Stark County, Ohio golfers got good news leading into Labor Day weekend when a news release indicated Tam O’Shanter Golf Course would open the 2016 season with its 36 holes intact.
Tam O’Shanter Golf Course, 5055 Hills & Dales Rd. NW, originally opened in 1928. The Hills course opened in 1931, giving the Jackson Township track 36 holes. Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen were the first players to tee off on the Hills at the opening ceremony.
In December 2014, it was reported the Dales course would close after the 2015 season. Arguably the better 18 of the two, the Dales has more commercial appeal due to a corner of the course sitting on a high-traffic intersection. A portion of the land would be sold for commercial and residential purposes.
The remainder of the property would eventually be sold to the Stark County Park District with plans to keep it green.
Initially, the development plan was to be taken to Township officials for approval in Spring 2015, but Chuck Bennell, president of Tam O’Shanter Co., said the document is still in the works. No land has been sold yet.
Residents have previously fought against (and won) rezoning the property in the early 2000’s.
This news is of particular interest at 3 Jack Almanac because Tam O’Shanter serves as our home course. Accounting for league play, I play more rounds here than anywhere else. Also, probably 75% of my practice takes place at Tammy’s facilities.
It has been no secret to residents that the owners of Tam O’Shanter have had little interest in owning a golf course for quite some time. When and how much of the course local golfers lose could have a significant impact on the state of local golf.
As noted in his review, Johnny G correctly proclaims Tam O’Shanter’s practice facilities as the best in the area. It is the best practice facility by a very large margin. In addition to the large range, they offer three different chipping greens and a practice bunker. It’s at least a 20 minute drive to the next nearest practice bunker in the area.
The initial reports last December lead us to believe the clubhouse and practice range would be lost, along with the Dales Course, in the first wave of development, sometime shortly after the 2015 season.
The thought of only the Hills Course without a driving range and some makeshift double wide trailer for a clubhouse starting in 2016 is enough to make you shiver and keep on driving to any number of other courses in the area. It would immediately drop Tammy towards the bottom of Stark County courses, keeping company with the tracks short enough to keep the driver in the trunk of your car (I’m looking at you, Meadowlake).
All things considered, we are spoiled with good, cheap golf in Northeast Ohio. The area can withstand losing a few courses here and there (RIP Edgewood) due to a dip in the sport’s popularity. The local golfers that have seen the worst effects of the golf recession are the range rats. There continue to be fewer places to practice. The survival of Tammy’s range is welcome news indeed.
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