Marietta Country Club (Marietta, OH)

Most private rural country clubs have a few wealthy members or a corporate membership that sustain the course to high standards. Marietta unfortunately does not have that luxury. The greens are nice but the lack of irrigation keeps the fairways and rough in poor condition. Crab grass, bare spots, and uneven mowing lengths result in a substandard surface from which to hit approach shots. It’s quite disappointing because Marietta has a strong design that would pull golfers from the tri-state area in abundance. 

The front nine plays back and forth through a valley with the 1st, 5th, and 7th teeing off by the clubhouse and the 6th and 9th greens playing up to it. Designed in 1901, the front perfectly fits that era’s style. Greens and tees are on the higher land and the fairways play down into the valley. Hardwoods and a creek provide the challenge. It’s not complicated, just good old fashioned architecture. 

(The 350 yard par four fifth has a creek in the perfect spot off the tee. Players can drive over it, but it’s a solid poke off the tee. This results in a layup that leaves a longer than desired approach…

…the green is elevated and has a tight window. The drive must be in the fairway to have any reasonable shot at it. Note how modern times have given players lines to aim their shots…
…on the scorecard the fifth looks like a birdie hole but a par would be a very good score.) 

(The 353 yard par four sixth is similar to the fifth but the terrain is not as abrupt on this side. Note two things in this picture. The first is the gorgeous clubhouse and second is the transition of the bunker. The sand is gone and the grass is filling in.) 

The back nine was designed in the 1930s and it is very different. The land is almost too severe for golf with rippling hills and ridges spread out in front of the player. There’s shotmaking options presented on every shot and only an experienced player will be able to tackle them. The greens are on little spines with falloff’s all around. The ball must flight in properly to hold them. There’s drama on every turn and it is a blast to play! 

(The 356 yard par four eleventh plays uphill to a bowled out fairway…

…the green is further uphill with grassed in bunkers guarding the tiny target. Anything short kicks down into trouble…
…looking back reveals a beautiful view of the Ohio valley. A modest tilt is the only feature in the green.)

(The 169 yard par three twelth is a lovely one shotter over a valley. It’s simplicity is what makes it beautiful. Nothing to distract one from hitting to the target. The pitch gives it all the teeth it needs. It’s a very good par three.) 

(The 347 yard par four fourteenth plays on the side of a ridge. The green with its precarious position makes this a terrific par four. It’s a short iron but one must control the clubface and make sure it doesn’t turn over too quickly otherwise a high draw will careen into the woods.) 

(The 415 yard par four fifteenth is one of the longer holes at Marietta. The ability to hit off an uneven lie makes this a first class hole…

…this view looking back shows the difficulty one faces hitting to this elevated green. Note how the right side of the fairway offers the best stance.) 

(The most photographed hole at Marietta is its 135 yard par three seventeenth. It’s a beautiful little shot over water…
…the green has two tiers with sand guarding the front left. It’s a great chance for a two.) 

(My favorite hole is the 418 yard par four eighteenth. I love the infinity fairway with just the sky as a backdrop. I feel if the trees on both sides were removed then it’d really be a cool tee shot…

…from the top of the hill the Ohio valley explodes into view. One can see the river snaking between the hills…
…the approach is all downhill to a green accepting both a high or low shot. The grass bunkers guard both short left and short right. What a terrific way to end the round!)

While I’m complaining about the fairway conditions, the club seems to have a vibrant membership. The course was full when I arrived and the pool was jamming as I was finishing. I reckon there’s not a ton of money down here and club makes due with what it has. Architecturally, Marietta is a gem of a golf course. If it was in better shape, it would be drawing golfers from a couple hours away. I’m giving Marietta my first 2-6 rating. If you catch it in the beginning of the year, it might be worth driving from Cleveland to play, otherwise, it could be something to see only if you’re in town.  I’m praying it gets the love it deserves and money flows in. 

[I played the blue tees at 6000 yards but only because I rented a set of clubs after realizing I left my own back at the house. The makeshift set I was using didn’t even have a driver, so I was forced to hit a Calloway Razor 3wd on every drive. It’s an eleven year old club and the irons were probably ten years older than that. The putter was the best! It belonged to a 6’5” doctor who no longer played. It literally came up to my sternum. The 79 was a really good score! 🙃]

{Marietta was the first settlement of the western territory. It is where Muskingum and and Ohio rivers meet. For history bluffs, the Lewis and Clark Trail starts here. For everyone else, I encourage a ride on the Valley Gem, a stern wheeler paddleboat. With a top speed of 13mph, and an average speed of 6mph, you’ll appreciate just how slow life was in the 1800s}