[Brett Waters]

I'm headed to Cincinnati tomorrow to follow my Pack to watch them take on Cincinnati Thursday night. I'll be staying there at least one (Thursday) night. What are some good public options in the area? Also, I know it's short notice, but if anyone is interested in playing in the area on Friday (or potentially Saturday), I'd love to get together and play.

Sorry if this has been posted before - I did a search and couldn't find any previous threads on Cincinnati.

Thanks in advance!

[Michael George]

Brett:  While I will not be in the area then, the best public option in Cincy is Shaker Run, a fun Arthur Hills lay-out that is definitely worth playing.  Camargo is the class of Cincy (by far), but you will need to find a way on the very private course.

Good luck.

[Steve Kline]

Shaker Run is a good choice. Elks Run, a Norman design, reopened this year. I like playing but do not know what kind of shape it is in. You might be able to get on the TPC course in Lebanon which is just a little further north than Shaker Run. I might be able to take you out to my club - Ivy Hills (Smyers) - on Saturday if you are still in town.

[Billsteele]

Brett-Your options depend upon how far you are willing to drive. Michael's suggestion of Shaker Run is a good one. It is Northwest of the city in Lebanon...about a 40 minute drive from downtown. Another decent option is Stonelick Hills in Batavia (a homemade design by the owner of Penn Station Subs, but it is pretty well done and well regarded). It is Northeast of Cincinnati...about 40 minutes from downtown. I also like Tom Fazio's course at the Belterra Casino in Florence, Indiana. It is about one hour southwest of downtown. I believe Fazio did a decent job with a very flat piece of property here. Another option in the Batavia area is Elk's Run...a Greg Norman design that is fun to play (the front is a faux links layout, the back is a more traditional parkland layout). However, the course was closed until July because the former owner had big time tax problems. I have no idea of its current condition.

[Michael George]

Steve:

I had never heard of Ivy Hills before this thread, which is odd because I thought I knew of every course in Ohio.  Looks fantastic from the website.  Is it new?  How has it stayed under the radar?

[Steve Kline]

It was opened in the early '90s. I've played there on and off since it opened. I'm currently a member - mostly because it is very inexpensive. It has some decent holes and some really bad ones. If you ever want to play it just let me know.

[JLahrman]

I'm always amazed at how many people play up Shaker Run.  If I'm going to head up that far north, I would prefer Weatherwax or even Walden Ponds to Shaker Run.

If you want to stay within the 275 loop, I've always like Sharon Woods which has a lot of good holes and seems to always be in decent shape.

[Jeff Shelman]

When I lived in the 'Nati back in the late 90s, I was a fan of Lassing Pointe in Northern Kentucky. How is that these days?

I always thought it was a good value.

[Steve Kline]

Lassing Pointe - heard it was in terrible condition.

I like Weatherwax. Good public facility with 36 holes.

[Criss Titschinger]

I'm always amazed at how many people play up Shaker Run.  If I'm going to head up that far north, I would prefer Weatherwax or even Walden Ponds to Shaker Run.

If you want to stay within the 275 loop, I've always like Sharon Woods which has a lot of good holes and seems to always be in decent shape.

You can usually count on Weatherwax to be in good shape. I much prefer the Valley View/Highlands route over the Meadows/Woodside 18. Weatherwax is fairly easy to walk.

Walden Ponds is a subdivision course with a few good holes, but a couple where the houses come too close into play for my tastes. When it's in good shape, it's easy to recommend. But I have seen a few times over the years where some of the greens start to wear out towards the end of the year.

Haven't played Shaker Run in about 4 years. I know they did some renovation on the Woodlands 9 recently. Wished I had played the Meadows 9 before the houses went up. Need to do that soon.

I haven't played Elks Run since it shut down and re-opened, but I have a few buddies who have. I'll check with them to see how it's operating nowadays.

[JLahrman]

I do agree that Walden Ponds has a bit of a subdivision feel, but I do like quite a few of the holes.

I actually like the Woodside nine at Weatherwax the best.  I wouldn't complain about any of the four through, they're all pretty good.  The whole place is usually in good shape (though I haven't been there in a few years; have they found a way to get the ninth green on Highlands to hold?)

[JLahrman]

To bring this back up...

Looks like Shaker Run is going private, per article in today's Enquirer.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/newintown/2011/11/02/under-new-owners-shaker-run-golf-club-going-private/

For many years, Shaker Run was private and owned by Armco Steel.  I'm not sure if the new owners have their roots with Armco, maybe someone else is in the know on that.

[Steve Lang]

  Does Glenview get any love in Cinti?    Venue of 1987 US Publinx...  has some nice features among its 27 holes 

[JLahrman]

Does Glenview get any love in Cinti?    Venue of 1987 US Publinx...  has some nice features among its 27 holes 

I like Glenview, but the last time I played it (maybe 5 years ago) the trees were really starting to box everything in, especially on the original 18.  Clear out some of those trees to reopen the playing corridors, and it would make a world of difference.

[Doug Sobieski]

For many years, Shaker Run was private and owned by Armco Steel.  I'm not sure if the new owners have their roots with Armco, maybe someone else is in the know on that.

Steve Lambert is the dad. He was the Director of Golf at NCR for a while. Ted was most recently the DofG at Tartan Fields in Dublin. Prior to that he was at The Oasis in Cinci. I think Tim was an instructor in Cinci. Big PGA family. Doubt there's a significant tie to Armco.

[Criss Titschinger]

Doubt there's a significant tie to Armco.

Exactly, I would doubt it too. I know Shaker had a big master plan to develop all around the course, but as far as I know, they only got a few holes around Meadows. I know there has been significant development in that area close to the course, but I can't see this private thing lasting very long at Shaker. Then again, it's been years since I got up there.

I say this goes the way Stonewater in the Cleveland area did. Was public, went private for a couple years, went back to public.

[Pete Garvey]

Obviously the best in Cincinnati is Camargo.  Drive 100 miles south to Lexington where sits Kentucky's best; Idle Hour.

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