Alright folks, buckle up because today’s post is all about my recent adventure tackling the Oglebay Speidel Golf Course. Let me just say right off the bat – this course humbled me good. Here’s how the whole thing went down, step by clumsy step.
Getting There and Pre-Round Chaos
Woke up way too early, fueled by nothing but coffee and optimism. Packed the clubs the night before – remembered the sunscreen this time, major win. Drove over feeling pretty pumped, heard so much about Speidel’s rep. First hiccup? Finding the parking area felt like navigating a corn maze. Once parked, the clubhouse hustle was real. Pro shop guys were nice enough, grabbed a quick snack and a scorecard. Should’ve bought more water right then, dumb mistake number one.
First Few Holes: Reality Check
Strolled to the first tee feeling good. Took a deep breath, nice easy swing… and promptly sliced my drive straight into the woods. Right woods. Lost ball on hole one. Fantastic start. Took my medicine, dropped another one. Managed a solid triple bogey – not exactly the dream opener. Second hole looked shorter, thought maybe a rescue. Nope. Misjudged the carry over a gully, dunked another ball. Was already sweating bullets and muttering to myself. Third hole was long. Really long. Tried to smash a driver, felt my back twinge. Ended up limping off that green with another triple. My dream round was looking like a nightmare before I’d even finished the front nine.
Trying to Find a Groove (Mostly Finding Trouble)
Finally caught a tiny break on a par 3 around hole 4. Short iron landed on the green! Actual green in regulation! Felt like winning the lottery. Of course, I three-putted like a champ. Classic. The middle holes, man… they throw elevation at you like it’s going out of style. Up hills, down hills, blind shots over ridges. Found myself staring at the GPS on the cart every five minutes. One hole, I swear, the fairway was tilted sideways. Hit what I thought was a perfect drive, watched it trickle off right into some brutal thick stuff. Spent way too much time hacking out, always seemed to end up short-sided. Those greens… sneaky fast and subtly sloped. Putts that looked dead straight? Nope, they’d slide a foot past. So frustrating!
The “Late Round Heroics” That Weren’t
Okay, so maybe ‘heroics’ is pushing it. By the back nine, my legs felt like lead weights. Took more water breaks, tried to just enjoy the scenery – and the views really are something else, gotta give it that. Maybe I got a second wind? Hit a solid hybrid on a long par 5, actually reached near the green in two! Felt amazing… until I duffed the chip and three-putted for bogey. Peak performance, right? Another hole had water looming left. “Play it safe,” my brain said. My hands decided to try a heroic cut shot around the trees. Splash. Found the water hazard just fine. Finished my round tired, sunburnt in a spot I missed with sunscreen, and a score that I will not be bragging about.
Okay, So What Did I Actually Learn?
Sitting in the car afterward, chugging water and feeling properly beat up, I jotted down some hard-earned tips. This course teaches you lessons the hard way.
- Book WAY early. This place fills up super fast, especially weekends.
- Hydration is non-negotiable. Bring a big jug, refill it constantly. Don’t be like me.
- Forget trying to be a hero. Seriously. Course management is KING. Play smart, take your medicine. Punch out sideways instead of trying the miracle shot through the trees.
- Range finder or good GPS is essential. The elevation and blind shots will eat you alive without it.
- Respect the greens. They are slick and tricky. Spend time on the practice green if you can. Lag putts are your best friend.
- Extra balls? Bring extra balls. You will need them. I promise. Woods, water, thick rough – it eats balls.
- Just enjoy the walk. It’s tough. It’s beautiful. Take a breath, soak it in, and laugh at the bad shots. You’re gonna have plenty.
Overall? It’s a beast, but a beautiful beast. Played it, got destroyed by it, and honestly… can’t wait to get beaten up by it again someday. Just hope I break 100 next time!
