Hideaway Hills owner created fine facility from, beautiful piece of land

KRESGEVILLE, Pa. -- Every golfer has moaned in protest about a design element at some time in their playing experience and thought about designing a course their way.

But when reality creeps in, they realize that's why the Dye's and Fazio's get paid the big bucks. They know what they are doing and we don't.

Fortunately that reality never became apparent to Joe Farda, who layed out 18 holes on his property in the southern Poconos. The result was Hideaway Hills Golf Club, one of the best public venues in Pennsylvania, with a handful of noteable holes.

Farda did have some help from Mother Nature, who provided a spectacular piece of property and some breathtaking vistas. Looking out from the 10th tee, 13th green or 14th tee on a clear day provides a commanding view of a pretty valley.

Farda has an extraordinary story. He came to America in 1940 at the age of 14 from Mussolini's Italy. While visiting a honeymoon retreat he owned near Kresgeville he realized he was looking at some very impressive property.

"The retreat was just a collection of cottages, no big deal. But as I began to look at the surrounding 300 acres it hit me that it was a great location of a golf course," Farda said. "It never really occurred to me to find an architect, because I could envision where the holes should go. I did work with an engineer for help on the greens and tee boxes, but I really enjoyed figuring out where each hole belonged. Some of the holes we built, we redid because they weren't interesting enough, might have cost some extra money, but what fun!"

In a region where Nicklaus, Ross and Tillinghast have plied their trade, Hideaway Hills course that more than holds its own. "People play here and it often becomes their favorite course in the Poconos," said Farda's son, Tony, who runs the course. "It's got the incredible views, but it's also a real solid golf course that can test any player's game."

The seventh hole is a long par 3, but the tee box is so elevated you can drop down three clubs to hit the green. The tee box on the par-5 10th hole is also perched high above the fairway. Once on the fairway the hole continues to drop off toward the green, giving you a chance at getting home in two.

Water does not figure prominently in the design of Hideaway Hills, but it does on one of its better holes. The par-4 15th calls for an uphill tee shot. If you get to the crest of the hill you'll see your approach is to an island green sitting on a slightly larger island that provides some margin of error, but not much.

"The course needs to provide an all around great experience and I think we've captured the right balance," says Tony Farda. "You've got the challenging and interesting holes, but it's playable for all levels of golfer and the great setting with the visual appeal."

As for the man who made Hideaway Hills a reality, he doesn't plan a second attempt. "I'm too old to get into the golf course building business," said Joe Farda, now in his upper 70s. "I enjoyed doing this course, I did it the way I wanted and didn't have to do it by committee."

There are plenty of golfers who are glad Joe Farda did it his way at Hideaway Hills.

Where to stay

Hideaway Hills offers stay and play packages with accommodations in the former honeymoon cottages. You won't find any giant champagne glass bathtubs here, but the cottages are comfortably appointed. The cottages are priced at a reasonable $75 during the week and $85 on the weekend. For each night you stay, you get $10 knocked off the green fee.

Where to eat

The Fireplace Room at Hideaway Hills has a bar and tables and does a good job with sandwiches or hot dogs. Platz's Restaurant is about 10 miles south on Route 209 and is a regional favorite that serves up the Super Steak for hearty appetites.

Off the course

About a 20-minute drive southwest of Hideaway Hills is the quaint town of Jim Thorpe. The town is the Carbon County seat and it has restaurants and shops. Located along the Lehigh River, it was a center for coal transportation during the industrial revolution. With the decline of the coal industry, it fell on hard times, but has since be revitalized and is now a tourist destination.

Fast fact

Jim Thorpe is buried in the town that bares his name, though he never visited there while he was alive. One of the greatest athletes of the 20th century died destitute and his widow contacted the city fathers of Mauch Chunk who agreed to build a monument and bury her husband. The town soon changed its name to honor its most famous (albeit deceased) resident.

The verdict

Hideaway Hills Golf Club is well worth the time. The course is both playable and challenging. The up and down terrain makes for lot of interesting holes. Visit on a clear day or when the leaves have changed in the fall and you'll see some of the prettiest scenery in the Pocono Mountains.

If You Go

Hideaway Golf Club
Carney Road
Kresgeville, Pa. 18333
(610) 681-6000
hideawaygolf.com

August 3, 2004

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.