Donald Ross (1872-1948), "the top architect in history," according to the January 1999 issue of the Golf Course News, designed the Immergrün Layout for Charles M. Schwab in 1917.
An issue of "Golf Digest" (May 1999) listed Ross in the top 10 of American's golf course architects. Ron Whitten, the author, said Ross' routings "always flowed with the land and his green contours were always cunning."

The survey in Golf Course News put Ross ahead of Alister Mackenzie, A. W. Tillinghast, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Dick Wilson and Stanley Thompson. Mackenzie designed Augusta National, home of the Masters, and Cypress Point. Jones is the only living member of the six.

Ross, who is "generally considered the grandmaster," built the nine-hole Immergrün course as a natural layout in harmony with surrounding landscape. Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina is one of Ross' better-known designs on a national scale. In western Pennsylvania, golfers will recognize Rolling Rock and the Pittsburgh Field Club as Ross masterpieces.

The Immergrün golf course was completed in 1921 as part of the Charles Schwab summer estate. Schwab, the celebrated steel king, founded Bethlehem Steel and served as the first president of the United States Steel Company.

He picked up the game of golf in 1915 at the age of 53 and set about to construct his own course. Drawing upon first-hand knowledge of many of the best courses in Europe and the eastern United States, Schwab selected Ross to design his dream in the scenic Loretto hills.

The construction brought few changes to the natural landscape. Schwab and Ross made certain the area's native elm, pine, maple and beech trees were preserved in their natural setting. The course was appropriately named Immergrün, meaning "evergreen." During Schwab's heyday, the estate employed 100 gardeners and farmers, 15 household servants and cost approximately $100,000 a year to maintain.

Activity at the course stopped with Schwab's death in 1939. Shortly thereafter, ownership of a majority of the Schwab estate, including the golf course, was transferred to Saint Francis University. It was donated to the University by a group aptly named the Friends of Saint Francis. The friends had purchased a large portion of the estate at a auction for a price of slightly less than $35,000.

The golf course was not of much value to the Franciscan friars who governed the University because golfing was considered a luxury not befitting clergy at that time.

The course lay unused until 1966 when a restoration project that had begun several years before was completed. Immergrün now closely resembled its original state and golfers once again trod its fairways and greens.

Today, Saint Francis University operates the course as a public facility and takes great care to preserve the history and naturalness of the course and grounds.

The Norman design of both the clubhouse, built in 1918 at a cost of $21,000, and the pro shop, constructed shortly thereafter, complement the European style of the course. The facilities are maintained for the convenience and comfort of visitors and include a restaurant and lounge, an outdoor dining area, equipment sales and rental shops and shower and locker rooms.

Saint Francis University invites all who are interested in golf and golf history to visit and experience the Immergrün Golf Club.