Destination Ohio: Cumberland Trail

September 3, 7:55 PMGolf ExaminerDave Seanor

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Cumberland Trail's driveable 15th.

(This is one in a series of occasional golf destination reviews.)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – It was a cloudless midsummer morning as my flight began its descent toward the Columbus airport. Three days of golf were in my immediate future. My only concern was the fate of my clubs, which I hoped had accompanied me on two connecting flights from New York.

But that was out of my control. Rather than fret, I gazed out the window and was reminded why central Ohio, with its patchwork of farm fields and small rural communities, typically clustered around grain elevators, exemplifies America’s heartland.

Soon, however, the corn and soybeans gave way to urban sprawl, and Ohio’s state capital loomed ahead. With nearly 755,000 residents, Columbus is the 16^th largest city in the United States. It’s bigger than Boston, Denver, Seattle and Atlanta.

Columbus was the “buggy capital of the world” in the late 1800s. Today it’s home to an array of companies, from Nationwide Insurance to Victoria’s Secret intimate apparel to the White Castle fast food chain. The Columbus-based Batelle Memorial Institute is a research incubator that has developed technologies as varied as dry copying (Xerox), nuclear fuel rods, automobile cruise control and the Universal Product Code (bar code).

If you weren’t aware of those facts, then surely you at least recognize Columbus as home of The Ohio State University. With 53,000 students, OSU is a city within a city – which came into sharp focus as the plane banked to the east, directly over Ohio Stadium before gliding onto the tarmac.

“The Horseshoe,” as the stadium is more commonly known, is one of the great monuments to college football. The university also is the proud owner of one of the most fabled facilities in college golf, the OSU Scarlet Course.

The Scarlet would be the last stop in a whirlwind, three-day showcase of public golf in greater Columbus, courtesy of Buffalo Communications, the PR component of Billy Casper Golf Management. Joining me on this “fam trip” (short for familiarization trip, in public relations lingo), were five other golf writers from the Midwest and East Coast.

Quiz a golf course architecture aficionado about Ohio, and they’ll likely name classic private clubs such as Camargo, Inverness, Scioto, Canterbury, Brookside and NCR, as well as gems of more recent vintage like Muirfield Village, The Golf Club and Double Eagle.

But excellent daily fee golf abounds in Ohio, too, and the showpiece on our itinerary was to be Longaberger Golf Club, a bucolic, highly praised daily fee that’s managed by Casper Golf. In the spirit of a rising tide lifting all boats, we also played two semi-private but easily accessible facilities that aren’t in the Casper portfolio – Cumberland Trail Golf Club and OSU’s Scarlet Course.

Cumberland Trail hosted the leadoff round after everyone was collected at the airport. Located in Pataskala, about a half-hour drive east from downtown Columbus, Cumberland Trail is a 9-year-old layout designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, local architects who have gained international acclaim for their philosophy of back to basics and environmental friendliness.

We had been warned that any chance of success at Cumberland Trail depends on distance control you’re your putter. Cumberland prides itself on expansive, gently undulating greens, which were indeed immaculate and quick the day we played.

Our group was greeted by head pro Mike Pickett, resplendent in bold lavender slacks and matching striped shirt. Pickett’s daily attire, as well as the orange shorts worn by the cart staff, reflects the tastes of Cumberland Trail’s flamboyant owner, Jimmy Hanlin. (Hanlin is co-owner of two other courses in northeast Ohio, StoneWater GC and Little Mountain CC. His kids are named Hogan and Palmer; he hosts a golf talk radio show; and his promotional efforts include an annual “Girls of Little Mountain” calendar.)

Most of us had been flying all morning, so before teeing off we had sandwiches and beer in Cumberland’s cozy grill room. Several regulars were hanging out after their round, playing cards – always a good sign of conviviality.

But once we turned our attention to the golf, first impressions weren’t good. The practice range was disappointing, little more than an open field with beat-up balls that appeared to be freshly plucked from Cumberland’s hazards.

It was apparent on hole No. 1 why management takes such pride in Cumberland’s putting surfaces. Lining up my first putt, it was difficult to find so much as a blemish to use as an aiming point.

The greens are indeed superb, but the first 13 holes are not esthetically pleasing. Most of the fairways are lined with track houses, typically well manicured but so close to the areas of play that you sometimes feel like an uninvited guest in a stranger’s back yard. It’s not a course for walking, with several long hikes from green to tee. Such faults are common among so many courses of recent vintage that were planned as part of real estate ventures. The housing density at Cumberland detracts from an otherwise pleasant experience, as the layout is a good one.

Thankfully, the claustrophobia ends midway through the back nine. No. 15 is a short but tricky par 4 bordered by wetlands. The par-5 16^th straddles a cornfield and horses can be seen grazing near a farmhouse behind the green.

For the record, I was a bogey machine at Cumberland, ending up with an 88. Golfers are full of excuses, and mine was the 4 a.m. wakeup call and two connections en route to Columbus. (Obviously, that’s not the way Tiger travels.)

Nevertheless, it was a fun afternoon. Pickett played half the round with our foursome; I’m guessing he shot a smooth 71 or 72. Aesthetic issues aside, Cumberland is a good value with its superb greens and a green fee under $50.

After the round, we headed for the nearby town of Newark and checked into The Place Off The Square, which was our base for the next two evenings. The small hotel is owned by the Longaberger Company, our host for 36 holes the next day.

We regrouped for dinner around the corner at Natoma Café, in the shadow of the imposing Licking County Courthouse.  Due to a reservation glitch at another establishment, Natoma was pressed into service at the last minute. Just as well. The good folks at Natoma – “The home of the Baby Beef Tenderloin Steak” – put Midwest hospitality on display by staying open beyond normal closing hours to accommodate our party of nine.

The atmosphere at Natoma was unpretentious and friendly. The tenderloin steaks drew raves. The wine flowed. We went to bed well fortified for Day 2 at Longaberger Golf Club.

CUMBERLAND TRAIL GOLF CLUB

• Green fees:

Peak season (May 23-Sept. 30) – Monday through Friday, after noon on weekends, $39 (with cart), $28 (walking), $29 (senior with cart); Weekend mornings, $49 (with cart), $38 (walking)

Off season (Oct. 1-May 22) – Monday through Friday, $29 (with cart), $18 (walking); Weekends, $39 (with cart), $28 (walking)

• Layout: Opened in 2000. Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, principals of the Hurdzan/Fry golf architecture firm known for combining classic designs with environmental friendliness.

Five sets of tees, giving golfers the option to play Cumberland Trail from 4,925 yards (69.1 rating/114 slope) to 7,205 yards (74.3 rating/132 slope). Our group played from the white tees (6,403 yards, 70.5 rating/124 slope).

 • Claim to fame: Best greens of any public course in Ohio. (I'd recommend the friendly staff, as well.)

 • Web site: www.cumberlandtrailgc.com