An introduction by Kevin Danyi

When we travel through the front gate of the Club and look at the beauty of our property, it is easy to think of it as a complete picture. But if you were to search the land records on our 850+ acres, it would soon split off into multiple properties and pieces, including 18th century industrial uses, mines and farming operations going back to the days of William Penn. When I’m walking on a well-manicured fairway with deer quietly grazing nearby, it is difficult to imagine steam-powered machinery, piles of rock and smoke belching out of lime kilns. Years later, there were workers from Bethlehem Steel building sturdy bridges across the creek with steel made on the other side of South Mountain.

To get information on these features, look for the 20 wood posts located throughout the Club which have plaques and QR (quick reference) codes on top. Use the camera on your phone to scan the QR code and your phone will direct you to a link on our website with descriptions of each feature.

Conservation is important at SVCC. In addition to the history of the Club property, we have identified certain natural areas that we are preserving and working on to improve our environment and natural habitats. There are native species of plants and animals, as well as riparian areas which help our wildlife and promote clean water. We are proud of the fact that when water leaves SVCC, it is cleaner than when it enters our property while providing a home for trout, ducks and even swans.

Even long-time members who are familiar with Club history may discover some new things. I’ve hit more than one drive from Grace #1 into the creek on the right, but never knew that it had a name: Laurel Run, which then flows into Saucon Creek just past Hurd’s Pond. In order to maintain an appropriate pace of play on the golf courses, it may be beneficial to view the map and specific items prior to your round. If you are on the Old Course, take a look at the QR code for the majestic beech tree that was planted in 1960. And a “London plane” won’t get you to Heathrow, but it may drop some bark on you; there’s a QR code for that, too.

The Saucon Sanctuary Committee hopes to install additional markers and QR codes in the future and will maintain an updated map (featured below.)