Conley Resort & Golf Club takes pride in playability, packages and more
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Conley Resort & Golf Course in Penn Township as seen on Friday, April 11, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Conley Resort & Golf Course in Penn Township as seen on Friday, April 11, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Conley Resort & Golf Course in Penn Township as seen on Friday, April 11, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Conley Resort & Golf Course in Penn Township as seen on Friday, April 11, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Conley Resort & Golf Course in Penn Township as seen on Friday, April 11, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Conley Resort & Golf Course in Penn Township as seen on Friday, April 11, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Conley Resort & Golf Course in Penn Township as seen on Friday, April 11, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Conley Resort & Golf Course in Penn Township as seen on Friday, April 11, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
PENN TWP — Josh DeNinno recognized a good thing.
The former Moon Golf Club general manager has played rounds at Conley Resort & Golf Club many times. When the opportunity arose to join the team there, he jumped at it.
“I’ve known this course for a long time and have always loved it here,” DeNinno said. “The way it’s taken care of, laid out. ... It was time for a change for me, and when I was offered this position, it was a no-brainer.”
DeNinno has been Director of Golf Operation for only a few months. Neil Finn as been course superintendent since 2016 and has been superintendent of Suncrest Golf Course — the neighboring facility, both owned by St. Barnabas Communities — since 2014.
Douglas Day is the president of St. Barnabas Hospitality Group and enjoys the uniqueness of the two golf course. He is also president of the Pa. Golf Course Owners Association.
“I know what’s out there. There’s about seven golf courses along this Route 8 strip alone,” Day said. “A lot of us are similar. You have to find a way to stand out.”
Conley, which has a hotel and restaurant, offers a number of “Stay & Play” packages ranging in price from $195 to $597, depending on how much golf one wants to play and how many nights one chooses to stay.
Conley and Suncrest are linked together, enabling golfers to end a round at one course and jump over to the next.
“If people choose to, we offer enough amenities here that they never have to get back in the car from the moment they arrive until the time they leave,” Day said. “People have done that.”
Golfers have traveled from New York, Ohio, other states and Canada to stay at Conley, many for three or four days.
More than 60,000 rounds of golf are played at the two courses annually, according to Day, which combine to host 40 leagues and more than 20 golf events each year. Pine-Richland’s girls and Mars’ boys golf teams play home matches at Conley.
Day said the playability of Conley makes it stand out.
“Neil keeps this course in pristine condition,” Day said. “It’s hard to make a course challenging to the skilled golfer, yet playable for everyone. Conley has that working for it.”
The course itself features a lot of sand traps and intriguing holes. It starts out with a 440-yard par-5 that is basically a straight shot. Nos. 11 and 12 have sharp doglegs left. The round ends with an island green on No. 18, a huge pond nestled in front of the green.
St. Barnabas offers residents of its retirement community endless free golf at Conley and Suncrest, but those individuals must schedule tee times like everyone else.
“There is perception out there that retired citizens of St. Barnabas are all over this course all the time,” DeNinno said. “That’s not the case. They comprise only a small percentage of the 65,000 rounds played here each year.
“A lot of retirees in general are on this course, of course. A lot of retired people play golf.”
Finn works with a golf course maintenance staff of 12-14 people. They work on both courses.
“Some of these workers have been here for years,” Finn said. “These two golf courses are radically different, and our staff knows them so well. We have a ton of acreage and deal with Pennsylvania weather.
“Our workers do a tremendous job keeping both courses in great shape.”
Conley and Suncrest golf courses cover 250 acres.
Conley offers discount rates for seniors, who can walk nine holes for as low as $18 on weekdays. Regular prices for 18 holes and a cart are $49.50 and $56.50, respectively, on weekdays and weekends.
“Pricing is right in line with other courses in the area,” St. Barnabas Communities general manager Mark Dennis said. “For the combination of playability and hospitality here, you can’t beat this place.”
Spotlight: This is one in a series of promotional articles on area golf courses.
