I came upon this older 1920's era golf course when looking for a quick place to play on my way out to NJ. Furthermore, I really enjoy these older, somewhat rundown golden era courses and find them quite enjoyable. Like Patrick Mucci, I like to study what is there and also look for what is no longer. This course almost did not open this season, a last minute deal with the pro kept it open at least for the remainder of the season. Like most other towns, Youngstown is down on tax revenue and doesn't care about an old golf course that most likely, loses money. Like most of Youngstown, Ohio the course is named after Henry Stambaugh, a very wealthy industrialist and later in his life a philanthropist. I wanted to play this course before it no longer exists. I searched high and low and could not figure out who designed the thing! It is in very close proximity to some of the big mansions of the 1920's era where Mr. Stambaugh lived. It plays to approximately 3400 yards from the tips (longer than what I expected for it's confined location) and with the exception of the greens (true and quick), was in somewhat poor condition. A simple course overall, but it was fun none the less. Cheap too, $25 for 2 with a cart. There were some design remnants here, but it's almost all gone.
Hole number one was a slightly uphill par 4 330 yards with a very tight approach shot to a small green. All the greens here are small in size.
Tough to get a clear shot into the first green.
A look back to the clubhouse on #1.
Hole number 2 was a straight away par 4 at 390 yards in length.
Hole 3 was another Par 4 390 yarder that ran back in a Westward direction between #2 and #7.
After hole #3 you must cross a neighborhood access road to play #4, #, 5 , #6 and part of #7. The road was obviously NOT present when the course was constructed. While studying the #4 green, it looked as if it had remnants of being of a square shape. #4 is a dogleg left plays to 400 yards. Tee box is about 5 feet from the main road.
Sand trap no longer maintained, in place to catch people cutting the dogleg.
This is the green that looks like it could have been square at one time.
Hole #5 is somewhat tight and short par 4 of 325 yards. You can bail out to the right of the large tree on the right hand side of the fairway leaving you an open pitch in.
Hole #6 was a nice, short par 3 at 150 yards to what looked like was once a nicely designed green complex. Porta-john provides a nice aiming point!
Hole #7 was nothing short of FUN. A bit strenuous as well. Now that the access road was cut through the course you have to hit your drive over the street and to complicate matters a high chain link fence was erected to stop (maybe) poorly struck tee shots. A sign also politely reminds you that you ARE responsible for damage to cars (lots going past as well). Tee it up, swing and pray for a nice drive over the road and the chain link fence. Youngstown's version of the road hole!
Hole # 8 was a slightly downhill par 5 of 625 yards. Long and boring to be blunt.
Tough to make out the ridge running through the fairway.
Hole #9 was a eat hole as well. There was an older tee box 30 yards to the rear that was no longer in use. The hole played to 435 yards, was fairly narrow and the green was at one time anyway, neat.
Old tee box makes for a long 465 yard slightly uphill par 4.
One has to wonder if this was a stream that was filled in or re-routed at one time.
Although seemingly on "it's way out", this was a fun course to play for a quick 9. ANyone know who designed it?