Pennsylvania Golf School
The Great Bear Club is recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s best golf courses and is set in the stunning surrounds of the Poconos. Named for its legendary designer, Jack Nicklaus, this Championship course is both aesthetically stunning and a great test of your game making it the perfect venue for your Pennsylvania golf school.
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Pricing
Peak Season
5/1 to 9/30
–
Eagle 1:1
Buddy 2:1
Peak Season
Eagle 1:1
5/1 to 9/30
Buddy 2:1
–
Closed: 11/1 to 4/30
Commuter rates may be available- Call 877-424-7346 to Inquire
Day To Day
01 On The Range
Start your day on the range establishing your individual goals for your golf school. You will baseline your current swing with swing video analysis before you move into your applicable swing drills, customized specifically for your own game.
02 On the Greens
Your instructor will help you understand the fundamentals of the putting stroke using a variety of aiming tools and techniques. Your instructor will help you understand distance and direction control and help you brush up on proper green reading techniques.
03 Pitching and Chipping
Focus on your short game by beginning with proper set up and approach to the ball and the green. Your instructor will evaluate your chipping and pitching alignment and help you make repeatable, proper contact with the golf ball. Most of your short game will come down to club selection. Your instructor will help you understand how each club selection leads to trajectory control, distance control, loft/lie angle selection and understanding different lies.
04 Bunker Game
An area many golfers struggle with is the sand game. You and your instructor will work through bunker shots, both greenside and fairway bunkers. Golf shots out of poor lies will only improve with practicing each bunker scenario.
05 Playing Lessons
Afternoons are all about taking “your game” to the course. This includes playing within yourself, developing a consistent routine, and reinforcing swing changes.
We don’t just show our students how to hit the ball better on the driving range…we play with them each day of their school. How often has someone taken a golf lesson only to go to the course and ‘lose’ everything that they just learned? We know that the most important part of changing is trust. It is that trust in something new that we abandon when it matters most; on the course. Playing lessons allow us to observe ‘how’ a person plays, both in thought and mechanics and then to show them how various intangibles like lie, wind, pin placement, and course condition affect each shot. We teach them how vital course management can be. It is also essential to show students how important it is to play ‘in your personality” and to play “within yourself”.
End your round post-game analysis.
06 The Mental Game
Mentally, golf can be more than a little demanding. Consistent performance on the course requires a mental approach that is effective for a casual weekend round or a high-pressure tournament. We teach students how to think like pros. We coach a mental program that allows for thinking clearly on the golf course. In addition to our one-on-one concept, we focus on the mental side of the game. This singular approach allows us to show our students how to take their game and swing from the driving range to the golf course…where it really matters.
Hotel
Hotel
The Penn Stroud HotelDiscover The Penn Stroud Hotel, an integral member of the Ascend Hotel Collection, nestled in the vibrant heart of downtown Stroudsburg. Immerse yourself in the allure of the Pocono Mountains, rich in culture and history. This boutique establishment offers sophisticated rooms adorned with locally inspired design nuances. Experience the essence of comfort with a daily complimentary continental breakfast and morning coffee at The Penn Stroud. Unveil a perfect retreat to delve into the array of dynamic shops, galleries, and dining options in the vicinity. Since 1833, The Penn Stroud has been the cornerstone of hospitality in downtown Stroudsburg, inviting you to create lasting memories. The Penn Stroud is a 20 minute drive from Great Bear Golf and Country Club.
What’s Included
Play the Best!
Great Bear Golf and Country Club is a semi-private golf club which features an 18-hole championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus. While our course is the crown jewel of golf in Pennsylvania, the property itself is what sets us apart. With picturesque clubhouse and superior service, there is no better place to be than at Great Bear Golf Club.
What’s Included
What’s Included
- Renovated individually designed and appointed guest rooms.
- Unlimited practice and play at the amazing course at Great Bear.
- Player evaluation
- “Clear Key” analysis
- Lunch with your PGA/LPGA professional each day
- The ultimate golf learning experience®, with 18, 24, or 30 hours instruction with your Bird Golf Academy Professional
- All taxes are included
What’s not Included
What’s not Included
- Golf Balls and Tees
- Golf Clubs, however, rental clubs are available through our golf course partners
- Airfare and transportation to and from the golf school locations
- Personal items purchased during the golf school
- Additional golf rounds before or after your school days
- Golf Rounds for other members of your party, not in your golf school
- Instructor gratuities are not expected but always appreciated. If you would like to leave a gratuity for your instructor, $75-$100 per day is customary.
Travel Details
How To Get There
Newark Airport
76 miles
1 hour 18 minutes
How To Get There
Philadelphia airport
117.5 miles
2 hours
Planning For Your Trip
1 Packing and Weather
Weather is important to consider when deciding what to pack for a golf school. We want you to have the right gear when you need it most. The weather in the Poconos, PA, from May to September typically includes mild temperatures, with average highs ranging from 70-80° and lows in the mid-50s. The area experiences frequent showers throughout the summer months and occasional thunderstorms.
Please check the weather of your destination before you leave and be sure to be prepared for all possible conditions with the right gear – this includes bringing removable layers, sun protection, rain gear, vest or wind jacket. Check the Weather
2 Ready to book?
To book your golf school, you can call us at 877-4-BIRDGO to speak with a booking specialist. Your booking will be finalized once your deposit of $500 per golfer is paid at the time of booking. If you reserve your school less than 30 days prior to the first day of school, the full balance will be due at the time of booking. Once your school is booked and your lodging is confirmed, you will receive an email confirmation with important information pertaining to your school, and a player profile to be filled out and returned.
3 What happens once I book?
Once your golf school is booked, you will receive a confirmation email along with a player profile to be filled out and returned prior to your school start date. The night prior to your first day of school, your instructor will call you and let you know the meet up location and time for your golf school.
4 General FAQs
Didn’t find what you were looking for? Check out our General FAQs section. You will find answers to the most common questions that don’t necessarily pertain to a specific school.
5 What if I have to cancel my trip?
Our student-first cancellation policy makes it as easy as possible to change your golf school. Even in uncertain times, you can rely on us to provide flexibility so you can book your trip with confidence.
You can always take a mulligan on your golf school in the occasion life events get in the way. If you need to take a future school credit with us, there is no expiration and you can redeem your credit on any golf school location, even if it is different from your original booking. As long as you don’t quit the game of golf, your credit will always be redeemable.
We want to make it as easy as possible to change your golf school to fit your schedule. Have a question? Give us a call, 877- 424-7346.
6 More Information
Great Bear is easily accessed from major cities like New York (80 miles) or Philadelphia (110 miles), and is a perfect summer and fall location for your golf school.
Nicklaus has taken the natural beauty of the region and seamlessly integrated that into his design. Blending his design with the three lakes, several streams, wetlands, small bridges and rolling terrain, Great Bear Club presents itself differently to golfers of varying skill levels.
There are five sets of tee boxes and the course can be played from 4,949 yards to 7,045 yards so it can be a test for the most experienced golfer while being very playable, for those new to the game. Bird Golf students enjoy superb, private practice facilities to hone their skills.
Golden Bear has been the recipient of several accolades and awards including being named as Golf Digest’s, “Top 20 Golf Courses in Pennsylvania”, Golfweek’s “Top 8 Best Courses in Pennsylvania” and Golf For Women’s “Top 100 Women Friendly Courses in the Country”.
There are also a host of outdoor activities to enjoy including guided hikes and trails in the surrounding mountains and kayak rides on the Delaware River. In addition to which, there are several local historical attractions, museums, wineries, and brew pubs.
All of which make for our Pennsylvania golf school at Great Bear Club and the Shawnee Inn the ideal venue for you to take your game to a new level.