(The 185/151 yard par three eighteenth is not your typical finisher. The last full swing of the day must carry all the way to the putting surface and not go offline where the big pines eagerly wait to swat the ball down. A par is a good score.)
The Pines was designed in 1960 just outside Orrville, a small town between Wooster and Massillon. Getting there requires driving on state route 585, one of the most scenic roads in northeast Ohio. The long views of rolling farmland is quite different than what a city slicker is used to seeing. The horses and cattle along with the crops, especially in the first morning light, or even better, the softness of the setting sun, is soul touching. I comment on this because I’ve always felt it contributed to the overall experience of the course. It’s so arbitrary, I know, but I have the same feeling driving to Eagle Creek, and it was one of the reasons why I loved Seven Hills.
(The 178/153 yard par three fifth is a good looking hole. The green has a modest back to front slope, and is a good birdie if you hit it in regulation.)
(The 421/366 yard par four seventh starts off with a beautiful drive over a couple small water hazards. The back tee is another sixty yards behind this view.)
(The 525/510 yard par five eighth is arguably the best hole on the course. Knowing how small the green is, it’s not in anyone’s best interest to go for it in two. This view from ninety yards short opens up every pin position for attack.)
(The 271/258 yard uphill par four ninth is my favorite hole. The contours of the hill require a drive up the left but the line of charm may fool you into taking the head on approach. For the long hitter, it’s a chance for glory.)
My pictures highlight the best holes, specifically the 5-9 stretch, but unfortunately the flatter holes, especially by the entrance road, are not as interesting. This also applies to the 14-17 stretch too. If these holes had a bit more character to them then it would be as popular as Mohican Hills was, as both sit on the same Rt30 corridor. (You’d think a great course would’ve been built a long time ago on the 55 miles that separate Mansfield and Massillon) As is, The Pines is doing well and was voted 2024 best course by the Daily Record. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play).
(We played the white tees at 5,991 yards. A few bad holes prevented both of us from breaking eighty. Note the deuce on eighteen. If this is the final round of the season, then what a way to end it!)
