Reading Country Club

Reading Country Club is a golf and social club located at 5311 Perkiomen Ave in Reading, Pennsylvania, on the Exeter Township side of the city along the Perkiomen Avenue corridor. The property combines an eighteen hole golf course, practice facilities, a pro shop and a clubhouse with dining and banquet space, all on a single site a short drive east of downtown Reading and within easy reach of Birdsboro, Shillington, Mount Penn and the Route 422 corridor.

The club is known regionally for the age and pedigree of its golf course. The layout was drawn by Alexander Findlay, the Scottish born course designer and promoter often referred to as the father of American golf, during the period of course building that golf historians call the Golden Age. The property carries a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and the club has hosted competitive golf over the decades that brought figures from the professional game to Berks County. For players interested in course architecture, the appeal is the chance to play holes that still follow routing ideas from an era before heavy earthmoving equipment reshaped the way courses were built.

The Golf Course

The course occupies rolling terrain above the Schuylkill Valley, and the ground itself does much of the defensive work. Fairways move across natural slopes, several approaches play uphill or downhill to greens set on raised shelves, and mature trees line many of the corridors. The result is a course that rewards shot placement and distance control more than raw length. Golfers used to modern layouts with wide landing areas and long sightlines will find a different kind of test here, with shots that must be shaped around trees, played to blind or partly hidden targets, and controlled carefully on and around sloping green sites.

Green complexes are a defining feature. Many sit on natural high points with fall offs on one or more sides, so a miss leaves a delicate recovery rather than a routine chip. Bunkering is used to frame and pinch landing zones rather than simply to punish the wayward. Multiple tee sets are in place so that the course can be scaled to different abilities, and forward tees are positioned to keep carries and approach distances reasonable for higher handicap players, juniors and seniors.

The course is used for league play, outings, charity tournaments and member events through the season, as well as daily public rounds. Tee times are spaced to keep groups moving, and walking is possible for players who prefer it, though carts are available and many golfers choose one given the elevation changes across the property.

Practice Facilities and Golf Services

Practice space at the club includes a driving range along with short game and putting areas where players can work on chipping, bunker play and speed on the greens before a round. The pro shop handles tee time check in, green fees, cart rental and golf merchandise, and staff there can answer questions about course conditions, pace, events on the calendar and lesson availability. Golfers planning a first visit often call the shop directly for same week openings or to confirm whether a tournament or outing is occupying the course on a given day.

Group golf is a regular part of the operation. The club handles outings for businesses, nonprofits, alumni groups and sports teams, which typically combine a shotgun or tee time start with a meal in the clubhouse afterward. Packages can include cart use, range balls, scoring, contest holes and prize arrangements, and the staff works with organizers on format, timing and headcount.

Clubhouse, Dining and Events

The clubhouse serves as the social center of the property. It houses a restaurant and bar area for sit down meals, a snack bar serving golfers at the turn and during the round, and banquet rooms used for larger gatherings. Menu work covers familiar club fare, including sandwiches, burgers, salads and entrees, along with buffet service for holiday brunches and special occasions. The bar serves beer, wine and cocktails, and the clubhouse is a common stop after league nights and member competitions.

Event hosting is a significant side of the business. The banquet space and grounds are used for weddings and receptions, rehearsal dinners, anniversary and birthday parties, showers, memorial luncheons, holiday parties, business meetings and fundraising dinners. The golf course and the older architecture of the property give photographers a range of backdrops, and the ability to pair a ceremony or reception with a golf outing appeals to families and organizations planning multi part events. Catering, room setup, bar service and timeline planning are coordinated through the club, and inquiries about dates, capacities and menu options are handled by phone at +1 610-779-1000.

Membership and Public Access

Reading Country Club operates with a membership structure while also allowing public play, which makes it accessible to golfers who are not ready to join but want regular access to a historic course. Membership categories generally cover full golf, social and limited or junior options, with privileges that can include advance tee time booking, member events and leagues, practice facility access and use of the clubhouse. Prospective members can ask the club about current categories, initiation terms, dues schedules and what each level includes before committing.

Visiting the Club

• Address: 5311 Perkiomen Ave, Reading, PA 19606
• Phone: +1 610-779-1000
• Business type: country club with golf, dining and event facilities
• Onsite services are available at the property
• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Parking is on site, with accessible spaces and an accessible entrance to the clubhouse for guests attending banquets, dinners and other gatherings. The location on Perkiomen Avenue puts the club within a few minutes of Exeter and Mount Penn, roughly fifteen minutes from central Reading, and a reasonable drive from Pottstown, Boyertown, Wyomissing and Douglassville.

Golfers, event planners and prospective members are encouraged to call ahead for tee times, outing dates, banquet availability and membership details, since course access can vary when tournaments and private functions are scheduled.