Located in the heart of Jackson Township Ohio, Tam O’Shanter golf course has been around for decades. It even used to have the Ohio Open, since the course is one of only a few with 36 holes in Ohio. Even after rumors of sales and development, Tammy plays just like it did years ago; just not as many trees seem to get in the way. The course has sentimental value to the locals, so it will always get steady play with all the leagues that enjoy playing the 36 hole Hills and Dales courses.
On a side note, they have the BEST driving range in the Canton Ohio area. By far.
We played the back nine on the Hills course this July. It was a cooler evening, which meant for perfect golf conditions. The course was about average cost and we were able to get out exactly when our tee time was, which is always a plus. However, we did run into some leagues, so after 3 or 4 holes we had to wait a bit, but not too bad.
From the back tees (Gold), the Hills course is around 6300 yards or so with the back side being 3160 yards. The layout does not really allow much more distance to be added either, so you can use hybrids and long irons off many of the tees if you wish. The course is rather open, but you will run into some tree trouble if you spray it too much. Also, it is important to note that most, if not all, of the greens on the 36 holes slope from back to front. Short siding yourself on these greens, which tend to be smallish, is just asking for a bogey. A good rule of thumb is always be below the hole here, even if that puts you in the fringe.
As with years past, the Hills course was in good shape. Greens held, were quick, and the fairways and tee boxes were well maintained. Not much rough, but that is probably due to the fact of pace of play and the many leagues that play here. Thick rough means slow play and loss of balls for the frustrated golfers. By having little rough and trimming all the trees up 5 feet, it really helped move things along. However, the purists do not like this easing of the course; overall it was probably the right choice in maximizing playing speed and appreciation for the average golfer.
In conclusion, Tammy O’Shanter offers a good style old school course with many similar quality holes. If you can hit the ball straight and have accurate short irons, you should score very well here. Big hitters can also benefit from the shorter course. Also, course knowledge is useful as you learn where NOT to miss the ball. Do not short side yourself and with the greens being small, do not fire at tucked pins. A 30 foot 2 putt is okay. At par 70, I am never really happy here unless I break 80, which is very doable, even with spraying the ball all over.
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