Shaker Run Golf Club (Lebanon, OH)

Shaker Run was designed by Art Hills in 1979 for Armco Steel as a corporate course to compete with NCR and it's courses in Dayton. When it went public,  it was instantly rated the #1 public course in Ohio, and stayed that way until Hills designed the nationally acclaimed Longaberger. 

(The excellent 420 yard dogleg left eighteenth. One of the best finishing holes in Ohio.) 

At Shaker Run, the player must position his ball off the tee to have any chance at shooting a good score. 

(The par five opening hole.) 

Length is definitely a plus, but it's not the key. Trees play a huge role in Hills strategy, specifically on 6,7,15,& 17.  On these four holes, the player must find the proper side of the fairway to have a straight forward approach, otherwise a fade or draw is required. 

The elevation change on the front nine creates two of the more dramatic holes at Shaker Run. 

(The green on three is fifty feet down the hill from the landing area with a creek fronting. Note the bunkering behind the green.)

(Two holes later, the downhill par three fifth demands an expert shot to walk away with a par.)

The lakeside holes are the most memorable at Shaker Run, and the first taste starts at the ninth. 

(The penisula green on nine is the second shot one has to hit over water.) 

It's a true cape hole over water where you must pick the appropriate line, and not error too far off it. The second shot is just as tough as the player hits over water again to a penisula green. At 435 yards, it's an absolute butt pucker! 

(Seventeen is a reachable par five whose green is backdropped by gorgeous views) 

The back nine has several good holes. 

(The tenth plays downhill, narrowing close to the green) 

The tenth is a great par four that plays downhill. Eleven follows with a short par three over water. Hills uses traditional strategy where angles are setup by challenging bunkers off the tee to obtain premium angles to the green. Twelve is an excellent example. 

(Not much room to land the approach on sixteen green so It's imperative to carry cross bunker to set up short iron second.)

Fourteen, sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen all touch the water in some way, making for some interesting shots and for some wonderful vistas. Eighteen in particular stands out as an excellent par four that doglegs left with water all down the left.  The player must shape his ball into the fairway otherwise big trouble lurks either with a wet tee ball or a terrifying approach. It's considered one of the best in the state.  

Shaker Run is still one of the best courses in Ohio even with the influx of new designs and old private country clubs going semiprivate. I heard some of the trees are being cleared out so it's possible that it is better than what I remember. Ten years ago Hurzdan added a third nine, but I would recommend sticking to the original. It's definitely worth a play if one is in the Cincy area. I give it a 6 (very good).