The story goes that the Bethlehem Steel Club, founded in 1934, hired one of the industry’s greatest course architects, Donald Ross, to design and build a championship golf course in 1946.
Ross has designed more than 400 courses around the world, and he designed some of America’s finest courses such as Aronimink, Plainfield, Scioto, Pinehurst #2, Inverness, Oak Hill (East), Oakland Hills (South), and Seminole, all of which rank among the top 100 greatest courses in America.
The Steel Club opened in 1948 and is considered one of Ross’ final designs before his death in ’48. In Pennsylvania alone, Ross created 26 layouts! Rose was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and was also an accomplished player, winning the North and South Open Championship three times and the Massachusetts Open Championship twice. He competed in eight U.S. Opens (four top-10 finishes) and won two Open Championships.
Although William Gordon and David Gordon were involved in the course’s construction, there is no doubt that it was Donald Ross. As it turns out, Gordon added nine holes on the other side of Wassergass Road in 1956, including holes 3 through 11. Rose is credited with creating holes 1-2 and 12-18.
In 1986, the authorities renamed the course Silver Creek Country Club as it became a private club governed by its members.
Thirty years later, local businessman and resident David Spirk purchased the site and committed to investing at least $2.5 million in improvements and preserving it as a private golf club. He learned to play golf at the club at a young age and his parents joined the club in 1951. In addition, Spike renamed the course “The Steel Club” and determined to turn it into a premier country club.
“There are plans to build 168 custom homes on the top ridge behind the driving range,” said lead professional Mark Chlebek. “In addition, a nine-hole par three golf course will be built on the land where the original Hill Course stood, with a large fitness center and turf foam forming part of the ambitious plans, as well as a two-level driving range.”
The Steel Club has hosted several USGA qualifying tournaments over the years, including the 2024 U.S. Senior Open Qualifying Tournament. Playing at just under 7,000 yards, the course competes with some of the best professionals and amateurs, with not a single player breaking par. In fact, that low score was one-over par for only five players, including amateur Michael Brown, who qualified for that year’s Senior Open at Newport Country Club.
“While nothing is happening yet, we are always open to hosting major events because we love showcasing this place,” Chlebek added.
How many courses do you know that start with the hardest hole on the course? I can assure you, not much. This is certainly the case with the Steel Club. The opening hole is a rugged, uphill par 4 that stretches 444 yards from the Silver Tee. The green slopes heavily from left to right and back to front. This is a very exciting opening.
You’ll have the opportunity to start over on the second track as it’s a downhill track and is only 303 yards long. The putting surface is smooth, so stay below the hole for the best shot.
One of the most beautiful holes at the Steel Club is the par-3 eighth. Playing at 181 yards, usually into the wind, you’ll need to hit quality shots off the tee, covering the pond in front and across the wide green.
The 11th hole is a downhill, nearly 90-degree, dogleg left par 4 with a distance of only 410 yards. The key here is to hit your tee shot far enough away from the trees on the left to hit the ball straight onto the green.
The finishing hole is 467 yards long and is the second most difficult hole. Miss the wide fairway on the left and you risk going out of bounds, while there’s a creek and trees on the right. The two-tiered green is 45 feet long, making it difficult to pass when the pin is back. If you need four people to win the game, good luck!
Finally, if you can play Steel Club, do it.
As with most golf courses, choose the right tee box to play on. Steel Club offers six sets of tees ranging in length from 3,973 yards to a solid 6,997 yards. Because of the hills and slopes, the course plays longer than the yardage indicates.
In my opinion, Steel Club is a hidden gem that goes unnoticed by most golf enthusiasts.
Let’s start with the conditions. You will be hard-pressed to find another course in the area that is in better shape from tee to green. Perfect fairways, neat bunkers and smooth, undulating putting surfaces.
Membership opportunities are endless. From formal golf memberships for a very reasonable entry fee, to limited family golf memberships offering 25 full rounds per household, to social memberships for a small entry fee. Additionally, there is a clubhouse and dining membership with no joining fee. So, the options are quite reasonable. “Our total membership is about 500 golfers, which is the healthiest the club has been in a while, and 10,000 dining members,” Chlebek continued.
“The club itself has been a unique place since I’ve been here,” Chlebek added. “The golf course is great and changes every day based on where you place your pins. One day you’ll find the hole you’re on seems like a chance for birdie, and the next day you’ll have a hard time making par. That’s what makes it so unique. It offers a little bit of everything for everyone.”
Bottom line. Steel Club is a must play!
