(The par five yard ninth features an island green. It’s reachable in two shots, and has a generous size green with rough and sand protecting it. It’s a birdie opportunity yet can be a disaster for those trying to squeeze a three out of it. 559/518/496)
It’s surprising how good Stonelick is considering Osterfeld’s lack of experience. His routing boldly attacks the hilly topography and produces strong shots with little empathy. The greens are precisely where they should be. Several are across valleys, some are placed atop knolls, while others are tucked next to the water. They’re gallantly defended by bunkers and demand well struck approach shots.
(The opening hole is a short par four. The right half of the green is plenty big but gets more staunt as the pin rotates to the left. 400/372/297)
(The beautiful par three third is all carry over water. It sits in an idyllic setting, and is previewed by players as they go to the second tee. The left hillside and bunker receive a lot of action but it’s a dangerous recovery with water staring you in the face. 184/169/146)
Besides being placed in the right spots, the greens are nicely tilted with no outrageous contours in them. They’re beautiful to putt on. The ball rolls very well. A couple have a second level where a pin can be tucked, but anything within fifteen feet is makeable.
(The fifth is an awesome par four that is the class of the front. It’s a long, strong hole with a full carry over the valley to the green. A long iron and even fairway wood is needed here. Par is a terrific score. 502/433/394)
(The seventh requires multiple tries to figure how best to attack the hole. Laying up leaves a long iron, while challenging the water is the only way to get a short iron in hand. It’s a birdie opportunity if you can pull off the drive.
Being a novice, I feel Osterfeld was able to attempt a few ideas that other architects wouldn’t do. The sunken green at the second was something I haven’t seen before, and I loved it. As you can see in this picture, there’s
probably a three foot drop. I think it makes a front pin more exciting. Come up short and putting down the slope might be the best option. As the pin goes deeper in the green, then it only effects depth perception. 440/431/420
The bunkering was more angular on a few holes where the face was nearly vertical. 
This is the par five tenth and you can see how manufactured the look is. It’s dramatic but some might say it looks contrived. 612/552/528
[Staying on the tenth hole. One of the coolest features is the back tee box that is literally right off the patio. As you look out from the it, it’s such a immense view. The fairway looks so far away. And it probably is considering the hole is over 600 yards!]
[Staying on the tenth hole. One of the coolest features is the back tee box that is literally right off the patio. As you look out from the it, it’s such a immense view. The fairway looks so far away. And it probably is considering the hole is over 600 yards!]
If I had to critique anything, then it would be some of the driving lines. Several of them are awkward, and it’s not apparent when you step on the tee box which way it goes. Nine and eighteen specifically have this problem, but it’s on a few others too.
(This view from behind eight green shows the slope to the far back corner. Each green has several challenging pin positions that keeps daily play fresh and interesting.)
(Where else would the green go?! The player stands on the one hill while the green sits on the other. Nothing complex here! And it’s a wonderful par three. 199/185/154)
Stonelick is the premiere public golf course in the Queen City, supplanting Arthur Hills’ Shaker Run, which at one time was deemed the best public in Ohio. Management has pumped a lot of money into it, and judging by all the cars in the parking lot the first weekend of March, I’d say it’s working. In fact, the greens were cut and rolled! I can only imagine how good it is in the summer. Most publications have Stonelick Hills in the top ten, but I feel it’s more like in the top five. I give Stonelick Hills a 7 (great)(worth driving 3-4 hours to play).
Stonelick is the premiere public golf course in the Queen City, supplanting Arthur Hills’ Shaker Run, which at one time was deemed the best public in Ohio. Management has pumped a lot of money into it, and judging by all the cars in the parking lot the first weekend of March, I’d say it’s working. In fact, the greens were cut and rolled! I can only imagine how good it is in the summer. Most publications have Stonelick Hills in the top ten, but I feel it’s more like in the top five. I give Stonelick Hills a 7 (great)(worth driving 3-4 hours to play).
(There’s high drama on the finishing hole with the green sliced between water and sand. The hole plays much shorter than the card indicates by playing right at the green. The last fifty yards rolls downhill. I love the look of the sand trap. This is one of my favorite pictures. 591/532/498)
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