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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
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Conditions
0
Value
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Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
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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)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

SGEMEM

Always enjoyable playing this track . Pace of play always steady, course always in good shape and the staff is very accommodating. Could have helped to see the cart girls a few more times during the round especially w/o water in the course. A suggestion get rid of the noodles in the cup.... no longer necessary. Great spit and time.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

I was supposed to have a tee time for 9-5 at 910am but Great Bear said I didn't have one but got us out anyway but i noticed it was switched to 9-8. Please refund my money.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 95
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Philly Advisor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Classic Nicklaus - some oddities with club

The design was what I thought from what little I know about Nicklaus design methods. I had to play a variety of shots, but my swing was 'on' so it didn't bother me. As the introduction said, it's not designed for the scratch golfer, but for the more normal Joe out there. So you got a good round with a taste of design without coming away feeling beat up.

The fairways were outstanding. Wonderful to hit off. Tee boxes good, not great nor bad. Greens were in good shape but very very slow. There was heavy rains late in the previous day and that slowed down the entire course and made the greens roll like stuck in mud. The traps were often full of water. That was something I thought odd. A top course the friday before labor day weekend in touristy Poconos and they aren't pumping the water out. I've been on lesser courses who do that the day after a heavy rain.

The folks I met were all friendly. I found the layout very odd, let me explain. Hole number 1 is past part of a hole and over a road. The 8th hole ends at the club house, then you go back over a road to play 3 holes, then back on this side to finish and a few holes there are not near each other. The range is a distance away but not toooo far. It took away from the experience. I like the traditional hole organization and being a modern built design I didn't understand why.

But it's one worth playing. i'd like to try it again when it's not so wet and see how it plays.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 192
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 201
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

The down side to this course is that you often exit the fairway a long distance from the green and the cart path is up a steep hill and you might have to walk back to your ball

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Hidden Gem

Very nice design. The course was in excellent condition, very good pace of play and friendly staff.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

A Jack Nicklaus Signature Course

We got this course for a great 'hot deal' on GolfNow for a Monday round. If you can do that, it almost feels like stealing! The condition of the course was fabulous. Greens were relatively quick and very true. Tee boxes level and manicured. The course is challenging but playable. Not a lot of level lies in the fairways, so be good with that. A great variety of holes. Long and short par 3s, 4's and 5s. We hit every club. A terrific day. We were quite satisfied

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Well done Jack.

Loved the track. Bit of a challenge. Great terrain.
Prime course conditions.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course!

While this is a beautiful course in fantasy shape, the pace of play is HORRENDOUS! This is a resort style course so there are people out there who have NEVER picked up a golf club before. And no rangers to speed up play.
This was the second time playing there and it was the same slow play.
Where did golf etiquette and courtesy go? Not here.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Enjoyable Day

The course was in re as l good shape, especially the greens. Finished th he round in about 3:30 on a perfect weather day. Course is pretty open, with a variety of different challenges. Recommend highly.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Top notch

5 star across the board....played in the early morning.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 60
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 Excellent
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

What's not to like

Always a great time and exceptional Value. course was in great condition from tee to green. Only negative...they let too many twosomes out.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Never a bad round

Course conditions were good. Greens seemed a little slow. It would be nice if fellow golfers would take the time to repair divots and their ball marks on the greens. I can't tell you how many greens were full of unrepaired ball marks. Disappointed that cart person was only working until 4 pm. We were only at the turn. Other than those minor issues it was a very enjoyable afternoon. One of the best courses in the area!!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great value

I was a single got sent out right after a group of 4 and had a group of 3 sent out right behind me so that was kind of annoying but all in all everything was fantastic course was in great shape will def go again

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

What a course!

This is the best conditioned course I’ve played in a long time. The fairways are like carpets and the greens are fast.
I will definitely play here again and ya can’t beat the price of $35 on Golfnow is the best!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 43
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
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