Playing a round of golf in or near Zanesville, OH

[Michael Huber]

Hi All,

First off, pardon me for starting a thread that does not involve the US Open. 

I'm going to be in Zanesville Ohio next weekend visiting my sister, and I will have time for a round on Friday.  I read a few older threads on golf in Columbus and there was a lot of really good insight.  The three courses I have in mind are :

1.)  Granville GC...it's about 45 minutes from Zanesville and highly recommended from people on this site.  At this point, I'm leaning towards Granville.


2.)  Eaglesticks...most of the talk on GCA about Eaglesticks have said its one of the better values in golf.

3.)  Longaberger...seems to be polarizing but it also seems like it may be worth a try to just see what an Arthur Hills experiment is like

4.)  Something else?!?!?!?!?

Any thoughts/comments/suggestions?

[Mac Plumart]

I really enjoyed playing Longaberger and look forward to playing it again.

[Brian Laurent]

Skip Eaglesticks.  Go for Longaberger. 

[PThomas]

M-th Longerberger can be done for $59 with their coupon

Eaglesticks is only 6500 from the tips and only 120 slope from back their

Granville is ok but certainly not great

i'd go with Long or Granville...the latter has to be cheaper

[Steve Lang]

  For something interesting.. Salt Fork State Park near Cambridge, east of Z-ville used to be a lot of fun and relatively cheap.. haven't been there in many years though.. SE Ohio experience in the hills .. don't be fooled by scorecard distances, quite difficult and challenging if you're a flatlander! 

[Billsteele]

My order of preference would be Granville, Longaberger and Eaglesticks. Granville still has 13 or so of the original Ross holes and they are pretty good. The holes added and routed for housing were designed by Jack Kidwell and just are out of character with the rest of the golf course. Longaberger is good but not great. I played it several times when it first opened and it was flawlessly conditioned  (not so much now from what I hear) but not too memorable. Eaglesticks is good but squeezed onto its site and very short. For kicks, I like Crystal Springs, east of Zanesville...a fun 18 hole mom and pop course...okay design, some fun holes and inexpensive.

But the golf is secondary to the truly important question: are you going to make it to Tom's Ice Cream Bowl?

[Matt_Ward]

Michael:

I like Eaglesticks because so much had to be cramped in such a tight site -- but Hurdzan and Fry did a solid job in that regard. No, it's not Longaberger but if you are looking for layout that can be fun and entertainingt -- the course works well.

[Scott Stearns]

Cook's creek, which is in Zanesville.  none of the others are worth driving 45 min (or driving past cook's creek) to play.  its good.

Granville ok, but not worth the drive.

longaberger is perhaps Art Hills best in the ohio/michigan area, but it isnt any better than cooks creek

if you are getting in a car to drive 45 min-go in and play the university course.  they will let you on with a same day tee time.

[Michael Huber]

But the golf is secondary to the truly important question: are you going to make it to Tom's Ice Cream Bowl?

Previously I was not aware of Tom's Ice Cream Bowl, but it certainly now on my  radar.  What do you suggest?

[Kenny Baer]

I think Granville is very solid; the "new" holes are way out of place but if memory serves me correct that is only 2 holes.  There is tons of good Ross left there.  It reminded me very much of Highlands Country Club which everyone loves.

[Tom MacWood]

Granville: the four new holes are totally out of character and ruin it for me. Eaglesticks is very short and sporty, a little too sporty with a number of required lay ups, a bit cramped too and totally unwalkable. Longenbarger has some good holes, some mediocre holes and some bad holes, and again unwalkable. I'm surprised no one recommended Zanesville CC...of the courses mentioned it has none of the glaring flaws the others possess. A good solid course and a very rare Chick Evans design.

[Billsteele]

Scott Stearns-Cook's Creek is in Asheville, which is 20 miles south of Columbus. Zanesville is 60 miles east of Columbus.

Michael-I always go for a cheeseburger, fries and chocolate shake but any ice cream item is well worth it. It's like stepping back in time. Also, if you like chocolates, try some of the Heggy's chocolates they sell. Unbelievably good.

http://tomsicecreambowl.com/

[Scott Stearns]

hey-sorry.  thats a big boot on my part.  obviously its been a bunch of years since i played these

[Carr Harris]

I also would vote for Longaberger. I know that it's much maligned around this site, but I played it a couple of years ago and was very pleasantly suprised. There were some holes there that I didn't care for much at all, but they were outweighed by a higher number of good ones.

Plus with the right wind conditions you have a chance to hit the longest drive of your life off the 4th tee. Thats got to be good for something, right? 

[Michael Huber]

The GCA has convinced me, I will be playing longaberger (but not walking). 

Then I will eat some good ice cream. 

[jonathan_becker]

Michael,

Longaberger is definitely worth playing.   I know a lot of people don't like it, but there are some pretty good holes. 

What I would be interested in hearing is your opinion of #8.  You'll either love it to death or want to dynamite the hole!!  It's different that's for sure.

[Richard Hetzel]

Minus the newer holes, Granville is fun; especially #18!

I played Longaberger back in May, I liked it. I don't know if it is really #1 Public in Ohio, but worth playing at least once. I was going to post pics of all holes, but I have not for some reason. Maybe I am scared of getting flamed for posting (and enjoying) a Hills course!

[Steve Burrows]

I played golf at Denison University (in Granville), so I am a bit biased, but Granville is a great amount of fun.  People are right about the holes which are not Ross originals, but with a little imagination, one can get a sense of the original course:

There was a par-3 playing from the current 3rd tee to the putting green;
A wonderful short par-3 still sits behind the current 13th green;
A demanding par-4 ran along the ridgeline from the current 14th tee to the current 18th;
And finally, you can actually still see the tee pad for the original 18th, sitting on the range to the left of the current 18th and playing down to the chipping green near the main entrance.

Conversely, I think that Eaglesticks is quite repetitive, with many hole playing either straight downhill, or from ridge to ridge as a means to negotiate the severe terrain. 
 

[Michael Huber]

Well, I played Longaberger today, and I enjoyed it quite well.  It's a pretty relentless course-probably a bit too relentless for a 20 handicapper like myself. 

Arthur Hills' reputation is legendary on this GCA, but I really don't think Longaberger was that over the top.  The par 4s were a pretty solid crop of holes...as for #8, I did not find it that offensive to my pallet.  I botch the hole up pretty good...I aimed right at the trees and my ball did not fade as I expected, so I ended up in a bit of a pickle.  I can see why some may dislike the hole, as it requires a lot of thinking. 

My only real beef: the par 3s were a bit on the redundant side.  5, 9, and 12 had very similar greens, and I'm not quite sure why. 

I played about 12 holes with two of the staff of the course, and they were both really nice guys.  It was a pretty good experience, but I'll have to polish up my game before I return next. 

Up next:  Tom's Ice Cream Bowl.

[Mac Plumart]

8 at Longaberger is one of my favorite holes.  I know that "experts" hate it and think it is goofy.  And I am sure they are correct...but I smiled from ear to ear on that tee box and smile every single time I think of the hole.

Here is a photo of it...

http://www.mrpgolf.com/FAVORITE_18.html


it is at the bottom of the page.  The view is the approach after your tee ball, if you choose to play up the right side.  I'd simply post the photo and not the link, if I wasn't having computer issues.

[Chris_Blakely]

I did not hate Longaberger.  I think the problem that many here have is the amount of land given vs. final product.

[Dean DiBerardino]

Does anyone have any thoughts about Moundbuilders in Newark?

http://www.moundbuilderscc.com/default.aspx?p=v35DynamicList&listid=7816&name=Club History&ssid=46295&vnf=1#

[Tom MacWood]

It is an average to above average old course IMO, but nothing outstanding from golfing standpoint - certainly not one of the better courses in Ohio. That being said I will always recommend it just because he has to be one of the most bizarre courses in the world, let alone in the state.