The Golf Course at Glen Mills, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania - Rated the Best Public Golf Course in Pennsylvania by Golfweek Magazine

The Golf Course at Glen Mills has a rather unique story. It was built in 2001 on the grounds of the Glen Mills School in suburban Philadelphia, which is the oldest residential school in the country for court-referred young men. In existence since 1826, the school is in essence a private reform school for boys ages 15-18 who have run afoul of the law. The boys work at the course, learning turf management and golf operations, and the greens fees help support the student programs.

The course is a Bobby Weed design and offers a good deal of variety in its layout. The front nine has a bit of an "old-time flavor,'' as the first four holes have an open feel, but after that the course heads into woodlands for a more traditional parkland layout. The back nine holes play through a valley and the golf becomes more "target-oriented'' with a more modern feel to the course.

The 18-hole, par-71 course plays to a relatively short 6,636 yards from the longest tees, with a USGA rating of 71.0 and a slope rating of 131 on Bent grass. It's been said that high-handicappers will probably have a difficult time on this course, which features some tight driving holes, forced carries and some bunkering that features irregularly shaped traps, many of which are rimmed with high grass. There are also some nasty pot bunkers along the way.

Some of the more noteworthy holes include No. 2, which is named "Coffin.'' This hole is a long par-4 that features six fairway bunkers to challenge players off the tee, followed by a green guarded by a "coffin'' pot bunker that golfers will want to avoid at all costs.

Hole No. 7 is a par-3 named "Hell.'' The hole plays to 221 yards from the longest tees and uphill as well. The hole is cut out of the hill to the left and is guarded by bunkers on the right. The real difficulty, however, is a green that has no fewer than four levels, making putting a challenge in itself.

Hole No. 16 is named "Pond'' and is another par-3 that calls for some steady nerves. The hole plays to 156 yards from the back tees to a green bordered by a pond on the front and right. Playing left might seem like the safer play, except for the three sand bunkers that will leave any players that find them with a sand shot back toward the water hazard.

Since its opening, the Golf Course at Glen Mills has received many accolades. Golf Digest ranked it #7 among Best New Upscale Courses in 2001, GOLF Magazine ranked it #5 on its Top 10 You Can Play list in 2002, and Golfweek rated it the best public golf course in Pennsylvania in 2003.

Practice facilities at the course include a driving range with grass teeing area and a short-game practice area with a sand bunker. The course also features a Victorian-style Clubhouse, which is home to a pro shop and a snack shop.