Salt Fork State Park GC (Lore City, OH)

Salt Fork is the largest state park in Ohio, and golf is just one of a myriad things to do. 

(The par four tenth is one of eight holes that features a huge elevation drop from the tee. 

“Bombs away!”) 

Salt Fork is a crazy hilly piece of property, and props has to be given to Jack Kidwell for designing a solid golf course. It reminds me of  the Speidel Jones course which is only 50 miles away and has almost the exact same topography. 

(The 316 yard fifth is an excellent short par four. It plays atop a ridge and doglegs right with fall offs both right and left of the fairway. A conservative tee shot will still leave a short iron in. Par is a welcomed score.) 

Kidwell did not flinch, and he designed holes with maximum thrill in mind. There are many holes with awesome views of the countryside and huge elevation drops from the tee. Bombers will have to keep their emotions in check and keep the ball in play. Straying from fairway too far will likely mean a lost ball. For average hitters, it’s a chance to go deep with the big dog. 

(The 368 yard second hole is the first opportunity to let it fly! The long hitter can fly it over the cart path.) 

The downside to Salt Fork are all the uphill approach shots. They play 2-3 clubs longer, and the flag position will be relatively unknown. For those who think 6,000 yards is short, this course will give a reality check. It’s deceivingly long. Most of that is elevation change, but it’s also a strong set of par threes where three of the five plays over 190 yards.

(The 199 yard ninth is all carry over a valley. There’s no real bailout but it’s a huge green. Anything hit left is gone. Par is a great score.) 

(The seventeenth is my favorite hole and is also a challenging one. It’s 193 yards and is all carry to the green. The hillside short left can be used to kick it onto the putting surface. The bridge to the left adds to the ambiance.) 

Of course with terrain like this, some of the holes will slope more than usual, and the obligatory straight uphill hole will occur. All of it is to be expected and should be embraced.

There’s plenty of quirk to be had, and shooting a good score is going to be a challenge. I’m sure some players will walk away shaking their heads. And that’s okay because the theme at Salt Fork is having fun, not necessarily the lowest score. 

(The 373 yard thirteenth requires a precise drive to have this unhindered view of the green. Uphill and somewhat narrow, the approach is very demanding.)

I usually talk about the clubhouse, but at Salt Fork, there’s an entire lodge. Impressive is a good word to describe it. So is gorgeous! It’s really quite the place to have drinks and go over the round. 
(The 299 yard finishing hole is a good tease for the long hitter to try to drive. The green is severely elevated above the fairway, and laying up in the flat is the prudent play. It’s two tiered so birdies will be held in check.) 

I give Salt Fork a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).  Most people coming here are bringing their families and enjoying themselves. It’s not really a golf destination, but rather a destination that has golf. The guys at work have been coming here for over a decade for their golf trip. Besides the golf, a 3000 acre lake to fish, hiking, horseback riding, swimming... kind of a no-brainer.