Blade scorecard: Eagle s Landing and Ottawa Park finish on top of our readers' survey

4/27/2005

My favorite golf course is Eagle s Landing in Oregon. The price for playing 18 holes is very reasonable compared to other golf courses. The condition of the tees, fairways, and greens is exceptional. No two holes are alike and the greens are large and rolling. A scratch golfer can have a good challenge from the back tees, while average players have a nice test from regular tees. The course is lady friendly because there are no long carries off the tees and hazards are not plentiful. The staff is very friendly, especially head professional Dan Sutton. He is an excellent golfer but is not above greeting every one and making each feel at home and comfortable.

Jim Blanchard

I vote for Eagle s Landing as the top course in Toledo. They have a great course with a great atmosphere, and they also have one of the most friendly staffs in Toledo.

They also have great food, and their prices are good also.

James Wineland

I enjoy the fun and challenge of Eagle s Landing, a true shot-makers course with generous fairways, but water on 11 of the 18 holes and fiendishly-placed bunkers. It is a course that pays homage to the game s origins, with shared greens.

At the birthplace of golf, the Scots figured there were 18 shots in a fifth of whiskey, and if you sipped a shot a hole, there should be 18 holes on a good track, no more and no less. The Scottish founders would be proud of Eagle s Landing, because it is a great track with its full complement of 18.

My other nominees would include Maumee Bay, the annual site of a U.S. Open qualifier, Red Hawk Run in Findlay, Stone Ridge in Bowling Green, The Legacy, and Carrington Club. We are truly blessed with some remarkable area golf courses.

Timm Morrison

(Timm Morrison is a local radio personality and a host of The Golf Show on WLQR 1470 AM.)

By far, Eagle s Landing is the best course in the Toledo area. The Greens are awesome and the course can change at the drop of a hat.

One minute a par-3 might require a 9-iron, an hour later you might need a 3-iron. That makes for an even greater challenge.

J.C. via e-mail.

Here s a vote for Eagle s Landing in Oregon as my favorite golf course. The greens are the best around.

Mike, via e-mail.

My vote is for Eagle s Landing in Oregon. It s a very nice, challenging course that is not super hard, but still requires good shots.

Mike McGinnis

I would have to say the top public course in the Toledo area would be Eagle s Landing golf club. I have golfed there numerous times and have never had a bad experience. Their staff is both friendly and helpful and always greets you with a warm smile. The fairways and greens are always well-maintained. I always enjoy outings there, partly because of the good food.

Jimmy J. via e-mail

I want to vote for Eagle s Landing as one of Ohio s best golf courses. Dan Sutton is the best golf pro ever!

Craig Haas

My favorite golf course is Eagle s Landing. I love the beauty of the surroundings. I enjoy the skill that s required, and my wife loves the open feeling it offers.

Larry Vriezelaar

I would like to nominate Eagle s Landing for best area course. From the friendly pro staff to the great hot dogs and availability of tee times, Eagle s Landing is a real gem located on the shores of Lake Erie.

Amy Reece

The granddaddy of them all is still No. 1 in this city. Ottawa Park has the treacherous par-5 No. 4 hole over the water. Then there s Amen Corner holes 16, 17 and 18 separate the men from the boys. I ve seen 3-stroke leads evaporate over those three holes.

Dan Foster

Ottawa Park golf course is my favorite in the area. I love the layout, the scenery in the fall there is just awesome. It has a great mix of holes, short par-3s, short par-4s and a couple of awesome par-5s. The course is so much of a risk-reward course. If you re willing to take a risk and hit the shot properly you will be rewarded, but take a chance and don t hit it properly and watch out. The greens, when they are in shape (almost all the time) are very true. You read it, trust your read and hit it. Hole 4 is the best in the city in my opinion. You need a good, long straight tee shot to reach this par-5 in two and then that sets you up for a 200-yard carry over the pond to a narrow green. Hit your approach above the hole and that is one slick putt. All good or great courses have to have history, and Ottawa Park has that. It is one of the oldest public courses in the U.S.

Hammer via e-mail

Ottawa Park may not be the hardest course around, but it is the oldest and it has character. My golf league plays there every Thursday starting the week after the Masters. We are the Green Blazers Golf League. The staff at OP knows everyone. If you haven t met Mary [Tossell], who runs the concessions, you re missing out on Toledo golf history. She s a legend in her own time. The low last year in our league was a 65, but I think one of us will shoot 62 here soon for the course record.

Some of my other favorites, in order, include Giant Oak, Riverby, Eagle s Landing, Maumee Bay and Detwiler.

Zachary M. Bohn

Ottawa Park circa 1940 was a gem. Today, in its current form it is still the only course of any architectural significance. It is the only course I would suggest a visitor playing.

Riverby Hills is also a decent place to play.

Mike Edwards

I vote for Ottawa Park. I m almost 60 years old and never could hit the ball very far, but I hit it straight most of the time and, at Ottawa Park, that means I m never out of a hole. I played there about four times a week last year and had three rounds in the 70s. The course is almost always busy, but it remains in great shape, thanks to course superintendent Scott Eby and his staff. Last fall, the course was absolutely beautiful with the many stands of trees in glorious colors. Ottawa Park is truly one of Toledo s gems.

Cass Gittins

Ottawa Park is the best in northwest Ohio. This course makes you use every club in your bag. They have Amen Corner at Augusta National, and we have one here in Toledo, too, with Nos. 16-18 at Ottawa Park. There are trees left and right at No. 16, a demanding left-to-right shot at No. 17 to avoid out of bounds to the left, and I can t tell you how many times on No. 18 I had no chance at the green because I went left. Bring back Dudley s and we can stop after nine and get a root beer float.

Thomas Cymbolin

The best local course is Ottawa Park Golf Course because of its layout. It is fair to all golfers because it is not a particularly long course. Anyone can play and have a shot at every green. But the way to score well is to hit shots. Any golfer can swing and hit it as far as they can but only good golfers can hit quality shots, and Ottawa Park forces you to do that, making it fun and challenging.

Matt Rheinecker

Ottawa Park is my favorite public course. There are friendly people and the course is just the right size, but with all the challenges you d find in a larger course. Conditions are always terrific.

Loretta Twining

Rest of the best:more from our readers

One of northwest Ohio s hidden jewels is Loudon Meadows in Fostoria. It has some challenging holes, but is very playable to any golfer and is kept in immaculate condition. It costs $21 for 18 holes and a cart on weekends after 12 p.m. and only $26 before noon, so the value is good.

Tim Soster

My vote is for Woodlawn in Adrian. It s a nice course with challenging holes, but also can be played by high handicappers like me without causing too much frustration.

Chad, via e-mail

My favorite course is South Toledo. Not only is it very affordable, but a bigger plus is that the people there are very friendly and the course is a beautiful slice of nature nestled in the middle of south Toledo. It also offers a well-stocked snack bar with your favorite drinks. I m an average golfer and it fits me to a tee .

Bob Woods

I d like to vote for Cottonwood Creek, a nine-hole course. It is sporty, scenic, well-cared for, and challenging for ladies, seniors, and younger people who want to sharpen up their short games. And it is reasonably priced.

Betty Kozak

My favorite course in the area is Stone Ridge in Bowling Green. I like the exceptional conditioning of the course and the great number of challenging holes. Gusty winds can really toughen it up, but even on calm days there are plenty of water hazards, deep bunkers and out-of-bounds areas to make it quite a test.

Eric via e-mail

My absolute favorite is Bedford Hills. It is beautiful, well-maintained and they have a great staff.

Patrick via e-mail

I vote for Carrington Club in Monroe. Unlike some area courses, the employees are golfer-friendly, beginning with the people in the pro shop. You can always count on the pace of play being pretty good, especially during the week, because they move the golfers right along. The overall setting is almost country-club like with the condition of the course, clubhouse and pro shop. The quality of the food is very good and service excellent.

During the week the senior (55-and-older) golfer can play the course for $25 and that includes a cart. That is a real bargain and a lot of players will drive up to Monroe from Toledo for such a deal.

Dick Crowell

White Pines Golf Course is my favorite in the area. The course is a fair test of golf, it is kept in good playing condition, and the people are very friendly. The rates are very reasonable. Late last fall they reworked a few bunkers and moved some of the white pine trees to reward you for hitting the fairways more than last summer. I like that many of the holes really reward a good shot, and yet are still playable if you mis-hit it a little. All of the par-5s can be reached in two, with good to great shots, and one par-4 is reachable if the wind is not in your face, so there are eagles to be had. And yet there is just enough water and more than enough trees on the course to make par a good score.

Ed Shotwell

I vote for The Legacy by Arthur Hills. The layout is wonderful, the carts with GPS computer information is a bonus and the folks that work there are very friendly and helpful.

Louis Lazar

Legacy: beautiful and difficult

My favorite course is The Grande, which is carved out of the woods and wetlands in the Irish Hills of Michigan. Closer to Toledo, though, my vote would go to The Legacy. It is also a beautiful and difficult course with woods and wetlands in areas that force you to concentrate. It is a thinking person s golf course, although the computers on the carts take some of the guesswork away. They have special prices on Mondays and Tuesdays and the food is always good. The signature hole is No. 8, with an island green, but my favorite is No. 10. Just how much can you cut off over the water? The Legacy is an enjoyable, fun course to play.

Renee Smith, left, at The Legacy

My favorite local golf course is The Legacy because it s easy to get a tee time; the course, especially the greens, is always in good shape; you have to hit many different kinds of shots; the clubhouse and restaurant give it a country club feel, and it s fun for players of all skill levels.

Jason R. Bartschy

My favorite course is White Pines, which opened three years ago. It has a great layout (just try to par No. 15!) with many large and undulating greens well-protected by water, sand or trees. It s fun, fair and challenging.

Don Mickens

South Toledo Golf Club is still one of the best in the city. It is challenging and fun, and the course has really improved over the last several years. The greens are in great shape. It gets my vote.

Thomas Heinrichs

Maumee Bay State Park is my favorite golf course. The course is a world-class layout that can be enjoyed for a very reasonable rate. The course can play many different ways depending on the wind. It is a great challenge for golfers of all levels, and the staff is friendly and helpful.

Tim Gedert, Perrysburg

By far, the best daily-fee course in the area is Maumee Bay State Park, although I m hopeful it will be in better shape this year than it was last summer. Maumee Bay is a challenging course all by itself, but when you throw in the typical wind out there it can become a downright beast. I probably played 50 or 60 rounds there last year and the hole that really showed this the most is No. 4, a par 3 of about 150 yards from the blue tees. I hit anything from a 5-wood to an 8-iron depending on the wind direction and strength. If you can score well at Maumee Bay, you can score well at any local course.

Tom Miller

I prefer Maumee Bay State Park because of reasonable rates (especially the twilight rate) that allow you to play a championship-style course. That s why a U.S. Open qualifier is held there. Add in the always-present wind and it makes it so much tougher. This course forces you to play it safe and straight with the tall grass lining every fairway. I believe it could be argued that Maumee Bay has two holes (Nos. 14 and 15) that are among the hardest in Lucas County.

Jeff Hess

Our vote goes to Stone Ridge in Bowling Green. This Art Hills design is picturesque, challenging, and excellently conditioned. You always look forward to playing there. A close runner-up would be Carrington Club in Monroe.

Mark and Amy Snyder

I always enjoy Whiteford Valley because of the friendly staff, consistent conditions and the fact that with four 18-hole courses there is almost always room to play without feeling crowded. If one course slows down you can move to a different nine and not spend all day waiting for the group ahead of you.

Jim Meeker

Sycamore Hills Golf Course in Fremont is my favorite because there are 27 holes of pure golf excitement. Sycamore has seen many changes in the past few years including a renovated pro shop, new cart paths and general course improvements. Everyone should take advantage of their Tuesday/Thursday special of 18 holes, cart, and light lunch for a reasonable price. The staff is always accommodating which keeps bringing the golfers back.

Tim Mayle

My favorite course is Ironwood in Wauseon, about a 50-minute drive from Toledo. The course is reasonably priced, even on weekends, yet I ve never seen it overbooked or crowded. It is in fabulous shape. There is a little bit of everything on this course trees, sand and water but it is definitely fair.

Mike Skrzyniecki

My favorite local course without a doubt is the Legacy. I ve played four courses designed by Arthur Hills Red Hark Run in Findlay, Maumee Bay, the Legacy and another in California and I ve never been disappointed.

Bob Mercer

Spuyten Duyval Golf Club is my pick. Those who haven t played there for years should give it a try. Good rates and a great course. They will be opening a new nine (carved around the trees) in mid-May.

John Kwiatkowski, Sylvania

My favorite golf course to play is Demor Hills, in Morenci, Mich. It may not be the best public golf course in our area, but I like the way you are treated. To me, that s what should bring a golfer back to a course. A close second is Pike Run near Ottawa, Ohio.

Pete Garcia

In January of 2000, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had to have surgery. I had been playing golf at Fallen Timbers for a few years and had gotten to know Gary Kuns, who oversees the golf course operations and the surrounding home development. Each year, Gary and I would join the Fallen Timbers golf pro and another good friend of mine in an outing that benefited children with Down Syndrome.

When Gary learned about my cancer, plus additional surgery I needed to replace a bad hip, he felt that I needed to play as much golf as I could to keep my mind off of all that. To make sure I did that, he offered me a membership for the year with a cart.

This is a gesture I will never forget and one that keeps me at Fallen Timbers, where the course continues to improve each year, for as long as I am able to play golf.

Mike Tucker

Without a doubt, it is the Carrington Club in Monroe.

There are several reasons I pickedCarrington. I can play on weekday mornings before 10 for about $25. It is a great layout where you will use every club in the bag. It is challenging, with water, trees, out of bounds, and bunkering.

And probably most of all, it is always in great shape; the manicuring from tees to greens is always excellent.

Gary Langel, above

I like Detwiler because the course is so demanding and requires long shots.

Rocky Ruetz

Bedford Hills is a well-manicured golf course, very well designed and very challenging with a variety of holes. The greens are just so beautifully taken care of and putt very true.

Tom Rutter

I live in Point Place and my favorite course is Bedford Hills. Maybe I like it so much because I played one of the best rounds of my life there, and I play about 100 rounds a year. My second choice is Giant Oak, where our league recently relocated because of better rates. It s always in great shape and the owners are very personable.

Tom Dickens

My two favorites are Riverby Hills, which is always a challenge that makes you use every club in the bag, and Spuyten Duyval, a fun course that s in nice condition. They re putting in a great looking third nine out there.

Ken Palicki

I m a senior golfer who plays two or three times a week when the weather is decent. My favorite courses are a little pricey, but worth it. The Legacy is just a beautiful course where you can score well. Red Hawk Run in Findlay is probably the toughest course that I ve played in the area and someday I m going to conquer it. So far, it has conquered me.

Richard Fike

Whiteford Valley, especially the Red and Blue courses, gets my vote. They are good courses with nice people and the parking is never a problem in the huge lot. They keep play moving nicely. I ve never seen any fivesomes out there which helps a lot with the pace of play and makes it a lot more fun for everybody.

Richard Barta

I like Fallen Timbers because of affordability, especially on the weekend, as well as the length of the course. I also enjoy South Toledo, where the greens and fairways have really improved in recent years.

Ron Kreger

Of all the courses we play around Toledo, I d vote for Bedford Hills. It is well-manicured and is a good, competitive layout. It s well-run and they keep their tee schedules on time. Bedford is a nice asset to the area.

Bruce Alcock

Red Hawk Run in Findlay is the best value you can get considering the quality of the course and the fact it s always in great condition. I can play there on Mondays for $30 with a cart.

Al Rysz

I m 74 years old and Bayview Retirees Golf Course is very senior friendly at $4 per round (although it s not 18 holes). Among the 18-hole courses, Detwiler is my favorite in Toledo. It s near the bay for coolness and scenery and it s well taken care of. After golf, they have an elevated deck overlooking the 18th green where a golfer can enjoy a cool drink, hot dog or burger while discussing the round. Outside Toledo, I like Stone Ridge in Bowling Green, which is a little pricey if you don t have coupons, and Carrington Club with its heather rough.

Stan Bishop

The past six or seven years, every Sunday morning, between eight and 16 guys in our group meet at Deme Acres, just over the Michigan line off Summerfield Rd. The owners, Carol and Jim, are always all smiles and let you know how much they want you there. The course is mature and well-maintained. There are no look-alike holes. The creeks make it a pretty course and fairways are lined with many mature pine trees. It s an interesting and fun course and the cost to play is very fair. But the biggest selling point is that there are no tee times. When you or your group are ready, you walk to the tee and go. There may be two or three groups ahead of you, or you may have no wait. Either way, you re always welcome. It works out really well and I don t understand why more courses don t use this method.

Dan Kwiatkowski

Gavin Pitt took a poll of his regular golf group and, although their top pick is from a tad outside our area, came up with this top-5 list:

1. The Grande in Jackson, Mich., is our favorite by far. The course is always in superb shape and it is challenging but fair. It is a little pricey, but always worth it!

2. Red Hawk in Findlay is always in great shape, even when there is little rain, and is very fair despite the challenge to make good shots.

3. Stone Ridge in Bowling Green has many good holes and is a well-maintained setup. It can be pricey, but they have some great specials in the fall that we like.

4. Raisin River in Monroe is our favorite bargain-price course. It is a challenging layout with water, but it s a lot of fun.

5. Ironwood in Wauseon is always in great condition and is a good setup for when we want to let out the shaft, let it rip, and not get in trouble. It is a traditional course layout but we enjoy playing there because we know it s not a test of survival and we can have fun while fine-tuning our games.

Reader Ken Falls didn t just vote for his favorite course, he gave us a Top 10 list. He s obviously a man who gets around:

1. Riverby Hills: Never too busy, quiet, hills on back nine add beauty and variety, not over-used, and I am willing to pay a little higher green fees for those reasons.

2. Tamaron: Never too busy, quiet and good mix of hills and flatlands.

3. Stone Ridge: A good challenge to test your game.

4. Spuyten Duyval: Close to home, so I can play a quick evening round and take advantage of low evening rates.

5. Ottawa Park: A classic, and open all seasons, but a bit pricey.

6. Giant Oak: Quiet, well kept, lets you cut loose at the start with long holes.

7. Wolf Creek: Gives you that Northern Michigan ambiance; Low rates on Thursdays.

8. South Toledo: An old style course with water, trees, and small greens.

9. White Pines: Very secluded and quiet, plus they re always improving the course quality while keeping costs reasonable.

10. Carrington Club: Fair, yet somewhat challenging for the average golfer.