Cumberland Trail Golf Club (Pataskala, OH)

Moving on in my courses of past golf trips... Cumberland Trails is a 1999 Hurdzan and Frye design in Pataskala, a little suburb east of Columbus. Like most new courses of this time period, it is the cornerstone of a residential community. 
(The 227/213 yard par three seventeenth is not short on challenges. While it’s overall length maybe hard to cover in one blow, there’s plenty of ways to play the hole.)

Central Ohio is well represented with Hurdzan Frye courses. All of them are very well liked, and Cumberland Trail is no exception. It’s in impeccable condition with greens that roll as good as most private clubs and has plenty of length that can stretch over 7200 yards. 

The above picture epitomizes central Ohio’s biggest drawback. The flat terrain has always been my biggest complaint towards courses from this region. Granted there’s enough water and wetlands to give it flavor but they tend to lack that excitement rolling terrains provides. 

Visually, Cumberland Trails reminds me of Royal American, another Hurdzan Frye course  in Columbus. The bunkering is low key and reminiscent of his work with Kidwell. 

Reading my notes, which go back to 2002, Cumberland Trails is the type of course that can be attacked and a good score attained. There’s a few tough holes that have to be played, but limit the damage, maybe secure a par or two, and birdies are possible on others. The water is not as much in play as it could be. It’s a very playable golf course. 

Cumberland Trails is a good course. I like it’s sister course, Delaware Country Club, a lot too. It’s one of the few places I still hear about up here in Cleveland. I give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).