Parker,
Hello from another new participant who's happy to be here. Thanks, again, to Ran for letting a long-time lurker become a first-time poster. Some of your names look familiar to me from a certain website I help moderate for putter collectors (reflog74).
To the point, aside from vacations, the vast majority of my 40 years of golf have been spent in and around northern Ohio. Here are 3 courses in my neck of the woods that are underrated, IMHO.
1. Brookside CC, Canton, OH. A Ross gem that plays down, up and across a big hill. Great terrain. Fast bent grass greens with big humps and hollows. Even better since an Oakmont-like tree removal project several years back.
2. Sand Ridge, part of the Mayfield Sand Ridge CC, Chardon, OH. A new style course by Tom Fazio, built next to and by the owner of the Best Sand and Gravel quarry. Only golf is spoken here. No pool, tennis. Large, double ended practice range. Again, great terrain and sandy substrate so it drains like a charm and is always in terrific shape. A stay in one of the 3 "cabins" is a real treat.
3. Red Hawk Run, Findlay, OH. Arthur Hills design that blends so naturally into rolling farmland. Linksy, in feel, and nearly always windy. Several dogleg holes present ranks of bunkers on the inside of the turn, challenging you to play more or less aggressively to set up an easier next shot. Course is public and an incredible value. A few houses (less than the developer envisioned, I'm sure), but none intrude.
Underrated Honorable Mention: Almost anything designed by former Hills associate Brian Huntley. I searched for Brian's name here, and couldn't find it. Brian has designed and renovated many Ohio courses, and I would recommend The Quarry, E. Canton, OH, Links at Firestone Farms, near Youngstown, OH, and Deer Ridge, near Mansfield, OH, as some of his best.
Again, thanks for having me, and I look forward to "talking" to you all.
John