TIONESTA, Pa. (EYT) – Situated on the banks of the Allegheny River just outside of Tionesta on Route 62 heading towards Oil City, Hunter’s Station Golf Club offers all of the beauty one has come to expect from the region.
(Photo: The pond on the back nine at Hunter’s Station Golf Club is one of a great many picturesque locations on the course). The 10th fairway is to the right and the 12th fairway is to the left.)
With a back nine played against the backdrop of the river to the front nine that gives you the feel of playing in your own private forest, the course is both pretty and challenging.
“I think the thing people like the most about it is how scenic it is,” Terri Obenrader, course manager whose husband, Rick, is a co-owner of the course, said. “However, it’s not only scenic but also unique in the way it plays. It’s not only shorter than some courses but also tighter which makes it fun but challenging. You can’t just go out and try to hit the ball as hard as you can, you have to make sure you place it well too.”
Despite the construction of the nearby Hunter’s Station Bridge – when completed there will a brand new bridge next to where the current one stands crossing the Allegheny River – the golf course is open with all 18 holes available for play this summer.
“We have been told by PennDOT that the bridge won’t close until the week after Labor Day, most likely,” Obenrader said. “I think there are some people who think it’s already closed because there was a story in one of the local media outlets that said the road could close anywhere from July to October and people thought that meant it would be closed that entire time.”
According to Obenrader, that isn’t the case. She said the bridge, by contract, can only be closed for up to 29 days while Route 62 is connected to to the new bridge.
“A lot of people don’t realize we still have 18 holes, either,” Obenrader said. “Because holes 13 through 17 are on the other side of the bridge and construction is going on, they think they can’t play there. But those holes are all open and easily accessible.”
The cart path that goes under the current Hunter’s Station Bridge is still there and takes people to the five holes on the eastern side of the bridge.
In fact, the new bridge construction has created a different look to a couple of the holes with No. 13 having to be rebuilt completely moving about 50 feet closer to the river. That also meant a change in the No. 17 green and No. 14 being made a little shorter.
The New No. 13 at Hunter’s Station taken from near the tee box
“We lost the original No. 13,” Obenrader said. “We had to build a new No. 13, and because of that we had to change No. 17 and move the tees on No. 14.”
Obenrader said she likes the new No. 17 better than the old one.
A view of the 17th green at Hunter’s Station looking towards the Allegheny River
“I like the change in No. 17 because it makes for a sharper dogleg and more of a challenge,” Obenrader said.
Here is what the new No. 17 looks like.
Once the new bridge is completed and the old bridge is removed, there will also be a change to No. 18, which is a short (127 yards from the white tees) Par 3.
“The plan is to put a new No. 18 where the bridge is,” Obenrader said. “That will allow us to back No. 10 up and make it longer.”
Obenrader said one of the features she likes best about the course is the number of Par 3, six, which is more than you find on most courses.
“Normally, there are four Par 3’s,” Obenrader said. “We have six. I like that.”
While the back nine plays against the picturesque scene of the Allegheny River, the front nine has its own challenges, including being about 600 yards longer than the back nine (2,834 yards from the white tee on the front nine compared to 2,260 on the back nine).
View looking up to No. 5 at Hunter’s Station from the No. 4 fairway.
It is also more hilly than the mostly flat back nine and is played against the backdrop of trees and a running stream that borders hole No. 2.
“Everyone likes No. 7 because of the view,” Obenrader said.
That view looks over the Allegheny River from high atop the hill, and is one of the most scenic shots on the entire course.
View from No. 7 tee box at Hunter’s Station looking over the valley and at the Allegheny River
In addition to the course itself, there is a restaurant and bar as part of the clubhouse – the chicken sandwich with red peppers on panini is fantastic – and there is on-site lodging that can accommodate 44 guests in two lodges – one that serves as a condo and one that serves as a motel – and a house and is especially popular among groups.
“They really like it because they can come up on Friday, park their car and never have to get back into until they leave on Sunday,” Obenrader said. “The lodges are right next to the course, and we have the restaurant and bar right here. There are also decks on the lodges.”
Tee times can be reserved by calling 1-800-227-9067 or 814-755-4558 – both numbers are also how one can inquire about lodging. More information on everything the course has to offer can also be found at http:hunterstation.com.
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