Must Play Courses in Northeast Ohio and Western PA

[JD616]

I have already played some of the top courses in the area, but I want to see what else is out there. Any course recommendations are welcome and appreciated.

I have played:

1. Avalon Lakes

2. Squaw Creek

3. The Quarry

4. Oak Tree CC

5. CC of Hudson

6. Windmill Lakes

7. Westfield CC

8. Mill Creek

9. Kennsington

10. Firestone Farms

11. Gleneagles GC

12. Ellsworth Meadows

13. Pine Lakes

14. Reserve Run

Courses I would like to play:

1. Boulder Creek**

2. Shale Creek**

3. Sawmill Creek

4. Buhl Park

5. Olde Stonewall

6. Nemacolin Woodlands

7. Sand Ridge

8. Youngstown CC**

9. Trumbull CC

10. Fowler's Mill

11. Little Mountain

** Indicates ones I will be playing before the end of the year

Other Courses I want to play:

[ThominOH]

JD.. Shame you live in Youngstown..  I belong to a traveling league and we have a 30 week schedule to hit a new course each week.. It has always been a lot of fun.. We golf mainly in the Akron / Canton area.. I love your list, and have very similar names.. There are some names on your "like to do list" that are the same as mine.. A separate small group of us are trying to add more "hits" to our 30 course list, and if you are interested in joining us or staying in contact via email..  send me a message..  We normally 99% play on weekdays..

All we request is that your handicap be less then 50... LOL , and that you are able to laugh at shots, especially your own.. LOL  I play close to scratch, but the average gangster in our group shoots in the 90's for 18..

[JerseyThursday]

In regards to Western PA, I would strongly recommend Quicksilver GC (roughly 30 minutes from Pittsburgh). It’s hosted the Senior PGA Tour and the the Nationwide Tour events in the past.
I’ve played it 3 times and it’s top notch.

[FLOG4]

Directly north in Madison.....The Reserve at Thunder Hill.....And play the Thunder Tees if you have enough balls....

[iacas]

Originally Posted by FLOG4

Directly north in Madison.....The Reserve at Thunder Hill.....And play the Thunder Tees if you have enough balls....

I think virtually everyone would be well advised to avoid that course. It's not golf. It's just hole after hole of stupidity.

[FLOG4]

I'm guessing you didn't break 80. Long and penal with all that water, but any course is worth a trip to once.  Which is how many times I played it. And we toured the Thunders.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by FLOG4

I'm guessing you didn't break 80. Long and penal with all that water, but any course is worth a trip to once.  Which is how many times I played it. And we toured the Thunders.

Broke 80 every time I've played there except once (and that number is more than a few larger than 1). It's not golf. It's stupidity. One hole required a 4I off the tee, and a lob wedge that four single-digit handicappers landed short of the green and had it bounce OVER the back of the green. It's stupidity, it's not golf. It's "the toughest course" or whatever because it's not actually trying to be a golf course.

[FLOG4]

Here's an insider gotta do to the poster....Go to Pittsburgh.....Ride the trolley tour of Pittsburgh...Fun on it's own.  Wear a flamboyant golf shirt.  Strike up a conversation with the driver....He will get around to asking if you have played Oakmont...Say no but I'd love to.  Good chance he'll invite you out. But you have to close the deal right there.  And if you are young[under 30] bring your dad on this trolley.  Your odds will be better.  Worth a shot.

[JD616]

Originally Posted by FLOG4

Directly north in Madison.....The Reserve at Thunder Hill.....And play the Thunder Tees if you have enough balls....

Played there when I was 12 from the middle tees (around 6500 yards), shot 85. I liked the course and would definitely go back there. My stepfather shot 75 from the 4th tees and he said it may have been one of the hardest if not the hardest course he's played (He's played Firestone South, Teeth of the Dog, and several others), so to me that says it is a tough course.

[Divot Master]

Originally Posted by FLOG4

Directly north in Madison.....The Reserve at Thunder Hill.....And play the Thunder Tees if you have enough balls....

I've been playing Thunder Hill since the early 1980's when it was a private club.  I still try to play there once or twice a year, even though I live an hour away.  The course is all about visual intimidation, but after a few rounds it plays just like any other golf course.  The fairway landing areas are mostly generous, and the greens are receptive to well struck shots.  But miss either, and there is a good chance you will be in trouble.

Unfortunately, the course has suffered through many years of indifferent operators, and the owners currently have it listed for sale.  The irrigation system is failing, and they are doing only basic course maintenance.  Current conditions are fair to poor.  My recommendation would be to wait until next year, when (hopefully) a new owner has turned things around.

[ohiolefty]

Skip Shale Creek. Overrated and overpriced. If you're going to be in Medina county - Pine Hills and Pleasant Valley are better options IMO.

Fowlers Mill and Sand Ridge (if you can get on) are nice.

I'm not sure how far West you'll go...but 3 other great options are Manakiki (Donald Ross), Sleepy Hollow and Grey Hawk. Also, since you've got country clubs listed, Lakewood CC is a great place, too.

[ohiolefty]

Two good websites you can consult to find courses in Northeast Ohio:

• Ohio Golf Guide - User review-based site. You'll get some wackos on there, but you can get recent takes on a course from actual players
• Golf Cleveland Ohio - Very cool site. Comprehensive reviews of Northeast Ohio tracks with pictures.