Community Golf Course-Hills (Dayton, OH)

My 400th blog is a course only a muni rat like me would know. It’s history dates back to the early 1900s when the land was owned by John Patterson, the founder of National Cash Register. The original nine holes was designed by golf professional Joe Nicholl. Most of the play was coming from NCR employees, and it was commonly referred as NCR Country Club. When the course was awarded the 1924 US Publinx Championship, Alex Nipper Campbell came over from Moraine and did some modifications to make the course more challenging. 

(The 167 yard downhill par three eighth has terrific views of both the Hills and Dales courses. A bunker short left and a grass swale right guard against short shots bouncing on. Note the old fashion shelter in the background.) 

Community has two courses named Hills and Dales. The property is bowl shaped with the elevated terrain on the outer half and the flatter terrain in the middle. The shorter Dales occupies most of the middle while the Hills plays up and along the hillier topography. The land that the Hills course rolls over is terrific! It’s exciting and engages the golfer with all sorts of shots and options to advance the ball to the green. The course plays across the slope, oppose to going up and down, and the greens are atop natural rises. There’s cuts and high spots that let one take advantage of gravity and hit the speed slots that nature has given. Several greens are hidden by the flowing topography that places a hillock short of the green. Speaking of the greens, they break towards the clubhouse, and what can look like a receptive target actually slopes front to back. Little ridges are hard to distinguish and can confuse the best putter on the appropriate line. 

(The 372 yard par four third plays uphill to a right to left fairway where a hard draw on the right can gain significant yards. The shot is then uphill to a green that falls away on the right. It’s a very good hole!) 

(The 370 yard par four fourth plays downhill to a right to left fairway that bowls out at the bottom…

…this view shows the fairway gathering balls further down the fairway. The trees are in play for a pull or hook…
…from the fairway it’s a semi blind approach. A little rise in the back makes for testy putts.) 

(The 426 yard par four seventh is the longest two shotter at the Hills. Look how it plays downhill before tumbling back up. To the right is the 543 yard par five fourteenth. The course has some beautiful long views.) 

Like many courses from this era, the routing is a bit unusual and back to back par threes at eleven and twelve gives the golfer three one shotters in a five hole stretch (8,11,12). They are the lynchpin that brings golfers down to the clubhouse and then up to the rolling hills to complete the inward nine. The two par fives on this side eat up a lot of land and allows the course to circle behind the clubhouse and finish with a thrilling downhill hole. 

(Nine and ten are the only holes to play in the central part of the property where most of the Dales is located. This is the green on the 373 yard par four tenth. The left side is partially hidden behind the rise that can be seen in foreground. The right half is visible but it’s all carry to attack any pin there.) 

(The 174 yard uphill par three eleventh is a total beast. Any shot that lands short will roll backwards forty to fifty yards…
…the green is two tiered and plays at least two clubs longer. I love the long views across the property. The green to the right is the eleventh on the Dales, a par three that plays about 100 yards.) 

(The 180 yard par three twelth follows with a beautiful downhill shot to well protected green. Three traps vigilantly guard the putting surface and the left one is 10-12 feet below the green. Eleven and twelve are complete opposites of each other and totally makes the back to back routing work. Going 3-3 will gain a strokes on the field.) 

(The 543 yard par five fourteenth plays high on the ridge before dropping down to this benched green. Note the golfer on the path going to the next tee. The plunging fifteenth awaits our hopefully made birdie putt.) 

(The 356 yard fifteenth drops significantly down towards the green. For the long hitter, it’s possible to drive the green or be just short of it…
…the putting surface slopes towards the left and the rear half falls away to the back. Players will feed the ball to the pin by hitting right of the flag. As simple as it looks, this short hole will not see many birdies.) 

The Hills course at Community is just terrific! It exemplifies the cool routing and demands that architects in the 1920s had to find. I played with a volunteer named Ron who explained to me the nuisances one encounters during the summer and how much different it plays compared to a damp fall day. It made me smile imagining all the cool shots you have to hit. Put this one on the list for the Dayton/Springfield area! The Hills is a solid 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). 

(A long walk up the steps leads us to the eighteenth tee where both the Hills and Dales share a tee box…
…the Hills is on the right while Dales plays down the left. It’s a 359 yard par four that is a good chance to snag a final birdie to close out your found. One could bail out left into the Dales fairway, but two pine trees makes this a difficult shot into the green. It’s one of the most unusual finishes I’ve ever seen. I’m sure “Fore” is commonly heard here!) 

[We played the back third of each tee box which is probably close to the Hill’s full length. Like most winter golf, the short game shots were much easier since the ball doesn’t run out past the hole. This is offset by the difficulty in making putts. I drove the ball very well at Community but my iron game was not as strong as it normally is. I felt a 76 with good shots mixed in was a good day. We did pick up putts but golf in December means not grinding over 2 footers.]

(The Dales enjoys some of the Hills topography but most of it occupies the flattish valley terrain. The pro told me the Dales was lined with Ash Trees but the emerald bore killed them and which leaves the Dales wide open. It’s just over 5200 from the tips, so it’s great for seniors and others who don’t hit it far. Community is a very good 36 hole facility.)

[Over the past few months I’ve walked through a few hiking parks that used to be golf courses, and every year we seem to lose a few more. The city of Dayton closed two of their municipal courses, Madden and Kittyhawk, when the pandemic hit. This leaves Community as their only one. Thankfully it has 36 holes. I sometimes feel as time moves on that these city run courses might be the only places left for us that don’t want to join a country club.]

Roseland Golf and Curling Club (Windsor, Ontario Canada)

There are only twelve Donald Ross courses in Canada and three of them are public with Roseland being a muni owned by the city of Windsor. It should come as no surprise considering Ross was quite prolific in the Detroit area. For any aficionado who loves golf architecture, a trip across the border will reveal Ross’ ability to create a strong course on a flat site. 

(The 200/175 yard par three fourth is a small target with bunkers guarding the front left and front right. It’s less yardage to carry the right trap.) 

For a public course, Roseland packs a wallop of a challenge. The pushed up greens are adamantly defended by deep traps that guard the front and the sides. There are few opportunities to run the ball on. Getting the ball in the air is key and being in the fairway is imperative. The fairways move in both directions with trees and bunkers guarding them. The bunkers are positioned throughout the course to disorient depth perception and make one think about line and shot shape. 

(The 419/408 yard par four first lulls players in with a forgiving entrance to the green. A ridge in the rear makes putting across a delicate task. A classic Donald Ross firm handshake.) 

(The 521/498 yard par five second has a bunker that directly crosses the fairway. The player must be honest with himself and ask if he can reasonably carry this trap. If the answer is yes then it becomes a good birdie opportunity with a simple pitch left for the third shot.)

(This view from the right of fourth green shows how elevated it is from the fairway. This particular green has a distinct ridge in the rear with the left side of the putting surface higher than the right.) 

(This trio of bunkers guard the inside angle on the par four sixth. These ones are a little more forgiving with playable lips that one can elevate the ball over. With many of them, this is not the case.) 

What I love about Roseland is it’s fearsome challenge even though it’s a municipal course. Anyone who calls this home knows that a good score is not going to be graded on a watered down bell curve. You’re going to have to earn it! That means taking advantage of the par fives which are on the short side. It should be noted that Ross had two of these playing as par fours! That should give one an insight into the quality of play Ross expected from those playing here. 

(The 396/384 yard par four seventh has an elevated  green that demands a high aerial shot. Four bunkers guard the front and sides.) 

(The 209/183 yard par three eighth has a water hazard guarding the front and right side. It used to be a ditch but was expanded into a hazard during the 2011 renovation. Plenty of teeth makes this a tough par.) 

(The 420/410 yard par four ninth possesses one of the toughest drives of the day with water left and trees right. The long second is over the same hazard as it cuts back short of the green. The building in the background is the curling center 🥌. The Scottish invented that game too!) 

(My favorite hole is the 505/487 yard par five twelth. The green is nonchalantly placed to the right, effectively making this a double dogleg hole. The bunkers in the foreground deceive the players line and the amount of carry to the green. Players who hit the ball where the golf is in picture will have a dicey pitch over the trap.) 

(Like four, the 197/163 yard par three thirteenth is a no nonsense shot that must carry over the traps to securely hold the green. Deep traps guard both sides from balls hit offline.)

(The 468/460 yard par five fourteenth is the shortest three shotter on the course but it is well bunkered against mishit shots. A ball that draws over this pair has a good chance at rolling on the putting surface. This is the best opportunity for birdie before one encounters a rigid finishing stretch of holes.) 

(The 467/435 yard par four eighteenth finishes the round in style. This very difficult driving hole has trees and sand off the tee before turning left and leaving a large green with a slight opening for a second…
…note the amount of room available to a running shot. In the back right, a ridge eats into the putting surface and forms a Sunday pin position just over the front right trap. Four is a good score.) 

Roseland flies under the radar but it caught my attention when the founder of the Walking Golfers Society spoke profusely on golfclubatlas about it. I have a strong respect for his opinion and it instantly made my list of courses to play. Surprisingly, Windsor is only 2.5 hours from Cleveland. Roseland’s only downside is its flat terrain which gives the course a redundant look as the holes tend to look the same. Taking this into account, I can only give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play) but it’s definitely worth a look should you find yourself in the Detroit area. I read one reviewer remark it’s the toughest Ross course in Canada. From the tips, I have no reason to think otherwise. 

[We played the white tees at 6162 yards. I pointed out earlier that the par fives were key, and it should be noted that I played them in -3 and my friend played them in -2. We both shot well and I feel 76 for both of us were good scores. 9,17,18 are no joke even from the white tees. Roseland does have a little par three course for those looking to get a few swings in. For my money conscious friends, $40 to walk makes this a terrific value!]

{Lastly, if you love pizza, which I do, then I highly recommend Antonio’s! The crisp and crunchy crust coupled with the sweet sauce and saltiness of the meat lovers toppings made this a grand after round treat!}

J. E. Goodpark (Akron, OH)

I was reading a thread on golfclubatlas about courses with the most upside potential, and I firmly believe that Goodpark, with a tree renovation program and new bunkering, would instantly shoot up into Ohio’s top ten public golf course list. It would be the everyday man’s Firestone. It is littered with stout par fours and massive, ball busting par threes. The giant specimen trees that line each hole exude a character rarely seen on public courses. 

(The 222/205 yard par three ninth plays through an avenue of trees to a circular green with a lone bunker guarding the front right and a ridge that splits the putting surface into two distinct sections. Hitting it in regulation is often times a win, but beware against being complacent with the putting.) 

(The 413/375 yard opening introduces the course and its demands right away. A cut off the tee will put one in perfect position to start the day with a par. The white tees are left of the big tree and straightens out the hole considerably.) 

(The 395/379 yard par four third doglegs right to a green nestled between the trees. Any ball not in the fairway must navigate the trees that block the outer angles. The subtle putting surface does not give up three very often.)

(The 178/130 yard par three fourth has a dual green system where the pin fluctuates between the upper and lower greens. The lower one is used most of the time. It’s a small oval circle that slopes hard to the front. The upper green deserves to be used more as it’s a better shot and brings more of the natural features into play.)

Goodpark is a strong test of driving. The holes dogleg in both directions and the golfer is asked multiple times to control his lines off the tee. Many consider the fifth to be the start of Goodpark, and the next seven holes are all tough pars. It’s not unusual to see hybrids or long irons being the club of choice to reach these holes in regulation. Any misguided drive that goes off the fairway will automatically put one in scramble mode. The green complexes are rather simple and don’t overwhelm with complex challenges. This aspect allows players with good short games to salvage par more frequently. 

(The 429/417 yard par four eighth doglegs left in sweeping fashion. The drive must stay on the outside to have a straightforward shot into the green. Those who try to cut the corner might find a few limbs blocking their angle.) 

(This view from behind the forward tee illustrates the demanding nature of the tee shots at Goodpark. The 441/430 yard par four tenth often takes three shots to reach the green. The big tree on the inside corner tends to be prevents folks from cutting off any distance. It’s a beast!) 

(The 422/378 yard par four eleventh plays along the boundary line to a green on a slight rise. The two bunkers guarding the front left see a lot of action. After this hole, the next six all have short iron approaches to the green.) 

Historically every good player from northeast Ohio has walked the fairways of Goodpark. So many great tournaments have been played here! The Summit County Amateur is held here annually. The Junior PGA Championship was another one. It’s also the home course for Tiretown Golf Association, the largest predominantly African American golf league in America. 

(Akron keeps Goodpark in very nice shape, and the “walk in the park” feel makes this a must play for all northeast Ohio golfers.) 

(The 448/427 yard par four eighteenth is treelined all the way to green on both sides. A hard draw gain some extra yardage and possibly crest the plateau…

…usually it’s a long iron or hybrid approach shot. A bunker guards the front left. There is room to run the ball onto the green. Looking back from the green, one be can see all the gorgeous hardwoods that make this a unique experience. A four here will win many matches.) 

Goodpark was designed in 1928 by Bertie Wey. He also designed the South Course at Firestone before RTJ sr renovated it. One will find many similarities between both courses. It’s solid and can hold its own against any caliber of player. I give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). With renovation work, it has the potential to bump up one point easily. 

Wheeling Country Club (Wheeling, WV)

Wheeling is is a well visited place for most northeast Ohioans. Besides dog racing and gambling, it sports a wonderful state park with two golf courses at Oglebay. Unbeknown to most is a hidden gem named Wheeling Country Club, the oldest golf course in West Virginia, halfway up the hill before one gets to Speidel. This private course does reciprocal play with guests staying at the resort. (Oakhurst lays claim to being the oldest in West Virginia but it laid dormant for many years until it was restored) 

Devereux Emmet designed Wheeling in 1902 on the sides of a large hill. With no heavy machinery to move dirt around, one is treated to a true lay of the land course. You will be stunned by the severity of the slope and the skill it takes to work the ball off the sidehill lies. The greens are small and you can see how they dug into the hill and dragged the dirt to create them. The bunkering is super cool and Devereux placed a trap on the high ground above the green to thwart players from bouncing it on from the side. 

(The 498 yard par five first hole plays to rounded fairway…

…the green is reachable in two shots although a couple traps guard it. It’s a benign start that gives one a chance to snag a stroke early.) 

(The 290 yard par four second is downhill and blind off the tee. A roping draw can ride the hill all the way down…

…the two traps guarding the high side stop any ball from meeting the putting surface. The staircase style feature is a cool look.) 

(The 382 yard par four fifth plays across a severely sloped fairway. My drive hit up top and rolled all the back to the left, losing distance as it did…
…the approach is then uphill to a spacious green. I had 200 yards in for my second shot and never came close to hitting it. Note the upper land above the green is bunkered like several other holes.) 

The course has undergone some reworking. The clubhouse was originally what is now the Stratford Springs Restaurant. (One sees it on the thirteenth and fourteenth holes) A land swap in 1980 is responsible for where the new clubhouse is today. Fred Garbin did the work when the course had to be altered. Devereux‘s greens are small and Garbin’s are larger. Garbin did a lot of work in the tri-state area of Ohio-PA-WV. 

(The downhill 195 yard par three sixth is one of five par threes, four over 190. Hitting long irons or hybrids is key to parring these holes. Left is a big no-no.) 

(The 165 yard par three ninth has one of the smallest greens you’ll see anywhere. A steep falloff on the left almost forces you to err towards the bank on the right. This is the shortest par three on the course but plays the hardest. The water on the left is more in play than you think.) 

(The 206 yard par three twelth plays downhill in a corner of the property. The ladies tee is directly to the right where it’s only 140 yards. The men’s tee is actually backwards from eleven green and makes me wonder which part of the course was changed to get that walk, especially since most of the Devereux design had tees just yards from the previous green.) 

Wheeling Country Club has hosted several big events including a few West Virginia Opens and even a PGA Tour event. In 1936, it held the Wheeling Centennial Open won by Billy Burke at 206 (-4). There were five eventual major champions at that event. In 1948 Wheeling held its first West Virginia Open won by Slammin’ Sam Snead with a 268 total. It was Snead’s fourth West Virginia Open victory. His 268 (-12) featured a first round 63. (For the record, Snead won 17 West Virginia Opens!!) It held another West Virginia Open in 1982 won by Zanesville CC pro Scott Davis with a 212 (+2) total. His final round 67 was enough to overcome Linden Meade for a two stroke victory. 

(The 495 yard par five thirteenth originally was the finishing hole. A roping draw off the tee will ride the slope to bring the green within range…

…a cross bunker forty yards short of the green prevents balls from bounding onto the putting surface…
…this view from fourteen shows how the terrain drops off from the side of the green into the bunkers. This is a nice view of the former clubhouse.) 

(The 368 yard par four fifteenth plays downhill to a bulbous fairway. The long hitter can get to the top but most will be behind it…
…the green is crazy small especially if your approach is blind. Thankfully the house serves as a good aiming point. Note OB left and long.) 

(The 330 yard par four seventeenth is a short dogleg left. After laying up to the turn, one has a pitch into a small green. The concave surface has a false front and is well bunkered.) 

Wheeling is just over 6000 yards but it plays much harder than the slope and course rating supposedly say.  The long par three by themselves will prove to be tough pars. Overall the round is about the topography and how one handles the variety of shots in such a setting. Being on the same mountain as Oglebay, comparisons will undoubtedly be part of that process and Wheeling compares favorably. It’s a good golf course. I give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). 

(The 365 yard par four eighteenth doglegs right in a cape style fashion. It’s only a hybrid or metal wood to hit the beginning of the fairway…

…if one wants a short iron approach then they must challenge the trees off the tee with driver…
…the green is very receptive with a short iron in hand. A conservative tee shot leaves a considerably longer yardage and is a really tough approach.)

[I played with my friend Missy who is the golf coach for John Carroll’s women’s team. Rich, the GM, is the golf coach of the mens team at Wheeling University. It was fun listening to them talk since they knew many of the same people. In fact, half of his team was from Mentor, and they played baseball with her son. Small world! I shot a respectable 79 but couldn’t keep up with my playing partner who carded a very good 76. It reminded me of the old days when she was the number 1 at Michigan and routinely shot mid to low seventies!]