Saving South Mountain Golf Course - By Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams)

January 16, 2026

When the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced it would not renew the lease for South Mountain Golf Course, located on state-owned land in Michaux State Forest, it became clear the George family, which has operated the golf course for 60 years, would be forced to close at the end of December.

DCNR officials said they planned to raze the golf course to build a visitors center and hiking trails. As word of those plans got out, it stoked anger that spread like the wildfire that consumed much of the state forest earlier in the year. It led to a petition drive opposing the plan, which netted more than 2,200 signatures from residents in surrounding communities. Every township and borough in our area condemned the move. 

It seemed everyone had good memories of the golf course and felt the weight of its impending loss. I felt it too. It had been a fixture in our area for as long as I could remember. It was an established family business and popular recreational site that had provided affordable fun to area families for decades. My colleague, Rep. Chad Reichard (R-Franklin), whose district includes the golf course, said he learned to golf there as a child. Together, we worked with the people of South Mountain to save our local treasure, which was built in the 1920s. 

I appealed to DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn to reconsider the plan. I also met with Gov. Josh Shapiro, asking him to intervene. They listened. After hearing the concerns of the residents and leaders in our communities, the governor and his administration decided to continue their search for a new visitor center site, and they renewed the golf course’s lease for another 10 years.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Gov. Shapiro and his administration for recognizing the value of this community asset and honoring the community’s wishes in allowing it to remain.



Representative Dan Moul
91st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com