The very nature of the course played today was influenced by the changes made in 1956 to provide a more challenging course for the Sunnehanna Amateur.

In 1960, par would be reduced from 72 to its current par 70. The previously benign 6th hole would be lengthened from 426 yards to 453 yards and changed from a par 5 to a par 4. The 14th hole was reduced from a 297-yard par 4 to a 250-yard par 3. By 1961, the impact of the changes were apparent, as the 6th hole yielded not a single birdie that year. The 8th hole would play almost a half stroke more difficult with the addition of the new tee and green.

The strength of Sunnehanna is its par 3s. Varying in length from 171 to 241 yards, they demand an array of various shots. In fact, in the 2000 Sunnehanna Amateur, the 14th, 5th and 10th , all par 3's, were the 3rd, 4th, and 5th most difficult holes, respectively.

The front nine is by far the more difficult of the nines. The second hole, a demanding uphill dogleg right measuring 409 yards,commands a solid drive, but a more demanding uphill second shot to an elevated green. Any ball above the hole demands a deft putting touch. It regularly ranks as the second most difficult hole during the tournament.<more>