PENN TWP — Looking for tradition? Find Suncrest Golf Course.

The owner, Keith Reddinger, has been there for more than 30 years. The course itself has been around since 1938.

Some of its employees have been there for decades and a few of its leagues have golfed there for 40 years.

Reddinger knows all about the course’s history. The land used to be a farm and his step-father, Alan Deere, bought the course in 1965.

“He re-designed it and reopened the course in 1966,” Reddinger said. “Holes 9 and 18 used to go straight uphill before the redesign made them easier.

“Those two finishing holes used to be called heart attack hill.”

When Reddinger’s mother married Deere, she asked Reddinger to come work at the course. He was employed by the Navy and was working in Maryland at the time.

“For about three months, I did both jobs,” Reddinger recalled. “I came to the golf course every weekend and worked as a mechanic, servicing the golf carts, things like that.

“Eventually, I gave my notice to the Navy job and moved back here fulltime. I took a cut in pay to do it, but I always liked mechanics and our longe-range plan was that I would eventually own the course.”

When Deere died, Reddinger took over.

“We’ve had some of the same people here the whole time,” he said.

Former snack bar manager Joanne Foster has been at Suncrest since 1965 and still works there. Reddinger’s daughter, Jennifer Kaper, runs that part of the operation now.

His son, Brian, 30, works at the course as well.

“I’ve been here since I was born,” Brian said of the course.

Reddinger’s assistant, Christine Mock, began working at Suncrest at age 18 and has been with the facility for 20 years.

“This has been a family business and everyone here is treated like family,” Kaper said. “We’re a public course and everyone does what has to be done.”

Reddinger added two ponds to hole No. 14 recently, one pond being in play, the other for scenic purposes. He took out 147 trees last year to open up the course.

“We want the course to be playable, yet challenging at the same time,” he said.

Suncrest features some long par-3 holes — measuring 179, 165, 187 and 216 yards in distance. It also has back-to-back par-5 holes on No. s 4 and 5, measuring 526 and 537 yards.

Most of the holes are tree-lined and the tees are elevated.

“Our prettiest hole is probably No. 11, going down a hill,” Reddinger saisd.

Suncrest is home to 19 leagues, including three ladies’ daytime leagues Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Two of those leagues have 40 players each.

“We’ve got a lot of great customers here,” Reddinger said. “We talk to them, kid with them, ... They’re like family and we treat them like family.

“The biggest improvement we ever made here was in 2004, when we put in an automated irrigation system. It keeps the course beautiful no matter what the weather conditions are.”

Suncrest features a pavilion suitable for parties and league gatherings.

Reddinger grooms the course himself. His day starts at 5:30 a.m. and “I stay as long as it takes.

“This is not an 8-hour per day job. Sometimes I’m here 12 hours, sometimes 14.”

He takes a course once a year to stay updated on the latest developments in pest control.

“The chemicals are always changing. Spraying and insect control is the toughest part of this job.”

The best part? The golfing.

“We try to find time to play nine holes, once a week,” he said. “The most relaxing times for people to come out here and play are Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

“The course is open, not many people on it at all, and it’s always calmer at night.”