Lincoln Hills Golf Club: Home Sweet Home

Up to this point I've given you examples of many different golf courses and designers that have helped to shape the way golf course design evolved over the last century and a half or so. I now want to share with you a course that hasn't won any big awards, hasn't hosted any events of substance, and, believe it or not, only has nine holes. The course I'm talking about is Lincoln Hills Golf Club, my home course, and pretty much my home.

Lincoln Hills was originally established by a group of local businessmen in the town of Upper Sandusky, OH (no, not Sandusky...totally different) in 1927. My grandfather, David J. Bastel was one of the original developers and was the first generation in this family heirloom that has been owned and operated entirely by my family since the 1940s. The course was originally a dairy farm and consisted of rolling hills and meandering creeks that scarcely characterized the surrounding flat farmland. When the course was originally constructed there were very few trees and what few their were were located in a woods at one corner of the course. Since the course was first constructed many trees have been added in a grove like fashion that help to define the holes and provide many threats to golfers of all skill levels. Creeks have also been rerouted due to erosion and difficulty concerns but for the most part the course has remained largely unchanged.

During World War 2 the course was closed as my grandfather and many other Upper Sandusky citizens went off to war. Because of this the course was allowed to grow wild and upon completion of the war the course was simply an open pasture of waist high grass. Much work would be done to bring the course back to its original luster. A new clubhouse, that which stands today, would be built to replace the original clubhouse a small one room facility in the 1960s as well as a practice green and new driving range. Along with this clubhouse were 6-8 small one room cabins known as the tourist court for golfers to stay at while they were in town and playing golf. Only one of these cabins remains as the pump house located on the 7th hole. Another unique feature of the golf course is the house located on the property. Originally the farmhouse during the course's dairy farm days, this house is where my grandparents raised my father and where I will be moving back into with my parents as soon as renovations are complete.

The course itself is very reminiscent of the Golden Age of golf course design during the later part of the 1920s and into the 1930s. The exact designer is unknown but the design is somewhat similar to a modified Donald Ross course. With minimal bunkering and back-to-front sloping greens Lincoln Hills treks over and around the many hills providing many options for working the ball off the tee and into the greens. The greens are very small with the deepest being just 26 paces deep but accept a well played shot fairly. The course is maintained based on the conditions of the seasons with minimal extra water used giving the course a very natural appeal.

The course has many picturesque holes but the two that stick out as signature holes are the first and second holes. Pictured below, these holes are a demanding and beautiful beginning to a great day of golf.

Hole #1 Par 4

Hole #2 Par 3

Although I do have a biased opinion because of my upbringing at Lincoln Hills, I believe that I can safely say that its fun, family atmosphere and challenging yet fair layout compliment its colorful family history and ensure that the future is bright for golf in Upper Sandusky. With plans to add a back nine in the works we hope that we can give the town of Upper Sandusky a new sense of championship golf while still making it fun for all skill levels.