Golf Course Spotlight: Bethlehem Golf Club

This month's Golf Course Spotlight is Bethlehem Golf Club, a public, city-owned 27-hole facility at 400 Illick's Mill Road in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It pairs the par-71 Monocacy championship course with a 9-hole executive course and a grass driving range, and it is open to the public with weekday 18-hole green fees from $30 to $50. Here is what to expect, how the course plays, what it costs in 2026, and how to book a tee time.

Course Highlights

Bethlehem Golf Club opened in 1956 and was designed by the father-and-son team of William F. and David L. Gordon. It is a parkland-style layout with wide fairways, large greens with sculpted bunkers, and rolling terrain, and it has been voted "Best in the Valley" by Lehigh Valley Magazine. The Monocacy championship course plays to a par of 71 from five tee sets that range from 5,175 to 7,017 yards, so there is a set of tees for nearly every level of player.

• 🎯 27 holes in one facility: the 18-hole Monocacy championship course plus a 9-hole executive course (par 34, 2,581 yards).
• 📌 Five tee sets on the Monocacy course from 5,175 to 7,017 yards, making it playable for beginners and low-handicappers alike.
• 🏙 Parkland design with no water hazards, wide fairways, large greens, and sculpted bunkers on rolling terrain.
• 🏒 Grass driving range plus a practice area, open daily with a short maintenance break on Mondays.

Difficulty and Layout

The Monocacy championship course is a par-71 layout that plays to a course rating of 74.1 and a slope of 133 from the Black tees at 7,017 yards. From the Blue tees (6,674 yards) it rates 72.3 with a slope of 128, and from the White tees (6,206 yards) it rates 70.0 with a slope of 124. The Green tees (5,806 yards) rate 67.9 with a slope of 122, and the Red tees (5,175 yards) rate 69.7 with a slope of 118. In short, from the back tees it is a demanding public course, while the forward tee sets keep it approachable for newer and higher-handicap golfers.

Because the course has no water hazards, the main challenges come from the bunkering around the large greens and the rolling terrain. October is a popular month to play here: the fairways hold up well in the cooler weather, and the surrounding trees bring out strong fall color.

Green Fees for 2026

Bethlehem Golf Club publishes its rates on its official website. On weekdays, 18 holes on the Monocacy course cost $30 to walk or $50 with a cart, with senior rates of $24 walking and $44 with a cart, and a student rate of $18. Twilight 18-hole rates are $20 on weekdays (from 2 PM Monday through Thursday and after 3 PM Friday).

• 💵 Weekday 18 holes: $30 walking, $50 with cart; seniors $24/$44; students $18.
• 🌇 Weekday twilight 18 holes: $20 (from 2 PM Mon-Thu, after 3 PM Fri).
• 📅 Weekends and holidays: $62 for 18 holes until 2 PM; twilight 18 holes $28 walking or $48 with cart after 3 PM.
• 🎯 9-hole executive course (weekdays): $22 walking or $32 with cart; seniors $18/$28; students $17.

Rates can change, so it is always worth confirming the current fees on the official rates page before you head out.

Tee Time Deals

The club runs its own "Hot Deals" special rates that are available only when you book online through the official tee time page, and online booking carries no booking fees. A TeeTime Golf Pass also offers a weekday discount of $4 off for regular and senior golfers, and discounted tee times are sometimes listed through GolfNow. For the best price, book directly through the club's website rather than a third-party platform.

Amenities

Beyond the two courses, the facility includes a grass driving range, a practice area, and a 6,500-square-foot clubhouse with a fully stocked pro shop, men's and ladies' locker rooms, and a full-service, sports-themed restaurant with rooftop seating. It is a convenient stop for a full day of golf, a quick bucket of balls, or a meal after the round.

How to Book a Tee Time

Tee times can be booked online at the club's official tee time page or by calling the golf shop at (610) 691-9393. Online bookings require a credit card to guarantee the reservation, and you pay at the course. Booking directly on the official site also unlocks the club's "Hot Deals" online rates with no booking fees.

A Fall Round in the Lehigh Valley

Bethlehem Golf Club is one of the most accessible public courses in the Lehigh Valley, and October is a great month to play it with the fall color coming in. Whether you walk 18 on the Monocacy course, play the executive nine, or just hit a bucket on the range, it is an easy day out right in Bethlehem. Rates, deals, and course conditions can change, so check the official website before you go.

And if a round here gets you thinking about what it would be like to live in Bethlehem or another Lehigh Valley community, Tim Tepes has helped buyers and sellers across Northampton, Lehigh, and Carbon Counties for more than 36 years. Reach out any time for honest, local guidance.