Imagine being able to play on four golf courses designed by some of the world’s top architects. Now, imagine being able to play them anytime your heart desires. And finally, imagine being able to do all of this in one location, where you have unlimited access to swimming pools, wine bars, cigar lounges, a fitness center, and a spa.
Let me introduce you to The Grand Resort in Warren, OH, which has been ranked the best resort in Ohio for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report. Not only is it a full-service resort open year-round offering unparalleled amenities and service, but it also has a private club component, which makes you a member of four golf courses (two in Ohio and two just over the Pennsylvania border). Each club is a showcase all its own.
If you’re a connoisseur of fine golf courses built by legendary golf course architects, you’re going to love this. Avalon Lakes – a Pete Dye design – is considered The Grand Resort’s premier course (although I would argue) and is located on the resort property. Avalon at Squaw Creek (Stanley Thompson) is a mere 10 minutes away in Vienna, OH. Avalon at Buhl Park is located in Hermitage, PA, and was designed by Tom Bendelow. The legendary A.W. Tillinghast designed Avalon Fields at New Castle in New Castle, PA, and it is my personal favorite.
Avalon Lakes Golf Club is a true Pete Dye design; you can see it as you stand on the first tee. Penal bunkers – many of which are not visible from the tee box or fairway, challenging greens with a lot of slope and undulation, and a strategic design that forces you to think your way around the golf course. What’s missing are his trademark railroad ties. Instead, the edges of water hazards around the green are done in stone, which provides a much cleaner look and feel. Avalon Lakes is the flattest of all the courses, and Dye has done a great job of moving dirt around to create small hills and mounds on the peripheries of the fairways and around the greens. Without a doubt, Number 8 is the signature hole, a peninsula par 3 that plays anywhere between 129 and 235 yards. You’ll need to hit an extra club as the prevailing wind is usually in your face. There’s water all down the left side and behind the green, and four bunkers guard the right side, so accuracy off the tee goes a long way in achieving par or better. It’s one of the most photographed holes on the golf course.
Avalon at Squaw Creek in nearby Vienna, OH, was designed by Stanley Thompson, one of Canada’s most celebrated golf course architects. It is also one of the oldest championship-caliber golf courses in the Midwest. Like many of his era, Thompson was best known for his ability to intricately weave the golf course into its natural surroundings, and for their challenge and risk/reward opportunities. Players need to think their way around a Stanley Thompson golf course. Having played a couple of his courses in Alberta, I can assure you that Thompson’s designs are beautiful and challenging. Thompson courses are known for their mature, tree-lined fairways that lead to bold bunkers and green complexes with subtle undulations. With 5 sets of tees, the course can be played from 4990 to 7,372 yards, and will challenge all golfers, regardless of their skill level.
Number 12, a short, challenging, dogleg left, par 4, is the signature hole. At 272 yards from Tee 2, it’s the shortest par 4 on the course, but still requires a controlled tee shot and an accurate approach shot to take advantage of the short length.
Renowned architect Tom Bendelow designed Buhl Park Golf Club. With four sets of tees, the course plays anywhere from 5450 to 6369 yards, providing a suitable distance for every level of golfer. The course is located just across the state line in Sharon, PA, about 20 minutes from the resort. The layout is over 100 years old and features push-up greens, a throwback to its heritage. Many consider Buhl Park to be the most challenging course from the member tees. Bendelow courses are known for their natural feel and playability, no matter how good – or bad – you are! Another element of his designs is the efficient use of land, meaning shorter walks between greens and tees. Bendelow is well-known for his green complexes; you’ll realize that as you approach the first green. These are some of the fastest and well-guarded greens you’ll find.
Buhl Park’s signature hole is the 18th, a scenic par 3 that can play from 88 to 220 yards. This newly designed par 3 plays over water into a green that slopes back to front. Miss the green wildly to the left, and you’re probably in the water. Miss it right, and you may have a second shot. Miss the green slightly on either side, and you’ll be facing a bunker shot to save par. It’s a fun and challenging end to a great round!
Avalon Field Club at New Castle is a spectacular A.W. Tillinghast design and showcases his classic golf course architecture. Formerly New Castle Country Club, The Grand Resort purchased the property in May 2019, and over the past five years, has put $6M into it. At slightly over 100 years old, Avalon Fields has stood the test of time and still brings a smile and, maybe a groan or two, from golfers of all abilities. The original club crest from 1923 still hangs in the clubhouse. Several key design elements associated with Tillinghast’s are on full display: strategically placed bunkers, wildly undulating fairways, and the seamless integration of the natural beauty that surrounds the course all come together to produce a golfing experience you’re not likely to forget anytime soon.
One hole I would like to forget is the 5th, a par 5 dogleg left that plays 472 yards. If a nice, easy draw is in your shot repertoire, now’s the time to use it. The second shot is crucial; get as close to the “edge” as you can without going over. The green sits about 40 – 50 feet below the fairway, so knowing the pin location is quite helpful.
There’s plenty to do outside of golf. The Fitness Center is open 24/7 and has a wide selection of cardio, strength training machines, and free weights. The REC Center has a little bit of everything: 3 tennis courts – one lined for pickleball, racquetball, wallyball, ping pong, pool, and foosball tables, shuffleboard, pinball, race car simulators, and a theater room with lounge chairs and X-Box video games.
There are two things golfers seem to crave after their round: relaxation and a good cigar. Grand Resort has the answer for both. Unwind and relax in the Roman Bath, a pool that is open year-round and kept at 90°F. For cigar aficionados, the Cigar Store and Lounge features over 150 brands from all over the world. The store and lounge are open 24 hours a day, and the huge leather chairs and big screen TVs make it the perfect place to enjoy your smoke.
There are two full-service restaurants at the resort, The Atrium and Gatsby’s. Each club also has a restaurant, and they don’t serve your typical clubhouse food. The Atrium is located on the main floor of the resort, just behind Guest Registration, and offers a wonderful breakfast buffet. Gatsby’s is better known for its prime steaks and seafood entrees.
There are two ways to enjoy all the wonderful amenities of The Grand Resort and its four country clubs. The first is as a registered guest of The Grand Resort. Resort guests are essentially “Members for the stay,” that is, you have the same access to resort amenities as the Members.
The second is to become a Member. As a Member of Avalon Lakes Golf & Country Club, you’re also a member of Avalon at Squaw Creek, Buhl Park Golf Club, and Avalon Field Club at New Castle. That’s four clubs for the price of one. And, as they say on TV, “But wait, there’s more!” You’ll have access to the Avalon Athletic Club at Boardman, and all the amenities at The Grand Resort: swimming pools, salons and spas, indoor and outdoor dining at 26 restaurants, 21 bars, and 7 lounges, and much more.
For more information on how you can become a Member of this incredible property, visit www.avalongcc.com/avalon-membership.