lot. Geeked to be playing the Great Bear - download the app at the Starter's Recommendation. 3D Flyovers of the Holes. Great if you've never played it.

Into the clubhouse and into the Pro Shop. Grab myself a beautiful GBGC Polo and my buddy got an awesome Golden Bear hat which had proceeds to charity. Jack's Pub is closed, all dark. Locker room seen better days. Some furniture storage, lots of unusable areas (Showers, TV/Couches). Clubhouse is like the land that time forgot. Just not getting the traffic - hard to justify it being any other way.

Get out on the course. Foursome in front of us did NOT hit the pace of play times listed on the cards. Must've been some money tossed around. Ranger and Pro Shop Clerk pushed em along a bit - tried to maintain the pace.

Tee boxes were in good shape. Cart paths need a refresher. Course has a beautiful layout. Challenging holes. Unbelievable landscape. Lots lots of fun. Def need an injection of funds to work on some of the landscaping areas and issues. Cleat cleaners were out. Garbage pails were out. No beer cart girl but it was a bit cold and rained on the back Nine.

Was approximately a 5 Hour Round. We were sandwiched with a few groups. Had one Twosome skip a hole on us and cause a bigger traffic jam. Ended up back behind the starting foursome. Rain didn't help the speed for some reason too.

Finished off a beautiful round with Jack's Pub for a transfusion and a burger with fries/onion rings and some wings. Staff was wonderful. Gotta feel for these folks not seeing the traffic this course deserves.

So yes - Someone Please Buy It. Small investments, lots into marketing. Establish a larger membership. This course should be rolling in the dough vs. some of the trash courses we pay in Northern NJ for snails pace boring golf.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 12
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Gem in Eastern PA

Played Great Bear for the first time this weekend with some college buddies. What a fantastic track. Great conditions and tremendous staff. Bring a straight tee ball as the course is tight in places, but fair. We will be back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 147
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 100 Contributor
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A must play

This is one of my favorite courses to play it’s not an easy course but it’s always in great shape a jack Nicolas design that he actually was on site for, the greens are always In great shape an fast tea boxes are always in great shape as are the fairways the rough is reasonable .The only negative thing that I have is people should fix the ball marks on the greens but definitely play this course

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 47
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Quick round

The course was in great shape especially after the rain last night. Driving the fairways except for one and the par 3s helped keep pace moving. The greens are very good and the fairways were clean and cut. No hastles with leaves yet. Round was only 3 hours but I was playing alone so for me this turned out terrific. Well worth the time to play this course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Like this course

We like this track and the conditions were good. They they were missing the ball washers on the tee boxes and the have no restaurant service during the pandemic but the course was in good condition.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

First Class

Awesome golf course and with 5 sets of tees - great for every level of play. Great staff, friendly and helpful.
Very special Nicklaus layout..

Only negative was 5 hour round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Love this course!

Every hole is unique in approach and technique required to hit par. The green ran true. The scenery fantastic and it’s always a treat to come and play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course

A great experience despite the COVID issues we all face. On arrival the staff took clubs and gave us all information we needed.
Driving range is a few minutes away from clubhouse so plan accordingly.
Course layout is great from the back tees and the greens are typical Nicklaus greens which are challenging if you don’t have the right angle into each green.
Greens aren’t great considering the traffic the course is facing and lots of ball marks not replaced meaning you’ll be frustrated with some bouncers.
Cart girl doesn’t come until 10-11am at the earliest.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 43
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 43
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 43
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
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