The 376-yard, par-4 11th at The Golf Course at Glen Mills, Pa.: Ragged, rugged and reformed - Brief Article

A feel-good golf course

The Glen Mills Schools, 20 miles southwest of Philadelphia, is the oldest existing reform school in the nation, dating from 1826. Back then, stealing a horse was a chief form of juvenile delinquency.

Today, Glen Mills houses 850 male students, ages 14 to 18, from across the country, each placed by court order. Yet it has no bars on its windows, no armed guards or perimeter fences. What it has is a beautiful 786-acre college-style redbrick campus, a successful work-study program and a strong tradition in high school sports. A sign at the entrance attests to the prowess of the Battling Bulls: state championships in track, gymnastics, basketball, powerlifting. But no golf.

That may soon change, for Glen Mills now has its own golf course on the west edge of campus. Opened in March, it was designed by architect Bobby Weed, built for $6 million, and financed solely by the school.

The Golf Course at Glen Mills is more than just a practice ground for its golf team. It's open to public play, with profits going to the school's scholarship fund to help Glen Mills students with higher education costs.

What's more, students are actively employed in course operations. Seventy work part time on the maintenance crew, and another 20 toil in the golf shop, booking tee times, cleaning carts and selling shirts.

Getting on: $65 to $85. Walking allowed anytime. Phone 610-558-2142.

COPYRIGHT 2001 New York Times Company Magazine Group, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group