HARMONY — Simply put, Tim McNulty loves to grow things.

He and his wife grew strawberries and vegetables on his farm for years before deciding that venture wasn't going to last long-term.

“We looked at the future in terms of our farming and decided it wasn't going to be a good outcome,” McNulty said.

So he decided to grow a golf course. And Strawberry Ridge is in its 18th year as a result.

“We looked at the possibility of using this land for a housing development when we were considering options,” McNulty said. “But the possibilities of a golf course here seemed to be the way to go.”

So off he and his crew went.

The first nine holes were completed in a year “and it was rough,” McNulty admitted. “It was like a cow pasture, We probably shouldn't have opened it when we did. We could have waited another couple of years.

“But the second nine holes were going to be four or five times harder to complete because they were going through the woods. We wanted to get something out there and get established.”

The second nine holes at Strawberry Ridge opened three years later.

McNulty has been working on growing a family atmosphere, versatile facility and a loyal clientele ever since. And he's been succeeding at all three.

Strawberry Ridge has 15 leagues that play there.

“Our staff and customers here are like family,” McNulty said. “We've had loyal leagues, loyal golfers here year after year and we appreciate them. We have close relationships with our customers and we cherish them.

“Bob Kniess has been working as a starter here for us for 10 years and he often comes in on quick notice. Jimmy Smith has been working the counter for 16 years, Steve Stouffer has been here 16 years, Danny Beagle almost that long, and I know there's others. We really are one big family.”

When McNulty first designed the golf course itself, he received valuable input from good friends Larry Napora and Jimmy Powell, who had ample experience in the golf business.

“The biggest thing I learned from them was not to build a course that would brutalize the golfer,” he said. “Make the course too tough and people won't come back.”

So McNulty decided to make Strawberry Ridge the best of both worlds: Challenging to the highly skilled golfer, forgiving to the inexperienced golfer.

One of the changes on the course this year is a black tee box on the par-5 No. 12 hole. That can make the hole play as long as 625 yards, making it one of the longest holes in the county.

A new tee box on No. 5 enables the golfer to turn the hole into “a challenging 245-yard par 3,” McNulty said. “A variety of tee boxes make this a versatile course and that's what we want. Any level of golfer can play here.”

Water plays a factor on five holes and there are some bunkers, “but they're not real deep,” McNulty said.

Because Strawberry Ridge sits on top of a hill, “almost every hole offers a nice view of western Pennsylvania,” he added. “And no two holes on this course are alike. None of the holes even resemble another.”

Strawberry Ridge offers more than its unique 18-hole golf layout. The facility's Ridge Pub offers numerous sandwiches and home-made fries, along with soups that are made from scratch. Prime rib is available Friday nights.

The golf course's driving range and practice facility enable the golfer to practice any phase of the game, from drives to putts, chipping out of sand or high grass,” McNulty said.

Still in development is the nine-hole youth golf course. No hole will be longer than 100 yards and the course is being designed for kids ages 8-12.

McNulty envisions having a “Little Chippers League” in place when that youth course is complete.

“Maybe by sometime next year,” he said of its completion. “It just comes down to having the money to complete it.

“We'll continue to keep at it.”

Calling ahead for tee times is strongly recommended at Strawberry Ridge. Sets of discounted rates are offered for seniors ages 55-61 and 62-over.