Comments on: Grey Hawk Golf Club (LaGrange, OH) Review http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:22:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Kennsington Golf Club (Canfield, OH) Review | The Sand Trap http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review#comment-12740 Kennsington Golf Club (Canfield, OH) Review | The Sand Trap Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:00:14 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review/#comment-12740 [...] Kennsington Golf Club.Course Conditions I've played my fair share of new golf courses. Among them, Grey Hawk had good conditions (but excessively hard greens with soft approaches) and one of my home courses, [...] [...] Kennsington Golf Club.Course Conditions I've played my fair share of new golf courses. Among them, Grey Hawk had good conditions (but excessively hard greens with soft approaches) and one of my home courses, [...]

]]> By: Jim http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review#comment-11024 Jim Fri, 23 May 2008 11:44:42 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review/#comment-11024 Mike - If you want a great golf experience I suggest you reconsider and give Grey Hawk a chance. I have no affiliation to this golf course other than I truly enjoy playing there when I come in from Atlanta. I was in Ohio two weeks ago and was able to sneak a round in at Grey Hawk and can tell you that it is in great shape and much more fun to play than the other daily fee courses in the area. I am sad to say that Mr. Casabella is no longer affiliated with Grey Hawk. Even though you may not have agreed with his rebuttal, he was very passionate about this course and is an excellent club pro. Mike -

If you want a great golf experience I suggest you reconsider and give Grey Hawk a chance. I have no affiliation to this golf course other than I truly enjoy playing there when I come in from Atlanta. I was in Ohio two weeks ago and was able to sneak a round in at Grey Hawk and can tell you that it is in great shape and much more fun to play than the other daily fee courses in the area.

I am sad to say that Mr. Casabella is no longer affiliated with Grey Hawk. Even though you may not have agreed with his rebuttal, he was very passionate about this course and is an excellent club pro.

]]> By: Mike http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review#comment-11005 Mike Thu, 22 May 2008 17:28:13 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review/#comment-11005 As an avid golfer with a 3 handicap I came across this review with all intent to play Grey Hawk but changed my mind after reading the review. It was not because of the review that Erik had written but because of Mr. Casabella and Mr. Smelek’s response. First off I truly believe that any publicity is good publicity because I am sure there are people out there who have never thought of playing Grey Hawk but because Erik took the time to play golf here and write about the accolades of the course good or bad it will have brought new golfers to the course. Back to the responses, I think the true character of people shine when they or something they strongly believe in is challenged and I believe that was very evident from Mr. Casabella and Mr. Smelek. Instead of bashing Erik why not state your reasons why you disagree with him or let us know what actions you are taking to fix some of these problems. I have played some amazing courses in the country but none of them were perfect, there is always something that could be better. Mr. Casabella and Mr. Smelek I am a person who is in marketing, why not take this free publicity and turn it into something positive. If you think that this review has hurt your business offer the readers of thesandtrap.com a discount to play your course but also allow that person to write a review good or bad about your facility? As an avid golfer with a 3 handicap I came across this review with all intent to play Grey Hawk but changed my mind after reading the review. It was not because of the review that Erik had written but because of Mr. Casabella and Mr. Smelek’s response. First off I truly believe that any publicity is good publicity because I am sure there are people out there who have never thought of playing Grey Hawk but because Erik took the time to play golf here and write about the accolades of the course good or bad it will have brought new golfers to the course. Back to the responses, I think the true character of people shine when they or something they strongly believe in is challenged and I believe that was very evident from Mr. Casabella and Mr. Smelek. Instead of bashing Erik why not state your reasons why you disagree with him or let us know what actions you are taking to fix some of these problems. I have played some amazing courses in the country but none of them were perfect, there is always something that could be better.

Mr. Casabella and Mr. Smelek I am a person who is in marketing, why not take this free publicity and turn it into something positive. If you think that this review has hurt your business offer the readers of thesandtrap.com a discount to play your course but also allow that person to write a review good or bad about your facility?

]]> By: Patrick Oxley http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review#comment-9173 Patrick Oxley Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:42:35 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review/#comment-9173 Just a few comments- the greens have already softened up. A better player who is able to stop his ball will find it not too difficult. Let's remember, all the wind they get out there, that doesn't really help balls sit. Even when the tour visits Pebble Beach (which has been around forever), pros find it difficult to keep the ball on the green where they like to. As far as cookie cutter goes, what kind of course are you going to build in Lorain County anyway that isn't flat crap (except Elyria CC)? Do we want another Dorlon, Creekwood, Emerald Woods ect.? If you are not a fan of this type of arch., fine-but it is far from cookie cutter. NOPGA comes there for a section tourny. Rumor of a local US Open qualifier there is possible. You don't hold events like this at a cookie cutter course. Man made-yes, different for Ohio-yes, fun to play-yes, worth the $-yes. It is in my opinion, from the tips, the toughest course on the westside of Cleveland. A course like Blue Heron in my mind is barely a golf course. At 7,079 yrds. from the tips, a slope of 137 and a rating of 74.3, maybe it's too difficult for some to enjoy. This golf course makes you think. You have to hit every club in your bag, use course management, and know how to play in the wind. Grey Hawk is both a fair and very good test of golf. They are also letting up on the strict cart rules, which was only to get the root system in check in the first place. It's too bad not all Supers care about their track as much as they do. Thank you. Just a few comments- the greens have already softened up. A better player who is able to stop his ball will find it not too difficult. Let's remember, all the wind they get out there, that doesn't really help balls sit. Even when the tour visits Pebble Beach (which has been around forever), pros find it difficult to keep the ball on the green where they like to. As far as cookie cutter goes, what kind of course are you going to build in Lorain County anyway that isn't flat crap (except Elyria CC)? Do we want another Dorlon, Creekwood, Emerald Woods ect.? If you are not a fan of this type of arch., fine-but it is far from cookie cutter. NOPGA comes there for a section tourny. Rumor of a local US Open qualifier there is possible. You don't hold events like this at a cookie cutter course. Man made-yes, different for Ohio-yes, fun to play-yes, worth the $-yes. It is in my opinion, from the tips, the toughest course on the westside of Cleveland. A course like Blue Heron in my mind is barely a golf course. At 7,079 yrds. from the tips, a slope of 137 and a rating of 74.3, maybe it's too difficult for some to enjoy. This golf course makes you think. You have to hit every club in your bag, use course management, and know how to play in the wind. Grey Hawk is both a fair and very good test of golf. They are also letting up on the strict cart rules, which was only to get the root system in check in the first place. It's too bad not all Supers care about their track as much as they do. Thank you.

]]> By: Jim Harris http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review#comment-4841 Jim Harris Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:38:46 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review/#comment-4841 [quote comment="4839"]I think Grey Hawk must be doing a little recruiting of responses and rebuttals. I could be wrong, but your comment seems a little unusual.[/quote] I live in Atlanta and have nothing to gain from my comments. I was not recruited and in fact the breavity of your comments make me believe that you, my friend, were recruited. This golf course feels out of place because theres not much in your area to compare it with. I can tell you equivocally that I would much rather play this course because of it's character than any other daily fee course in the Lorain County area. I am no expert and won't pretend to be on golf in Northeast Ohio, but, for my money Grey Hawk wins out over Mallard Creek, Pheasant Run and the other area courses I've played. ClevelandGolfer said on March 21, 2007:

I think Grey Hawk must be doing a little recruiting of responses and rebuttals. I could be wrong, but your comment seems a little unusual.

I live in Atlanta and have nothing to gain from my comments. I was not recruited and in fact the breavity of your comments make me believe that you, my friend, were recruited.

This golf course feels out of place because theres not much in your area to compare it with. I can tell you equivocally that I would much rather play this course because of it's character than any other daily fee course in the Lorain County area.

I am no expert and won't pretend to be on golf in Northeast Ohio, but, for my money Grey Hawk wins out over Mallard Creek, Pheasant Run and the other area courses I've played.

]]> By: ClevelandGolfer http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review#comment-4839 ClevelandGolfer Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:19:32 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review/#comment-4839 [quote comment="4788"]I also felt the greens were in line with the age of the course and the "linksy feel" that you talk about when you consider the flat terrain and the fact that this course is windy. From my point of view this is not cookie cutter for this area.[/quote] I think Grey Hawk must be doing a little recruiting of responses and rebuttals. I could be wrong, but your comment seems a little unusual. I've played Grey Hawk, and Erik doesn't talk about the greens being bad. He says they're bad in combination with the fairways. I've seen it too - I've tried to run up a 5-iron that hits the soft fairway and doesn't go, yet sand wedges that hit the middle of the green (and with plenty of spin) go off the back of the green or even into bunkers! Erik says - and I agree - that the run-up areas to greens should play about the same firmness as the greens. If the greens are hard, the run-up areas should be hard too to allow run-ups! Also, I too dislike the spectacularly unusual mounding. It looks out of place. It's completely a "manufactured" look that isn't appealing - to me - at all. That's what I take "cookie cutter" to mean. It's out of place for NE Ohio because it's got (fake) mounds and it's not a tree-lined course. But that doesn't make it an un-cookie-cut course for the general country. Jim Harris said on March 19, 2007:

I also felt the greens were in line with the age of the course and the "linksy feel" that you talk about when you consider the flat terrain and the fact that this course is windy.

From my point of view this is not cookie cutter for this area.

I think Grey Hawk must be doing a little recruiting of responses and rebuttals. I could be wrong, but your comment seems a little unusual.

I've played Grey Hawk, and Erik doesn't talk about the greens being bad. He says they're bad in combination with the fairways. I've seen it too - I've tried to run up a 5-iron that hits the soft fairway and doesn't go, yet sand wedges that hit the middle of the green (and with plenty of spin) go off the back of the green or even into bunkers!

Erik says - and I agree - that the run-up areas to greens should play about the same firmness as the greens. If the greens are hard, the run-up areas should be hard too to allow run-ups!

Also, I too dislike the spectacularly unusual mounding. It looks out of place. It's completely a "manufactured" look that isn't appealing - to me - at all. That's what I take "cookie cutter" to mean. It's out of place for NE Ohio because it's got (fake) mounds and it's not a tree-lined course. But that doesn't make it an un-cookie-cut course for the general country.

]]> By: Jim Harris http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review#comment-4788 Jim Harris Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:58:39 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review/#comment-4788 I couldn't disagree more with Mr. Barzeski's assessment of Grey Hawk. I had the chance to play the course a couple of times last summer and can tell you that I had nothing short of a great experience. The staff(Todd especially) were inviting to this Southerner from Geaorgia and I found the course to be very enjoyable. From the tips with the way the wind blows it is quite a challenge. I also felt the greens were in line with the age of the course and the "linksy feel" that you talk about when you consider the flat terrain and the fact that this course is windy. From my point of view this is not cookie cutter for this area. The other semi-private and public courses I've played in Northeast Ohio are far more mundane and cookie cutter in comparison. The fact that the price was reasonable is only and added plus. In the Atlanta, GA area you could never experience this type of upscale daily fee environment for under $50.00. I will definitely return to Grey Hawk when I'm in Northeast Ohio. I couldn't disagree more with Mr. Barzeski's assessment of Grey Hawk. I had the chance to play the course a couple of times last summer and can tell you that I had nothing short of a great experience. The staff(Todd especially) were inviting to this Southerner from Geaorgia and I found the course to be very enjoyable. From the tips with the way the wind blows it is quite a challenge. I also felt the greens were in line with the age of the course and the "linksy feel" that you talk about when you consider the flat terrain and the fact that this course is windy.

From my point of view this is not cookie cutter for this area. The other semi-private and public courses I've played in Northeast Ohio are far more mundane and cookie cutter in comparison. The fact that the price was reasonable is only and added plus. In the Atlanta, GA area you could never experience this type of upscale daily fee environment for under $50.00.

I will definitely return to Grey Hawk when I'm in Northeast Ohio.

]]> By: Erik J. Barzeski http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review#comment-4696 Erik J. Barzeski Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:09:27 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review/#comment-4696 [quote comment="4694"]and keep your damn balls on the corse BITCHES[/quote] Uh, you did buy a home on a golf <em>course</em>… Biggs Rd Homeowner said on March 14, 2007:

and keep your damn balls on the corse BITCHES

Uh, you did buy a home on a golf course…

]]> By: Biggs Rd Homeowner http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review#comment-4694 Biggs Rd Homeowner Wed, 14 Mar 2007 07:24:57 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review/#comment-4694 GreyHawk May be a nice golf corse but the damn place sits 5 ft higher than everything else around it makeing it all flood and my property left a swamp so enjoy your golfing assholes wile im cleaning my basement and pumping water out. and keep your damn balls on the corse BITCHES GreyHawk May be a nice golf corse but the damn place sits 5 ft higher than everything else around it makeing it all flood and my property left a swamp so enjoy your golfing assholes wile im cleaning my basement and pumping water out. and keep your damn balls on the corse BITCHES

]]> By: Mark Bresky http://thesandtrap.com/extras/courses/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review#comment-2808 Mark Bresky Mon, 24 Jul 2006 03:29:46 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/grey_hawk_golf_club_lagrange_oh_review/#comment-2808 I am a proud member of Grey Hawk and as I have told Erik, I do disagree with some of his critique of this golf course. I also respect his opinions. Todd is a great Professional and I can understand why he would be offended by these remarks. He takes pride in the hard work that he puts in at Grey Hawk. He is also part of the heart and soul of that course. The staff there is for the most part very hospitible to me and my guests. No golf course is perfect and will make everyone happy and I understand that. I myself am biased being a member and like to talk the course up to other people. Not everyone thinks like me and I understand that. I invited Erik to play out there because I thought that he would share my thoughts on a great golf course. He didn't agree with me and thats ok. difference of opinion is what makes this country so great. I'm a middle age truck driver who has very little experience with golf course design or turfs and soils. So to me this is a beautiful course with great people running it. I am a proud member of Grey Hawk and as I have told Erik, I do disagree with some of his critique of this golf course. I also respect his opinions. Todd is a great Professional and I can understand why he would be offended by these remarks. He takes pride in the hard work that he puts in at Grey Hawk. He is also part of the heart and soul of that course. The staff there is for the most part very hospitible to me and my guests. No golf course is perfect and will make everyone happy and I understand that. I myself am biased being a member and like to talk the course up to other people. Not everyone thinks like me and I understand that.

I invited Erik to play out there because I thought that he would share my thoughts on a great golf course. He didn't agree with me and thats ok. difference of opinion is what makes this country so great. I'm a middle age truck driver who has very little experience with golf course design or turfs and soils. So to me this is a beautiful course with great people running it.

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