Castle Shannon GC

Hopedale, OH  (near Steubenville, about an hour from Pittsburgh)

740-937-2373

1994, Gary Grandstaff (Pete Dye Associate)

Directions: From Hwy 22 W, take State Rte 151 E, get off at the Hopedale exit and turn E, drive 3.5 miles to the course, look for the entrance on the L.

Blue 6896, 73.0, 132, 71
White 6335, 70.5, 127, 71
Fees: ~$35

Per my buddy Weasel: "Good track, nice layout, tough bunkers with steep faces, pretty decent shape. Unbelievable that this place is only $35. Remember how we used to drive along the Turnpike and the Interstate and look at some hilly farm country and go, "That'd be a great place for a par 4,"? That's what they did here. Long distances green to tee. Layout is pretty wide open and links style, but holes are very seperated, you could go all day and hardly know if anybody else was on the course. Sometimes difficult to tell where the hole goes standing on the tee."

Golfcourse.com Review: This is a somewhat open course, but most of the fairways are tree lined. Shot accuracy is essential because a standard cut of rough lines the fairways and borders the greens. Sand bunkers have been incorporated into the course design, and water hazards come into play on about a dozen holes, including on hole #14, a 487-yard, par 4, which requires a tee shot over two ponds to a wide landing area. The terrain is extremely hilly, so expect uneven lies. The large greens are sloping, fast, and easy to three putt. Many scenic views of the surrounding countryside can be seen from off most holes.