Kennsington Golf Club (Canfield, OH)

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, Brian Huntley was at the forefront of the golf boom in northeast Ohio. His courses ranged from Eagle Creek in Norwalk, to Deer Ridge in Bellville, to Sanctuary in Canton, and everywhere in between. Kennsington is located in Canfield, just south of Youngstown. 

(The 186/173 yard par three eighth sits gracefully down in the valley with a large boulder several yards short of the putting surface. With the hazard on the right, the fairway should be the bailout, but the boulder creates doubt.) 

Kennsington is on a rugged piece of property. Huntley did not hold back and routed it over every nook and cranny he could find. The ravines, wetlands, and rolling terrrain asked for an engaging product, and Kennsington delivers! Centerline hazards, diagonal carries, and large bunkers all challenge the player to execute good shots. 

(The 382/375 yard par four second offers two routes to the green. Most will take the straightforward path which leaves the view seen above, but others can hit it right, and come in from the side. Short is a definite no-no.) 

(The 527/517 yard par five third has a green tucked behind wetlands. Longer players can reach it in two, and there is fairway short of the green on the left for those who think they can get a shorter yardage. Most players however will layup and take their chances with a short iron.) 

It’s no coincidence that Kennsington was designed the same year as The Quarry in East Canton. Both courses are on great parcels of land, and I believe Huntley’s previous work was the reason he was getting these better opportunities. It allowed him to take more risk designing cooler holes. There’s a lot of forced carries, and as a better player, this definitely makes it a more interesting course.

(The 461/424 yard par four ninth features this drive to reach the fairway. The player who challenges the hazard will have a better angle into the green…
…with a lake guarding the left side, one wants to work it safely from right to left. Note the wide landing area short. There’s plenty of ways to make par.) 

Kennsington plays 7050 yards par 71 from the tips. From the back tees, it can host any local or regional tournament. Five tee boxes give it flexibility to entertain golfers of all skill level. There’s a couple reachable par fives, but it’s highly doubtful anyone can find six and ten in two shots. Ten at 615 yards must be one of the longest holes in the Youngstown area. The par threes are fun. Three of them play over a ravine, and the last one at seventeen is similiar to Purgatory Golf Club’s seventeenth, a green surrounded by bunkers everywhere. 

( The 232/213 yard par three thirteenth is a monster one shotter over a ravine. The green has raised areas in front and in the rear that harbor diabolical pin placements. Playing to the middle is the prudent play even if two putting is a fifty-fifty prospect.) 

The par fours have a good deal of variety to them. There’s even a driveable one at fourteen. However, there are at least five long par fours that will require long irons, or even hybrids, to reach the green. They aren’t bland either. Diagonal hazards, water, and deep bunkers make all five of these tough pars. Less skilled players may gnash their teeth stepping up on these holes, but there’s room to navigate oneself into having a realistic chance at four. 

(There’s barely room to squeeze the ball in between the traps, but the long hitter can drive the green at the 326/317 yard par four fourteenth. (It’s only 258 from the senior tees) Today’s pin is very accessible but slide it left of the bunker and a touchy shot is the only way to get it close.) 

Kennsington has a great restaurant and even better patio to enjoy after the round. If you’ve ever been to Pompano Beach or Fort Meyers municipal, then you understand the mentality that makes these courses a place the entire community appreciates. I’ve always thought those were terrific business models, and Kennsington was the first Ohio course that fulfilled that description. With the Marriott just steps away, Kennsington has solidified itself as a great guys weekend destination. I give it a 6 (very good)(worth driving two hours to play). 

(The only poor hole is the 521/516 yard par five sixteenth. The hazard crosses at an awkward yardage, so it’s a short iron layup followed by a 175-200 yard third shot.) 

(The 458/428 yard eighteenth is a long par four to a peninsula green. Water and sand makes this an intimidating approach. A four here will win most times.) 

This is my ninth Huntley course. This is how I would rank them. 

                

          1) Quarry 

          2) Kennsington 

          3) Deer Ridge 

          4) Sanctuary

          5) Eagle Creek

          6) Firestone Farms

          7) Shale Creek

          8) Raintree

          9) Rose’s Run

                             

Oberlin Golf Club (Oberlin, OH)

Established in 1899, Oberlin is one of the oldest Golf Clubs in Ohio. It started off as a makeshift nine holer, and became a proper course in the 1930s when Harry Holmes, a chemistry teacher, reconfigured and expanded it. It stayed that way for another thirty years until Harold Paddock added a second nine in 1961. The two are separated by Pyle South Amherst Road, and the Paddock nine serves as the front, while the Holmes nine is the back. 

(The 545/532 yard par five seventeenth is the longest hole on the course. The club player will need two mighty whacks to position himself on the same level as the green. Failing to do this leaves a blind shot from an uneven lie in the valley. A five is a fine score.) 

Over the past few years, I’ve seen several courses where an additional nine was added to make eighteen holes. The best ones are sympathetic to the original architecture and meld seamlessly with it. Here at Oberlin, Paddock did a nice job fusing the two nines together.  The large greens have a simple geometric shape and are either circular or oval with a tilt to one side or the other. The clean driving lines harken to classic architecture. It must be pointed out that the last three holes, 7-9, were redesigned in the 1980s and their style is significantly different from Paddock’s and the original nine holes. The mounded greens have humps and bumps in them, and disrupt the flow that Paddock had created to merge with the back. 

(The 367/352 yard par four first has a green fronted by Plum Creek. While birdie demands a precise approach, Paddock left plenty of room to play long, and two putt for par.) 

(Like the first, the 172/160 yard fifth is fronted by Plum Creek. Golfers need to check the wind and select the correct club.) 

I’m a big fan of Harold Paddock. Most of his work is on hilly sites, but here at Oberlin, the front nine topography is mild. The valley the creek flows through is the main feature, and I like how Paddock took advantage of it by routing the green on one, the tee shots on two and seven, and the long approach on six. 

(The 473/430 yard sixth is a cracker of a par four. The hole doglegs right with the fairway dropping into the valley. The creek crosses diagonally and the green sits further up away from it. A good drive leaves a long approach, but an open front allows shots to run in.  A poor drive however will force a decision where to lay up and whether to challenge the creek. It was my favorite hole on the front.) 

The back nine has an unusual routing, compiled of two par threes, four par fours, and three par fives. It’s this nine that fascinated me the most. To think that a chemistry teacher is mostly responsible for what we play today is remarkable. Several drives are over valleys, greens are artfully placed, and the creek is used sparingly enough to be a hazard yet sill visually pleasing. 

(The 445/393 yard par four twelth plays in the valley below the seventeenth hole. A poor drive will have the diagonally crossing creek to carry…

…the front of the green looks open but the left side is raised and will shed balls away. A pin slid up in this area will prove devilish to get close. It is arguably the hardest hole on the course.) 

There’s some very stout par fours on the back where par will be a challenge, but that is offset by three par fives where a good player should feel he has three opportunities for birdie. In fact, three of the final five holes are three shotters, and I have to think that even a round that is slipping away can be salvaged by birdieing one, two, even all three of these holes. 

(While short on the card, the 468/458 yard par five fifteenth has plenty of bite. A tight landing area requires a long drive to have a chance to reach this in two. The elevated green is atop a ledge, and you’ll have to carry it all the way to the putting surface. The shorter hitter has the option to take on the creek and get close as possible or lay back.) 

(The 173/156 yard par three sixteenth has a treacherous green that slopes hard to the front. Being pin high or above is a mistake that often results in a three putt.) 

(The old nine has more interesting greens than the front. This is showcased immediately on the 267/260 yard par four tenth where the putting surface is literally sixty degrees from the fairway behind several trees. The player needs an angle to attack the pin, and either hits to the left corner of the fairway or tries to drive it just short of the green.) 

If there’s any questions about the strength of the golf course, then all one has to do is look at the quality of the membership. Oberlin has had some of northeast Ohio’s best players, and even today, is represented well in NOGA and USGA tournaments. It has an outstanding short game facility that goes a long way into making players tournament ready. 

(The 440/416 yard finishing hole is fantastic! The player drives over the valley to top of the fairway…
…the approach is to a small hourglass shaped green that is well defended by bunkers. The rear section is raised just slightly so it takes an exquisite shot to get close. Note how short leaves a reasonable chance to save par. Being long is not so fortunate. What a way to end the day!) 

The back nine of Oberlin plays next to Westwood Cemetery and it from here where I first saw the golf club. While visiting the cemetery, I saw the twelth green and the beautiful par three thirteenth hole. I was smitten by its classic architecture and pristine shape. Upon learning it was Oberlin Golf Club, I read about its unique history, and being a golf geek, I was hooked on one day playing it. It more than lived up to my expectations. I give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play.) It is the crown jewel of Lorain County golf.

(The 130/118 yard thirteenth is classic uphill short par three. It looks innocent but is closely guarded by bunkers. Shot selection is critical when attacking the pin.) 

The Maplewood Golf Club (Bethlehem, NH)

Located minutes from Franconia Notch and it’s famed Flume Gorge, The Maplewood Golf Club is a fine option for those who can’t get a tee time at the Omni Mount Washington Resort or who just want a reasonable greens fee to play golf in the Presidential Mountain Range. Donald Ross designed it in 1914 for Maplewood when it was both a hotel and a casino. 

(Maplewood’s clubhouse is the old casino from the 1900s. It’s a grand castle like building complete with turrets at the corners. Once upon a time, this was the ultimate vacation from the bustling cities of the northeast.) 

Maplewood is routed across side slopes and the ability to hit shots from uneven stances is the key to a good round. The small greens are nudged into tiddy spots. I was more curious by Ross’ drop down green complexes. I’ve never seen him deploy this feature before and it was used a few times here. 

(The 372 yard par four fifth has a drop down green. Notice how it falls down into the putting surface and doesn’t roll into it.) 

(The 411 yard par four sixth plays parallel to five and has the same severe slope in the fairway. Note the half punchbowl front where a running ball can scoot onto the green. I came up short on my low shot and was left with a tricky recovery that I couldn’t get close. Local knowledge is a definite advantage.) 

Maplewood has an unusual routing that is punctuated by the 656 yard par 6 sixteenth. Yes a par 6!! It literally goes from one end of the property to the other. A pond eats into the middle and it takes two pokes of 430 yards to cover the water. If one can’t do this then laying up to the side will account for the extra stroke. If one can clear it, then the green is actually reachable in three. How often does one get an eagle opportunity?! That said, it’s probably going take four shots nearly every time. It’s the longest hole I’ve ever played. 

(The 324 yard par four seventh is a good birdie opportunity. Besides the slope in fairway, there’s very little to prevent the player from shooting at the flagstick.) 

(The 361 yard par four ninth is backdropped by a glorious view. One can just make out the top half of the flagstick as it is another drop down green…
…this one drops close to three feet. The front pin positions can be quite intriguing especially if you’re trying to bounce it in.) 

Another unusual feature is the course ending with a par three. I’ve seen several courses recently that ended like that but Maplewood has a short one. (It actually makes me think this is not the original routing.) Together with the par six, the two potentially driveable par fours, and the par five fourteenth, the entire back nine is a Donnybrook with wild swing changes. I can see five under par being a real thing. 

(The 150 yard par three eighth is hit over a water hazard with a dead tree framing the right.) 

(The 168 yard eleventh is my favorite hole at Maplewood. It’s slightly downhill to an incredible green…
…the front tongue terraces up the hill. I don’t believe they could ever put a pin there! It’s only five yards wide! Or could they?!! It’s a crazy hole.) 

(The 150 yard eighteenth has a cross bunker that hides the putting surface and the side bunkers. Commit to your club selection and swing away.) 

New Hampshire is not a golf mecca by any imagination. As beautiful as the state is, courses such as Maplewood are more the norm. Back in the 1900s, many were coming up to explore the mountains and golf was just another activity. I paid $25 with a cart for all the golf I could play. Maplewood is a real bargain especially since you get to play an original Donald Ross. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play). 

(The 391 yard par four fourth has a small green atop the rise on the hill. I love the contrast between its size and the towering trees.)  

Causeway Club (Southwest Harbor, ME)

The Causeway Club is more of a social membership than golf. The people here are extremely nice and everyone is in good spirits. The course plays just over 2400 yards par 33. It has a great location on Norwood Cove and is a lovely stop while visiting Acadia National Park. 

One of the cool things about Maine are the tucked away nine hole courses. In fact, two of the top 50 nine hole course in the world are here. Causeway Club isn’t at that level, but it’s a fun place full of characters and character. I’d sure love to play in their member/guest. The golf course is pushing 100 years old, designed by Alonso Yates in 1923. 

(The par four fourth plays along the cove. There’s plenty of room to go right but the brave shot down the left opens up the best angle to the green…
…it’s a driveable for some players. Not seen in picture are a couple mounds topped with high grass. These are the real hazards unless one snaps it left into the water.) 

There are two features that I thought were unusual. The first is the seventh which plays as a short part four from the back tee but is a long par three from the forward tee. Both versions are strong. Then the eighth is a par three that is blind due to the large hill in front of the tee. A periscope is the solution. I haven’t seen one of these in a long time. It’s good fun. 

(The seventh is a beautiful short par four over the inlet to a sloping fairway. The forward tee is visible where the hole becomes a 232 yard par three…
…the green has a high slope to the right which can be used to funnel the ball on. It’s an atttactive setting.) 

(Look at the large hill between the green and the tee! A blind par three is nothing new…
…however a periscope is a unique solution. Note the steps to help shorter golfers get up high enough to see through it.) 

Birdie opportunities are abundant at Causeway Club. There’s only a couple holes where getting a par is work. The first and the fifth are both 400 ish par fours. The fifth gets the most attention because the green is directly below the clubhouse veranda. It has one of the few bunkers guarding it too. 

(The fifth is both long and uphill. The barn structure on the right is the logo for the club. Good luck making a four.) 

There’s been a big push to play nine and/or move it forward. Causeway Club fits perfectly to those themes. Nine holes is only going to take 90 minutes. Maybe even less. I’m sure its one of the reasons the course has been around for a century. It also helps to be in one of the most amazing places in the country. Acadia, just on the other side of the cove, is referred to as the crowned jewel of the Atlantic. 

(The final two holes are par threes. The ninth has a pronounced back left to front right slope.)

I’m refraining from giving a rating because if one makes the trek to Acadia, then one is limited on where to golf. Northeast Harbor is private during the summer months, although a great option in the shoulder season, and Kebo Valley is the only eighteen hole public course on the island. Causeway is a nice amenity to add to your selection of options when not exploring the park, and considering the short amount of time to play it, is worth the 20-30 minutes to drive over. 

Samoset Resort (Rockport, ME)

When it comes to Maine golf, Samoset is regarded as one of the state’s jewels. It has long views across Penobscot Bay, and a rocky coastline that is simply stunning. Eleven of its holes either play along the ocean or have ocean views, making it a must play for visiting golfers.

Samoset started out as a nine hole course in 1902 and was expanded to eighteen holes in 1974 by Robert Elder. Geoffrey Cornish renovated it in the 1990s, and local architect William Booth renovated it again in 2000, touching up holes 4,5,14,18. While not possessing championship length, it can play long depending on the strength of the wind. 

(As the player emerges from the first tee, this view starts to take shape at the green. It’s a beautiful downland vista of several holes and the bay. It’s at this moment you’ll get that tingling of being somewhere special.) 

The front nine at Samoset is as beautiful as they come. It puts its best foot forward, and shows its cards right away. The par three third and par five fourth are the showstoppers, and rightfully take their place as two of the best holes in America. 

(The 227/190 yard par three third tees off on the ocean and plays over a cove to an elevated green…
…from the back tees, it’s an all out carry. Note how much of the putting surface is not viewable. Besides being uphill, the bunkers hide the front. This is actually a double green, and far right bunker is left of the putting surface for the par four sixth…
…thankfully the tees were moved up the day we played it. From the tips, this is an incredibly difficult shot, and if into a headwind, can be downright brutal.) 

(The 503/481 yard par five fourth hugs the shoreline and curves like a reverse C. The green is behind the golfer in the picture…
…if one can draw the ball down the left, then this par five becomes reachable in two, however, the second is across the corner of bay and has three bunkers guarding the green…
…the view from behind the green is mesmerizing. The breakwall extends out to the lighthouse. Note how small the people walking on it look! Hopefully a birdie or par (even eagle!) will make this view even more glorious.) 

The original holes are easy to identify by the clean unobstructed views found at the greens. They’re raised pads with bunkers cut into the sides. The golf is simple with mild elevation change. The entire goal it seems is not to compete with scenery. Fun, enjoyable, and inspirational best describes it. 

(The 395/330 yard par four eighth is a perfect example of the architecture originally here. The clean backdrop behind and to the sides makes the green look natural in its location.) 

The new holes unfortunately don’t abide by this rule, and the architecture is noticeably inferior. Mounded greens, dug out ponds, and overall lack of space brings the course down. At the par five fourteenth, the golfer actually drives back two hundred yards to hit his tee shot past where he was just standing. It’s painful. The truth be told, very few good nine hole courses are able to add another nine holes comparable to it. And that is the problem with Samoset. 

(At the 535/494 yard par five twelfth, the hole doglegs at this rock and sprints between a very narrow passageway through the trees. With all the beautiful open views on the front, what a disappointment to see this.) 

Samoset does get back to the shoreline starting at the fourteenth green and for the entire fifteenth hole. Both fifteen and seventeen are terrific par fours. These two holes salvage any ill will towards the back and reminds the golfer of the quality holes on the front. 

(The green on the 545/500 yard par five fourteenth almost makes up for the silly backtracking one does on the drive. That is North Haven Island out in the distance.)

(The 375/355 yard par four fifteenth plays directly against the shoreline on the left. At one time the resort was planning to build condominiums on this land, and there is an alternative fifteenth hole on the other side of the right tree line…
…I’m glad they reconsidered because this is a beautiful green site. Everything that makes this resort beloved is in full view here.) 

(The 440/400 yard par four seventeenth is a long two shotter with two large rocks in the center of the fairway. The green is downhill (one can see the putting surface just left of the right rock) and the golfer gets one more sublime view before the round is finished. Both the drive and the approach are full of fun, and yes the rocks are in play.)

Samoset has a spectacular setting and it is understandable why the locals are so proud of it. I would describe it this way, Samoset is a great place to take your wife or girlfriend. She’ll love the views and the course won’t beat her up. I give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). 

(The 520/478 yard par five eighteenth has a pond guarding the green. It’s reachable in two shots but there’s plenty of trouble waiting. It used to be a par four but was extended when they last renovated it. The wind is the biggest decider on whether it plays easy or hard.) 

(The clubhouse oozes classic New England charm. Adirondack chairs sit outside so one can watch folks teeing off or finishing up.) 

(Lobster rolls, margaritas, Captain n Coke and great views like this make summer in Maine unforgettable!)