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