With a name like The Flying B, I knew there had to be an aviation connection somewhere, and sure enough, an airstrip used to be where twelve and thirteen fairway are today. This mom n pop golf course out in the rural environs of Salem is one reason why I think Youngstown is one of most underrated areas in Ohio. Places like this are slowly getting phased out with upkeep and maintenance costs driving owners to sell to real estate developers, but the B is fully embraced by the local community. This is where families and friends meet to enjoy the simple pleasures of golf with the design geared towards the introductory level of player with short grass surrounding putting surfaces and few bunkers.
(The short uphill par four second finishes at an oval putting surface that is hidden from the fairway. There are plenty of trees to advocate being straight.)
(The par three third is one of the few times you’ll see a sand trap. This cute hole plays directly behind the clubhouse as the first two holes play down and back. Imagine teeing off first in your league and mingling with everyone a few holes later. Fun stuff!)
I only played the front nine after playing eighteen holes during our annual Youngstown trip. I choose to come here because it boasts an impressive 4.6 rating on Golfpass. The course is in good shape and has some nice topographical features including a gently sloping piece of property and a few water hazards on the back. The trees that line the fairways are spaced out allowing players to advance the ball after wayward shots. This does make it a bit of a shooting gallery. It is advisable to be alert. I do love the serenity and peacefulness of its remoteness. Everything about the Flying B is very pleasant. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play).
(The seventh is the best hole in my opinion as it plays along the boundary line on the left to a green fronted by a shallow valley. The tee shot is quite unusual (opening photo) where you drive between two large hedges. I thought it was pretty cool.)
(I got off to good start but couldn’t finish it. The par five eighth is a neat driving hole with a swale cutting diagonally through the fairway. If you can squeeze it down the left, then it’s reachable in two.)
(A tree in the fairway makes the ninth hole a quirky par four. A water hazard left of the green forces the player to get the ball on the right side.)
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