(The 221 yard par three eighteenth is a no nonsense hole that is all carry to the green with a tad bit of fairway just short. No round is concluded until one hits the tee shot and has avoided the water. A par is a really good score.)
Buhl has tight treelined fairways and small well protected greens. The word small may not accurately describe just how tiny some of the putting surfaces are. They’re difficult to hit from the fairways, and if one starts spraying it, they can become downright maddening to approach. This theme is consistent throughout the round, and the lack of real movement in the land makes the design repetitive, and in a way, unimaginative. I kept expecting more, but it never came. The par three fourth was the only hole with a shot over a significant landform.
(The 143 yard par three fourth is over a valley between a narrow gap in the trees…
…the small green is guarded only by a single trap in the front right. The gap between the trees is more of an influence as certain pins may be inaccessible for those who can’t work it both ways.)
The emphasis on accuracy makes Buhl Park a difficult course. From the tips, it’s rated a half stroke over par even though it’s less than 6400 yards. It reminded me of Findlay Country Club. Many of the entrances are open, but there’s false fronts, and even significant slopes that guide the ball away from the green. Ironically, it must be pointed out, I saw more fronting bunkers here than on several Bendelow courses I’ve seen in the past. Getting an angle or an alleyway to run the ball on is the strategy of choice.
(The 410 yard par four second has a sliver of fairway to chase the ball on. Most of the green is behind the left bunker, and it’s on a upper tier.)
(The 437 yard par four eleventh is a little wider yet anything not advancing from the proper angle will likely find one of the green side traps.)
One of my favorite features of Buhl Park were the tee boxes. Each one was beautifully landscaped and added a touch of ambiance to the holes. With the flat terrain, additions like this go a long way.
(It’s not just the flowers and shrubbery that stand out, but the woodwork too…
…I wish more places took the initiative to bring color to their course.)
Avalon keeps Buhl Park in nice shape, however, I’d like to see the greens running at a faster pace. This would make it really come alive, and the little greens would have some serious bite to them. It would also be a huge improvement if they could thin out the trees, or at the very least, cut back the branches.
(The 190 yard par three sixth is a very narrow target with a severe back to front pitch…
…meanwhile the 153 yard par three fourteenth has one of the smallest greens I’ve ever seen. Par on either of these is holes is well done.)
I imagine Avalon bought Buhl Park because the owner is from the Shenango Valley. The park, which the course resides in, is a beloved amenity that the whole community takes great pride in. Bringing the country club back to prominence had to be an undertaking that Ron Klingle took as a challenge.
(The 312 yard par four thirteenth is a good birdie opportunity. Note how there is no opening for a running shot. The two bunkers force a high spinning shot. In today’s world, the longest hitters can reach those traps and some I’m sure could reach the putting surface.)
(The 343 yard par four fifteenth is arguably the best hole on the course. A shallow valley cuts across the fairway and the player must decide whether to lay back or hit it short of the creek. The green is offset, so the approach must be pinpoint.)
Avalon has four courses and Buhl Park is the most affordable. One can make their own conclusion from that fact. It’s a solid course even if it’s recurrent. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play).
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