DS723

This was my first time playing this course, and I must say that is was worth the drive and money.

Course is not overly difficult, if you know where to put the ball off the tee, which is hard when if you are playing the course for the first time. The tee shots, and a lot of the iron shots, require good positioning.

Fairways were in great shape. Greens were in great shape as well. Lots of breaks, depending on pin positions. When I played, they put the pins in some pretty tricky spots.

Overall, I was glad that I spent the time and money to golf here. I would be happy to go back!

Course was in good condition for early May. Greens rolled nice, a little slow. Fairways were a little on the high side. I am guessing with the rain, it was hard to get out and cut.

Enjoyed a beer pre-round, and some food post-round. They have some of the best food at a public golf course in the area. Staff is always friendly!

Biggest con about this course is the pace of play. For a course that is not very long, it took 5 hours to play 18 holes. A lot of people seem to play 9 (off the front), then it opens up on the tougher back 9. I think the layout has a lot to do with this. It always helps the wait when the group behind you isn't playing fast.

Decided to give this course a chance this year, and I was surprised with the improvements to the greens. The fairways were nothing spectacular, remain how they have been for the most recent years. Rough was high, had some issues looking for balls just off the fairway.

The Greens, however, were the nicest they have been in some time. The were a little on the high side, but rolled true and had a decent speed. I can tell they have put some work into improving the greens.

The off-course amenities are lacking. Food/Refreshments are minimal (no sunday alcohol sales), driving range is just a place to hit very used balls, practice greens are not that great.

Overall, I have played this course twice and will more than likely play it again. If you are just a casual golfer looking for a cheap round, this is your place. If you are someone use to playing nicer courses, you will be disappointed.

If you have never played Yankee Run Golf Course, I strongly suggest you find a time to get out to the area and play this course. Even during peak season, $40 on the weekends for this course is a steal. Course is always well maintained, well manicured, and well landscaped. Greens are faster than some Country Clubs out there. After the round, you can unwind in the bar, eat some food, and play some lottery. Course can be tricky if you have never played it before.

Front 9:
1. Par 5 - Long hitters might have a chance to reach in 2, but green is elevated with a large slope and creek in front. Spraying off the tee should still leave you with a layup second shot with a wedge.
2. Par 3 - Uphill, club down at least 2, depending on the wind. Don't get tempted by the front pin placement as your ball will spin back and off.
3. Par 5 - U-Hole. If you want to attempt to reach the green in 2, play down the left side as far as you can. OB is all down the right side, which makes going for it in 2 a challenge.
4. Par 4 - Mid-Iron off the tee to the top of the hill is the smart play. You can try to get over the trees with a wood, even a driver, but you might end up with a nasty lie on the side of the hill.
5. Par 4- Stay to the right as the trees/hill on the left can come into play if you are not long. Second shot is all uphill, so club down at least 1.
6. Par 3 - Green slopes from back to front, so always go longer than the pin.
7. Par 4 - Short, try to avoid the left side off the tee as longer hitters might end up under some trees with a punch.
8. Par 3 - Hardest hole on the course, in my opinion. Green slopes back to front and to the sides. You can be on the green in 1 and still 3 putt. DO NOT GO LONG as it will almost guarantee you your third shot will be from off the green.
9. Par 4 - Not too much here, just avoid the left side.

10. Par 4 - Lake can come into play off the tee for longer hitters, safe play is a 3-wood to the right of the bunkers.
11. Par 3 - Middle pin positions will cause the ball to spin back, so take extra club.
12. Par 4 - Avoid going far right, if you are long.
13. Par 4 - Dogleg right. Stay to the left, probably best to hit fairway wood. Anything front of the green or to the left probably wont stay on.
14. Par 3 - Long. Can play from 160 - 200 depending on the tees and pin. Don't miss left/short as the green drops off.
15. Par 4 - All downhill, keep it straight. Green also slopes, so front pins can be tricky.
16. Par 5 - Long, slight dogleg the last 150 yards. Fairway is wide, so let it rip. Left side is preferred, but you can still clear the trees over the right. Reachable with two good shots.
17. Par 4 - Play down the right side as the fairway moves to the left a little. Green slopes back to front, so make sure you have enough club for back pins to get up the slope. Driver is not necessary off the tee.
18. Par 4 - LONG. Expect a long-iron into the green that is sloped horribly from back to front. Play your approach carefully, anything front of green is coming back.

A nice course tucked away in Hubbard, Ohio. They are always having deals on the weekends after Noon and 2PM, sometimes unlimited golf after 3. You can't beat the prices for this course, no matter when you go. Chris and his staff in the clubhouse are, hands-down, the best.

Course is somewhat challenging if you have never played here, but it is the greens that will hurt you. They are pretty small and have a lot of slope to them. Your approach shots on most of the greens really depend on the flag stick and where you ball ends up.

Holes:
1. Par 5 - Reachable, trouble only far left and right. Depending on tees and wind, your second shot can be a 5-wood or up to a 7-iron into the green. Green slopes back to front, and left, so it is best to be below the pin and to the left.
2. Par 4 - Short, uphill. Fairway wood off the tee is fine. Green has a ridge towards the back, so mid/front pins can be trick. Best bet is to be below the flag and to the left. If the pin is back, try to get it up the ridge.
3. Par 3 - Narrow, downhill over water. Wedge/9-iron for most players. Green also slopes, so try to go longer and spin it back.
4. Par 4 - Trouble way right, so anything left/middle is fine. Green slopes hard back-front and to the left. Again, below the pin and to the left is the best.
5. Par 4 - Short, driver not necessary. One of the hardest greens on the course. 50% of the green will not hold the ball, so don't land short. Also, don't go long or its down a hill. Don't worry about hitting it close, just try to keep it on.
6. Par 3 - Nothing very hard here, but hole does tend to play longer than the card says.
7. Par 4 - Blind tee-shot, keep it between the trees with a little left/right action. Fairway is usually a little soft short of the green, so balls don't bounce up a lot.
8. Par 4 - Blind tee-shot, keep it between the right trees and the pine in the fairway. Driver is not necessary. Green is a tricky one. Green is measured left to right, so a red flag means its on the left side. It's not deep, so always play to the center.
9. Par 5 - Reachable for longer hitters, keep tee shot between the bunkers. Right bunker is carry-able for most hitters. Bunker is to the left/front of the green, so if you can't carry that, best bet is to go up the right side for a good lookin 3rd shot.

10. Par 5 - Long, but can be reached. Keep drive out of the creek on the left. Lake in front of the green, bailout to the left. Green has a lower level front/right, so if the pin is in there, try to spin it back down the hill.
11. Par 4 - Short, blind tee shot down a hill (might be able to see the top of the flag). Aim over the left bushes in the fairway or between that and the large pine. Green slopes back to front.
12. Par 4 - Small green, not much going on. Best miss is to be short.
13. Par 4 - Avoid the left creek, driver not necessary. Green is uphill, slopes hard back to front.
14. Par 5 - Reachable, large landing area off the tee. Best bet is to play just left of the tree on the right-side of the fairway. Bunkers guard the green, but there are openings to sneak a ball in.
15. Par 4 - Avoid the right trees and left woods, driver not necessary. Green slopes to the right, so try to miss there.
16. Par 3- Beautiful hole, lots of slope but ball will usually hold. You want to be below the cup here, not on the sides.
17. Par 4 - Drive-able for some, if you can hit the 10 yard landing area. Else, bunker will come into play. Driver is not needed for a short iron into the green.
18. Par 4 - Tough finishing hole, dog-leg right. Driver will still leave you with a mid-iron into the uphill green.

Overall, the course was in pretty good shape. I liked the layout. Greens were in good condition, a little on the slow side but rolled true. If you are a good-intermediate player, strongly encourage playing the blue tees as the course from the white is pretty short. Beware--Pace of play was sloooow. I would probably go back, but probably not during peak times.

Front Nine:
- Pretty wide open. Water doesn't really come into play if you hit quality shots. Par 5s are reachable, but need to play for position off the tee as you can get blocked out by trees.

Back Nine:
- Much tighter, trouble off most of the tees. A lot of doglegs which require position off the tee, some even on second shots. Par 5s are reachable, but again require a good tee shot.

Clubhouse:
- Good food choices, good prices. Beer was pretty cheap. Quick to grab a snack at the turn, good time at the end of the round.

Cons:
- When we were getting ready to tee off, there were 4 groups waiting to make the turn. Although we finished the front 9 in just over 2 hours, I would say that a good amount of that was just waiting on the tees. Was hard to get into a rhythm when you were waiting on 2 groups every tee. The back 9 opened up a little, but it was still pretty slow. Would suggest going with a 4-some, because if you are going with 2, you won't be able to play thru as there is no where to go.

For the first time playing the course this year, I was very impressed with the condition of the course. Beware, the rough is high in a lot of spaces, especially on the back 9. Avoid playing if there is a lot of rain in a short amount of time, or over a few days as the course doesn't drain well.

Pros:
- Greens were firm and fast. They rolled pretty true, as well. There were a few spots that were burned out and somewhat unplayable, but the pins were not in those spots.
- Carts. Fairly new, gas carts. Seats are very well cushioned, smooth ride.

Cons:
- Fairways are nothing to write about. Better than your backyard, but not by much. The course has always been this way, though.
- Course isn't well manicured. Sandtraps have not been maintained with some overgrown.
- Food. Decent selection, prices are a little expensive for what you get.

Overall, it was a great value for the price, and the greens were some of the nicer ones I have played this year. They are doing a good job of getting the course into playing condition, but they have a ways to go. I think they will get there, and I will continue to play the course until they do!

Overall - Course was in good shape. Greens are much improved from last year (rolled smooth, not super slow) Course was extremely soggy, resulting in a lot of plugged balls.

I can't wait until the course can dry out, as it is going to play fast and get back to the conditions it normally is.

Food was slow at the turn. Hot dog was cold.

I played this course for a $15 hot deal and it was worth every penny.

Got to the course a little early and was able to tee off about 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tee time, no wait. However, the group in front of us was walking and playing the tips, so the front 9 took a little long. The back 9 was a little slow as well.

Overall, the course was in good shape. Fairways were nice, rough was medium. Greens were rock hard and quick. I didn't have to repair many balls marks because I wasn't leaving any. Greens can be extremely difficult if you leave it above the pin or too far away - a lot of breaks.