With construction at the site of the five-year-old PIAA State Cross Country Championship course near Hotel Hershey, the PIAA was forced to look for alternatives for 2006 and beyond. According to PIAA Assistant Executive Director Melissa Mertz, they looked across the street and down the hill a little and found what they believe will be a great site.
The proposed move to the now-closed Hershey Parkview Golf Course would keep the meet in a central location, and in a way, return to the type of course (pardon the pun) often used in the past at venues like Penn State University and Bucknell University golf courses.
Mertz says the site is not definite because Hershey is in the midst of developing blueprints that will mark the location of a new parking lot. \"That could change our view\" Mertz says. \"If we can\'t design a course that is good for the athletes because of a parking lot, then we\'ll have to look elsewhere.\"
A decision on the site should be soon.
Editor\'s note: Having played the course while in high school, I believe it could make a very challenging addition to our state courses. On a golf website, the course was described this way: \"Traditional old course with narrow fairways and plenty of water into play. Fairly hilly with creek meandering through. Mature stands of dogwood, oak and pines.\"