COLUMBUS, OH - From the Scottish style links of Maumee Bay State Park to the rolling woodlands that surround the well manicured fairways at Shawnee State Park - Ohio State Parks offer an array of golf opportunities in scenic and serene settings around the state. Enjoy the various golf packages and discounts available this fall at the state's six 18-hole golf courses. Most packages include overnight lodgings in a guest room or cottage, plus meals in the lodge dining room, and golf.
State park golf courses are ideal settings for golf outings and tournaments, and offer banquet services ranging from picnic lunches to sit-down dinners. Each has a pro shop ideal for golf supplies and souvenirs.
"Walking our golf courses is like having a front seat to nature's show," said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. "This is especially true in the fall when the woodlands that surround our courses become a sea of color."
Salt Fork State Park in eastern Ohio's Guernsey County offers a blend of rich woodlands and rolling meadows. Its 18-hole golf course includes a golf shop, snack bar, driving range and putting green. The park's fall golf package is available September 6 through October 31 and features two nights lodging, meals and 36 holes of golf with a cart. Call 740-432-7185 for tee times and reservations. The park's lodge features a pool, indoor game area and a full service lounge and restaurant.
Shawnee State Park in southern Ohio's Scioto County is located in the Appalachian foothills near the banks of the Ohio River, making this course one of the most picturesque in the state. An 18-hole championship golf course and pro-shop are located near the marina on the Ohio River, within a short drive of the main park area. The fall golf package offered September 6 through October 31 includes two nights of lodging, meals, and 36 holes of golf with a cart. The park's lodge features an elegant dining room, indoor pool, game room, sauna, and Jacuzzi. Call 740-858-6681 for tee times and reservations.
Deer Creek State Park in central Ohio's Pickaway County offers a 350-acre, 18-hole public golf course. The course is a challenge with its ponds and 52 sand traps. The park offers a fall weekday golf package special that includes two nights of lodging, unlimited rounds of golf for two with a cart, and souvenir golf balls and tees. For tee times and reservations call 740-869-3088. The park also has a driving range. Located in the heart of Ohio's agricultural country, Deer Creek is central Ohio's vacation showplace. This resort park features a modern lodge, indoor pool, cottages, campground, swimming beach and boating.
Hueston Woods State Park in southwest Ohio's Butler and Preble counties features an 18-hole, 7,005-yard, par 72 golf course, and driving range. The park's fall golf package runs from September 6 through October 31 and features two nights of lodging, meals and 36 holes of golf with a cart. Call the pro shop for tee time at 513-523-8081. The park also features many other outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, and - unique to this region -- fossil hunting.
Maumee Bay State Park in northwest Ohio's Lucas County offers not only the finest of recreational facilities in the Midwest, but also a unique natural environment created by the convergence of the land and Lake Erie. The lodge, cottages and golf course are nestled among the scenic meadows, wet woods and lush marshes teeming with wildlife. Maumee Bay's unique 18-hole "Scottish Links" style golf course has low, rolling mounds, bent grass fairways, greens and tees, numerous sand bunkers and ponds. The park also has a driving range. The park's golf package runs from September 6 through October 31 and features two nights of lodging, meals and 36 holes of golf with a cart. For tee times and reservations call 419-836-9009. A golf pro shop is in operation with a PGA-certified professional on staff.
Punderson State Park in northeast Ohio's Geauga County features a championship-rated, 18-hole public golf course that challenges even the expert golfer. The fall golf special from September 6 through October 31 features two nights lodging, meals and 36 holes of golf with a cart. The pro shop stocks all necessary merchandise and has a snack bar. For tee times and reservations, call 740-564-5465. A golf pro also is available for lessons. The park also features a natural lake, resort manor house with indoor and outdoor pools, family cottages, and scenic campground.
Additional park resort and cottage specials can be found online at ohiodnr.com.
To make reservations for resort lodges or cottage stays at Hueston Woods, Maumee Bay, Punderson, Salt Fork, and Shawnee call 1-800-AT-A-PARK (1-800-282-7275). For reservations at the resort lodge and cottages at Deer Creek State Park, call 1-877-678-DEER (1-877-678-3337).