Tam O'Shanter Golf Course (Hermitage, PA)

Tam O'Shanter is an old school golf course. The quaint clubhouse and large oaks greet you as soon as you pull into the parking lot. I felt very at ease when I got out of the car, and that is an enduring quality most places wished they had. 

Emil Loeffler designed Tam O'Shanter in 1929. It took him two days to lay out the course. He was paid $100 a day for this. 

(The 301 yard first hole starts the round with a good birdie chance.) 

Loeffler had great affection for Oakmont's long par three eighth hole, so he often incorporated a long difficult par three in his designs. At Tam O'Shanter, that hole is the 235 yard second. It doesn't look like much, aside from it's length, but it is a very difficult par. 

(Note the dip before the green. At 235 yards most shots will be played to run onto the green, but the little upslope will usually stop it short, just like ball in pic. The green slopes to the right, and is testy chip.)

The long par five that plays close to 600 yards is another Loeffler characteristic, and at Tam O'Shanter, it's the 570 yard third. 

(A creek crosses the fairway 100 yards from the green. Most players lay well back and hit mid iron into the small putting surface.)

My favorite hole is the fifth. The approach shot is over a valley to a green draped across the hill. 

(Look at that green! It s as if Loeffler just mowed down the grass! It's a great second shot!) 

Old courses tend to have cool tee boxes, and Loeffler took advantage of some natural features for some of the drives at Tam O'Shanter. 

(Six tee is atop a rock outcropping above the valley.) 

(The par three eighth tee is hit over a public road. Note the OB stake near the tree. It's definitely not the time to top your shot.) 

(Setting is often remembered long after the round. The tenth tee box emphasizes this point.) 

The front nine has the better land, and the better holes. Loeffler made great use of the valley. The back nine plays on flatter land, and Loeffler pushed the greens up a little bit more. The false fronts are more pronounced, and are the main hazard to protect par. 

(Look how high the green is above the fairway. The golfer must consistently remind himself to carry the ball past the first third of the green.) 

The knock on Tam O'Shanter is the finishing stretch of holes. Fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen are all sub 350 yard par fours. With the flatter terrain, none of them present a real challenge. In fact, the long hitter might be able to drive all three. Then eighteen finishes with a par three. It adds to the perception. 

(The green on eighteen is a tiny target well bunkered short and right. With a strong left to right pitch, par will be a good score.) 

Tam O'Shanter is a fun golf course, and one of more popular courses in the Youngstown area. (It's just on the other side of the Ohio/Pittsburgh line) Emil Loeffler's work is all over western Pennsylvania, and this course was one of his earliest works. The course is probably in the 4 range, but the ambiance and atmosphere bump it up a notch. I'm giving it a 5 (good). It's worth a visit if you're in the Youngstown area. 

(The par five eighth funnels into a small green.)