More Than You Could Have Ever Dreamed Of Doing In One Vacation Stay

By Joe Burkhardt, Publisher

Nemacolin, in the picturesque Laurel Highlands about one hour southeast of Pittsburgh, is the kind of resort destination that reminds you why you travel in the first place: to escape the everyday and immerse yourself in experiences that are unlike anything you’d find back home.

This larger-than-life resort nestled in the Allegheny Mountains is home to Mystic Rock and Shepherd’s Rock, two imaginative championship courses designed by the legendary Pete Dye that take full advantage of the area’s vast, rugged topography, lush terrain and majestic sweeping vistas. Just down the road from architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s acclaimed masterpiece Fallingwater and Fort Necessity National Battlefield (site of the opening action of the French and Indian War in 1754), Nemacolin is making its own distinctive brand of history in those nature-rich Laurel Highlands.

Owned by the visionary Hardy family who founded and operate 84 Lumber, Nemacolin takes the concept of “having it all” and elevates it to having more than you could have ever dreamed of doing in one vacation stay.

Nemacolin has amenities and attractions to indulge every taste and most every whimsy, including a diverse and internationally acclaimed art collection, The Hardy Room, The Tea Room, general store, Italian (at the family-style Barattolo) and luxe seafood (the chic Aqueous) restaurants, luxury shopping boutiques, a cozy tavern and even a 1950s-style ice cream parlor. Beyond golf, outdoor adventurers can enjoy The Nemacolin Field Club; Wildlife Adventures that features everything from safari tours to dog sledding; The Peak adventure center (complete with zip lines and climbing wall, paintball field and cosmic bowling); and Jeep Off-Road Driving, fly fishing as well as antique auto and aircraft collections.

You’ll find artwork and sculptures at almost every turn at Nemacolin. It’s a feast for the senses that somehow fits seamlessly along with the resort’s breathtaking natural surroundings. Nemacolin offers guests luxuriously appointed guest rooms, suites, townhouses and private upscale homes, including Falling Rock, a AAA Five Diamond boutique hotel with rooms overlooking the Mystic Rock course.

The first sight that captivates your attention once you enter the resort property is The Chateau, a stunning, palatial structure inspired by The Ritz Paris. It’s fun to roam its hallways and enjoy the art, shopping and numerous places to sit and enjoy the setting. The Lodge, a classic English Tudor-style hotel and townhomes and luxury vacation homes, is being reimagined as The Grand Lodge and will be reopening in August of 2023.

I came to Nemacolin for the golf I’d heard so much about and now I’m the one telling everyone about my experiences on Mystic Rock, Shepherd’s Rock and all the state-of-the-art toys inside The

Nemacolin Golf Academy. The all-season entertainment and game improvement space is a great place to play and learn on TrackMan or get a lesson or custom fitting from director of instruction Mike LaBella and his team.

Teeing it up at Nemacolin means being ready to tackle the crafty Pete Dye and walk in the footsteps of the PGA Tour players who competed in the 84 Lumber Classic from 2003 to 2006, including champions like Vijay Singh Open Championship winner Ben Curtis.

Mystic Rock is a sterling example of a more subtle and cerebral side of Dye. He lets the rolling land dictate the routing and shot values here with ample landing areas, walkability and serene sight lines. There are very few daunting forced carries, but endless risk-reward scenarios and plenty of ways to make the round more complicated than it needs to be. Positioning off the tee and hitting to the correct parts of the green comes into play routinely as Dye plays with angles, misdirection, false fronts and greens that run off the sides or back if you mis-club.

There’s a great mix of short par 4s like the first hole, the sneaky-long, uphill fourth - which is one of the few holes that asks for a tee shot to carry water –and more humbling long holes like the daunting 476-yard ninth with water left off the tee and a narrow, sloping green. You can gain momentum early in the round with manageable par 5s at the fifth and eighth holes and a wedge-shot par 3 at number seven, but the geometry Dye throws at you on holes like nine, the winding, 439-yard par-4 10th and the long, dogleg-right uphill par-five 11th. After a satisfying stretch of par fours at 13, 14 and 15. Nemacolin closes with a fun riskreward par 5, a long, challenging par 3, with water lurking left, and uphill par 4 that demands solid strikes and respect of the angles of play. Mystic belongs in the conversation with some of Dye’s best work.

At Shepherd’s Rock, the mischievous side of Pete Dye and his associate Tim Liddy come out to play. You’ll find yourself playing shots 40 feet from the hole to allow Dye’s slopes to (hopefully) do their work and you’ll come to respect false fronts that can send even well struck shots that look pin high back down the front edge of the green and toward the man who hit it. What you probably won’t figure out on the first try is the wildly sloping greens or the ideal angles into those greens. Our group saw putts roll 15 feet by the hole and on to the fringe, down the wrong side of slopes and farther from the hole than they began and, most often, sliding past the hole due to sneaky-swift speed.

That said, there’s a great collection of beautiful holes that rise up hills and plunge down valleys. The crafty and postcardworthy 11th is one of the handsomest holes on the property while views from fifth, seventh, 16th and 17th holes are extraordinary places to enjoy the nature around you. The 18th hole is a terrific and memorable par 4 that demands a strong drive that is safe from ponds and marshes right and trees left. The waterfalls and majestic setting near the green will inspire you to return for another challenge.

The resort’s entertainment and adventure offerings are so creative, you can’t help but feel the Hardy family’s personal touches all over the grounds. It’s like they’ve invited you to hang out at their estate and let your hair down for as long as you like.

Set in an area steeped in rich American, architectural and agricultural history, Nemacolin is carving out its own distinctive legacy in the nature-rich Laurel Highlands. GRD

To learn more about this one-of-a-kind destination, visit NEMACOLIN.COM or call

855 595 4837

Situated in Pennsylvania’s majestic Laurel Highlands, you will discover a golfer’s paradise at the always-adventurous Nemacolin.

Nemacolin presents two breathtaking courses designed by the legendary Pete Dye: Mystic Rock and Shepherd’s Rock, delivering thrilling shot values, sweeping mountain views, and esteemed recognition.

Golf Digest 2022 Best Golf Resorts in the Mid-Atlantic

Golfweek 2022 #1 & #5 Best Courses You Can Play in Pennsylvania

Golf Digest 2022 Editors’ Choice: Best Golf Schools & Academies

Sharpen your skills at The Nemacolin Golf Academy, where expert instruction, state-of-the-art technology, custom fittings, and multi-day bootcamps improve your game.

Book an ultimate getaway to this incomparable destination for golf, spa, world-class cuisine, art, wine, and all-season adventure. Your trip of a lifetime awaits!

Nestled toward the edge of Fayette Street in downtown Conshohoken you can find delicious hand-crafted coffee beverages, fresh fruit smoothies, bubble tea and madeto-order breakfast and lunch - all at one spot.

The very same individuals who own Chiangmai Thai Cuisine just next door, brought to life a concept that Conshohoken had not yet seen. The “Iced Black Tie” is a traditional Thai Iced Tea topped with a shot of espresso is a must-try. For something refreshing, consider a “Virgin Blueberry Mojito” garnished with fresh mint. For lunch, try a their signature smoked salmon avocado toast with fresh radishes and a drizzle of honey. Homemade pastries such as coffee cheesecake and triple chocolate cookies are offered daily.

The quaint café is dog-friendly, offering outdoor and indoor seating as well as a variety of Thai souvenirs and accessories.

BOYNE Golf’s Bernie Friedrich Named 2023 PGA Golf Executive of the Year

Boyne Resorts announces Bernie Friedrich, longtime Senior Vice President of Golf Operations, has been named 2023 PGA Golf Executive of The Year by PGA of America. The honor recognizes outstanding services in an executive management position, as well as qualities of leadership, vision, courage, moral character, and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game.

Friedrich, who recently transitioned into the Director of Golf Course Renovations and Development role, has been a PGA member for nearly 40 years. He started his career as a golf professional at Boyne Mountain Resort in 1976 and has been instrumental in leading the Company’s growing golf division, overseeing its 13 resort courses and semi-private clubs in Michigan, Maine, and Montana. This included oversight of all staff, course agronomy, and marketing nationwide, plus two golf membership groups — Bay Harbor Golf Club and Country Club of Boyne.

“I’m honored and humbled to have my name on this award and be associated with the likes of previous winners,” says Friedrich. “I’m excited for our staff, PGA Professionals, and superintendents. Collectively, they are the winners of this award along with Boyne Resorts, for their dedication to golf and helping us continue to improve our product.”

A multi award-winning PGA member at the Section level, Friedrich has been recognized as Golf Professional of the Year twice (1998, 2001), a Bill Strausbaugh Award recipient (2019) for outstanding integrity and character of a top PGA member, PGA Golf Executive of the Year (2021) and five times as Merchandiser of the Year (1990-’92, 1995-’96). In 2019, he was inducted into both the Michigan PGA Hall of Fame and the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. Friedrich also received the Lyle Leeke Distinguished Service Award (2018) from the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association (MGCOA) and was recognized by the American Junior Golf Association as Golf Course Executive of the Year in 2018.

Friedrich sets the best-in-class standard for up-and-coming PGA Professionals who want to excel at their profession. This has included mentoring many PGA professional and resort employees within and from outside of Boyne Resorts’ operations. He is also credited with numerous programs and practices that have influenced and positively impacted the golf industry.

“Aside from having a love for the game, you need to be skilled in all aspects of golf operations – including accounting, food and beverage, course agronomy practices, and inventories,” he says. “When building a great team, you need to teach and empower them to make decisions – to hold them accountable and to empower them to hold you accountable. Giving them the tools to grow and continue to expand their careers, it’s more than just a job. To become a great PGA Professional, it’s important to have a written mission statement that belongs to everyone. The staff will appreciate this, as they know what’s expected and will hold each other accountable. It’s also important to have team building functions and getting everyone involved in community engagement. Everyone’s responsible for growing the game and developing programs for youth participation.”

Friedrich continues to serve in various capacities for the Michigan PGA including the Michigan PGA Employment Committee. His most rewarding achievement has been the charitable efforts he has implemented, which continue to be made by BOYNE Golf’s professionals. He is a founding member and board member of The First Tee of Northern Michigan and is a cofounder of Harbor Cup Fund, a Michigan-based charitable fund that has raised more than $700,000 since its inception in 1997.

This past year, Team BOYNE, led by Friedrich, raised a recordbreaking $90,000 for Manna Food Center, a Northern Michigan food bank, and The First Tee of Northern Michigan. The donation to Manna provided 240,000 meals to local families in need.

The Schondorf, Germany native moved to Michigan as a young boy. He attended Northern Michigan University and has also been involved in course development during his 46 years with Boyne Resorts.

For more information about Boyne Resorts, visit BOYNEGolf.com