Oak Tree Country Club (West Middlesex, PA)

Lately I've been playing more golf in the Youngstown area, and I cannot say enough just how good the golf is in this area of Ohio. It flies under the radar, but it really needs to be better known. Yankee Run, Firestone Farms, Millcreek, Kennsington to name a few, but possibly the best of the bunch sits on the Ohio/Pennsylvania border, Oak Tree Country Club. 

(The approach into the par four eighth.)

Oak Tree is an Ed Ault design.  It's a tight treelined course with closely guarded greens and treacherous putting. Good players will really enjoy this place, and will appreciate the challenge. The first hole is a slightly uphill par four with tight driving area and well protected green. 

(The first hole represents the course rather well. Pars are well earned and birdies are tough to come by.) 

(The second is a good chance to get a birdie. The downhill par five can be reached in two, but the front is well protected. I love the color contrast of the white sand against the green grass.) 

Three is a nice par three as the hole is just above the fall off to the left. It should be noted there are five par threes of which four of them play within five yards of each other. While it is nitpicking, it's a legitimate concern. I'm not sure why Ault didn't put more variety in their length. 

The fourth is a tough hole that features a very narrow driving area and green similar to the first. Then comes the fifth, probably the best hole on the front. At 440 yards, many players will be playing short left, and trying to save par from there. 

(Note how the water hazard frames the hole as opposed to directly confronting the player. To me this is an old fashion feature. Playability and the opportunity to salvage par is evident in the design.) 

(The beautiful par five sixth ambles uphill to a well protected green. All the three shotters are fabulous here at Oak Tree.) 

Birdie opportunities come at six and seven, a par five and a short to mid length par three. The eighth is a great downhill dogleg left par four that demands the golfer shape his ball into the fairway. The approach is across the water to a green set an angle with a bunker guarding. A par is a fantastic score! 

The front ends with a nice par three across water. There's plenty of room to hit a good shot, and maybe even get a birdie. Then the back starts off with a very difficult par four, long and uphill. 

(The putting surface cannot be seen from the fairway at the tenth. Par is a great score.) 

The eleventh is a fine par four. Then the comes the twelfth, a really good par five! 

(My favorite hole at Oak Tree. It's all about positioning the second shot. The green is guarded so well, the third has to be in the fairway and have a good angle.)

Thirteen is a nice par four over a gulley to a well bunker green. The walk over to fourteen tee reveals a picturesque par three. 

(The fourth par three at Oak Tree in the 165 range.)

(560 yard fifteenth is a three shot hole. The green sits below the fairway with a creek short of it. It's another really good par five!) 

The last three holes begin with a long tough uphill par four. Most will not make it up the slope to be able to see the green, so a four is a great score. 

(Tee shot on sixteen is very pretty.) 

Seventeen is the longest par three on the course but also the only ho-hum hole. The angle of the green is the biggest concern, a shot just over the trap will leave an uphill putt. Then eighteen finishes the round with a gorgeous downhill par four. 

A big long drive will set up a short iron second to a big green fronted by water. 

It's a realistic birdie opportunity if the pin is anywhere besides front right, otherwise players will be hitting to center of the green. It's a great ending hole that will put a smile on your face. 

Oak Tree is a hidden gem. That's a phrase I don't use very often, but I only know one other person who has played it. That's unfortunate because this is a very good golf course. I give it a 6! I'll be placing this on my annual golf schedule. 

(6=worth two hour drive)