Central Ohio Golf Course Stories

BEACHWOOD, Ohio - Two months ago, Cynthia Allen sifted through the mail while her husband was lounging on the couch in their Scottsdale, Ariz. home.

"Honey, there's a letter from The PGA of America," she said. "Maybe you ought to open it up."

Michael Allen didn't pay much attention at first, believing it was a reminder to pay his dues.

Scattered from the shores of Lake Erie near Toledo to the suburbs of the capital city of Columbus, the ten courses that combine to form the Buckeye Golf Trail represent a sampling of the championship-caliber layouts found throughout the state and celebrate the heritage and history of the game nearly perfected by Ohio’s own Jack Nicklaus - the most decorated major champion in the history of professional golf.

This spring the Buckeye Golf Trail will celebrate its first full year of operation and is offering residents and visitors a chance to experience some of the states finest courses designed by the likes of Arthur Hills and Brian Huntley for a fraction of the regular cost.

Built on 300 acres of rolling farmland more than 80 years ago, the Tam O'Shanter Golf Course features 36 holes of championship golf on two courses, the Dales and the Hills, a premier practice facility featuring a complete driving range with 30 grass tees, a full-service restaurant, pro shop and lounge.

The Dales Course, which was built in 1928 and recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, is slightly longer than the Hills Course. It was built on somewhat flat terrain and is the more tree-lined of the two layouts. However, mounds in the generally wide fairways can cause uneven lies. The course is a challenging layout used for the final round of the Ohio Open Championship from 1988-2003. It was designed by Harold Macomber, who was a disciple of the legendary Donald Ross.

Thanks to readers and golf course raters Nashport's Longaberger Golf Club's reputation as Ohio's finest public-access layout is more secure than ever.

Entering its 10^th anniversary season, Longaberger has been named No. 1 in Golfweek Magazine's "America's Best Courses You Can Play 2009" in Ohio. The award is just the latest in a series of honors bestowed upon the course designed by Ohio native Arthur Hills.