Riceland Golf Course (Orrville, OH)

Designed in 1922, Riceland is a throwback to when golf was just becoming popular. It’s architecture is simple with natural features being the primary defense. It started off as a nine hole course meant to attract business to the family restaurant and hotel. Memberships were $25 and single play was $1. 

I’m not sure when the course expanded to eighteen holes but the newer front nine is a bit longer and has more obstacles to navigate. A couple ponds and several bunkers add to the challenge. The original back nine has greens that are merely fairways cut lower. They’re very subtle and lay right upon the ground.

(The 320 yard opening hole is a layup off the tee followed by a short pitch. Note the sign on the left. It says “No Swimming”.) 

(The 413 yard fifth is the longest par four on the course. It doglegs slightly to the left to a green on a small rise…

…look at the simple cut of the bunker’s edge. Any ball going towards the sand has nothing to prevent it from going in. A par is a good score.) 

(The 370 yard par four eighth plays downhill while doglegging to the right. The tee shot must be in the fairway otherwise it’s a tough approach over water.)

Riceland benefits from being on state Rt 30 which is one of the few roads that crosses the entire state. It sits between Massillon and Wooster but Mansfield and Canton are within reasonable driving distance. The course is kept in very good shape. The topography rolls a little bit but overall the course is flat. This sets up well for all levels of golfers. It’s very friendly towards women and seniors in particular. I thought about the CNCGA and if this would be a good addition to our schedule. I can remember when I joined in 1991, April was typically our easiest courses. If I recall, it would go Elms, Turkeyfoot, Maplecrest, Tannenhauf. It was designed to get everyone off to a good start, and for those who had gone on a spring trip, it was a chance to jump on the points leaderboard quickly. Riceland would fit this category nicely. 

(The 154 yard par three tenth plays over a valley to green laid across the rise. Coming up short will see the ball retreat down the hill…
…for those who bailout left or long, a testy chip is required to get close. Looking back shows the true beauty of this little gem.) 

(The 383 yard par four twelth plays along side the boundary line with trees left and right. The hole plays towards Rt 30 and the green lies just below it. Note how simple the green is. Everything slopes to the back left.)

(The only controversial hole is the short 305 yard par four thirteenth. There’s a 15 yard gap between the trees and if you’re not in it then one is running the ball underneath the branches. A mid iron layup keeps you back of the branches but bombing a driver and taking a chance is not a bad strategy. A central rise in the green makes putting very deceiving.) 

(The 338 yard par four fourteenth takes us back towards Rt 30. It’s open off the tee and into the green. The biggest threat is hitting the approach too far where it bounces past the boundary fence. Note the big trees behind the green to keep balls from hitting cars on the road.) 

(The 568 yard par five fifteenth is the best hole on the course. It plays straightaway before doglegging right to the green. It takes three well struck shots to reach it in regulation…
…this four headed monster of a tree guards the left side of the fairway off the tee. Note the water hazard to the left. It will cross the fairway before the turn so poor drives will need to challenge it to get a view of the green. A terrific par five!) 

(The 210 yard par three sixteenth plays over the creek valley to a green atop the hill. There’s plenty of room short for the ball to bounce onto the green. While most of Riceland is flat, there’s moments like this that keeps the round refreshing.) 

Riceland proved to be an enjoyable round of golf. Being in good condition goes a long way! The only drawback is the lack of sophisticated architecture. Of course that is the beauty of it too. At first glance a low score looks like a reasonable expectation but the subtleties must be read correctly. The Junior PGA makes an annual stop here and the winning score is about even par. Riceland is a fun course. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play).

[we played the back tees at 6303 yards. After making bogey at the first two hole, I played the next seven in -2 with birdies on seven and nine. I was feeling pretty good at this point and got ahead of myself thinking I could shoot par or better. I got too aggressive on the drive at eleven, taking the wrong line, and my draw went into the trees. Double bogey. The next hole I was too aggressive on the birdie putt, three putt bogey. On the par five fifteenth, my third shot hit the flagstick dead on and ricocheted to the back of the green, another three putt bogey. At the end of the day it was a solid score but I was disappointed. Thus the beauty of expectations.]