Staff WriterFor those who live and breathe golf, Nemacolin isn’t just a resort—it’s a pilgrimage. Tucked away near Farmington, Pennsylvania, about 90 minutes southeast of Pittsburgh, Nemacolin offers two Pete Dye masterpieces, world-class instruction, and enough five-star distractions to keep even the most restless golfer occupied.
The property boasts 36 holes of Dye’s devilish design: Mystic Rock, once home to the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic (2003–2006), and Shepherd’s Rock, opened in 2017.
Mystic Rock is a stern tournament test, while Shepherd’s Rock brings dramatic elevation changes and a flair for the dramatic. Both deliver a mix of punishment and pleasure, with multiple tees to keep hackers and hotshots alike honest.
The Nemacolin Golf Academy
But Nemacolin isn’t just about playing—it’s about learning. Enter The Nemacolin Golf Academy, a training ground for golf’s obsessives.
“I would say most of the time when I’m doing these three-day golf schools, the people who are coming are true golf nerds,” says Jarren Harper, the resort’s lead instructor. Harper, who cut his teeth shadowing Cameron McCormick at Trinity Forest in Dallas, has spent the last five years shaping swings in the Laurel Highlands.
“They play a lot of golf. They have a fairly good idea coming into a session of what their golf game is typically like,” Harper explains.
Forget the old chestnut about getting worse before you get better. Harper isn’t buying it.
“I’m not a big believer in that,” he says. “We absolutely do see improvement by Day 3. They’re not going to hit every single shot perfectly. We don’t expect that.But we want them to have a better understanding of their golf game, what their tendencies are, and what we can do to fix it is always the goal. Our goal is really to train people to be their own best coaches.”
Players begin with a round on either Mystic or Shepherd’s Rock, scribbling notes on strengths and weaknesses before heading into the academy. From there, it’s a mix of high-tech tools—Trackman, Foresight GCQuad, Swing Catalyst Balance & Dual Force Plates—and good old-fashioned coaching. Clubs are assessed, swings are dissected, and progress is tracked with cold, hard data.
Lessons That Stick
On Day Three, the classroom shifts to the course.
“Out of 13 hours, we set aside two to three hours for on-course instruction,” Harper says. “We like to give players a chance to get creative. And we put them in uncomfortable situations. But the bottom line is to have fun and learn how to score.
We’re less focused on mechanics. It’s more about managing the golf game and figuring out how to get the golf ball in the hole.”
That might mean a scramble format, challenges off severe downslopes (a Nemacolin speciality), or being forced to choose between a low bump-and-run or a high lob. It’s less about grooving a swing and more about surviving the chaos of golf’s endless curveballs.
Harper doesn’t mince words about priorities, either. “You’ve got to hit fairways. There’s just no other way around it. The driver is the most important club in the bag by far. Especially in today’s game. If we can hit fairways and get the ball into play, the rest of the game becomes much easier.”
Avoiding big numbers, staying sharp with the short game, and managing the course—all part of the package. By the final round, players almost always see lower scores, or at least a newfound sense of control.
Beyond the Fairways
Of course, Nemacolin isn’t content with just being a golfer’s haven. Named for Chief Nemacolin of the Delaware Nation, the resort is a 2,200-acre playground. Guests can indulge in 18 restaurants, seven pools, a casino, horseback riding, fly fishing, off-roading, sporting clays, and The Woodlands Spa with 30 treatment rooms.
There’s also a wildlife park where lions, tigers, wolves, and buffalo roam—not something you’ll find at your local muni. Add in an airplane museum, a luxury car gallery, and Nightcap, the resort’s late-night club offering piano sets, dance music, and cabaret alongside cocktails and desserts, and you’ve got a place where golf is just the beginning.
Nemacolin is more than a destination—it’s an experience where the game is sharpened, the spirit is spoiled, and the bar for resort golf is raised sky-high.
