PETE MOLLICA | GOLF Area still best place for local golf

What a difference a couple weeks makes.
Three weeks ago we were slopping around in the mud and rain trying to play the great game of golf. Then Mother Nature woke up and remembered this was supposed to be summer.
Even though the weather has been lousy until recently, I've still managed to get out and play some of our area's courses.
We are so fortunate to have so many outstanding courses in our area. Although prices have crept higher over the years, we still have some of the best values for the dollar around the country.
Last weekend we played Yankee Run Golf Course in Brookfield, and without a doubt it still ranks as the finest public golf course we have in our area.
McMullin's lead way
Paul and Gary McMullin do such a tremendous job, the golf course is immaculate and the hospitality is always at the highest.
Although Yankee Run is No. 1 on my list of public courses for all-around rating [I don't consider Avalon Lakes a public course at $150 a round], there are still a lot of other great tracks to play.
Candywood, in Vienna, is just a step or two behind Yankee in my ratings, and probably has the best greens of any course around.
Pine Lakes in Hubbard has my vote for the most improved golf course in the area, and owner J.V. Ferrara and Director of Golf Dave Coller are far from finished making improvements.
The best new course in the area is without a doubt the Links at Firestone Farms in Columbiana. This is the first full season the course has been open. Golf pro Dave Chuba says that play has been unbelievable, even with the weather.
Mill Creek Golf Course is right up there with Pine Lakes in the improvement category, although they haven't made the drastic major changes that Ferrara did in Hubbard.
Other top area courses
If that isn't enough to whet your appetite, then there are such outstanding layouts at Tamer Win in Cortland, Riverview in Braceville, Doughton in Hubbard, Walnut Run in Cortland, Flying B in Salem and Copeland Hills in Columbiana.
Just across the Ohio line in Pennsylvania are a couple more courses I love to play. Tam O'Shanter and Hickory VFW are both located in Hermitage, while it's always a treat to go over to play Castle Hills in New Castle.
I think that one of the courses that is the most fun to play would be Reserve Run in Boardman Township. It also ranks high in playing condition and offers a challenge, but an opportunity to all levels of golfers.
Then there is Avalon Lakes.
I don't think there is a course around the state that will offer the challenges that the Lakes will, and they do it with perfect conditions.
The $150 greens fee is an obstacle for the average golfer, but with Ron Klingle's membership growing each and every season, he's hardly going to worry about those who can't afford to play his course.
Doc Candella tourney
Coming up this month will be one of the area's few stroke play tournaments.
The 13th annual Doc Candella Memorial Stroke Play Tournament will be held July 19 and 20 at Candywood Golf Course in Vienna, the course that Candella built and operated until his death.
This tournament is a 36-hole event with two divisions. There will be an open division and a class B division.
Candywood PGA professional Barry Good indicated the entry fee is $70 and riding carts and skin games are optional. The Open division will play from the blue tees, while the B division will play from white tees.
Prize merchandise will be determined by the number of entries in each class. The Open Division winner receives golf privileges at Candywood for a full season.
For further information, contact Good at (330) 539-5285.
Matt Harty Scholarship event
Chip Olenick, golf pro at Countryside, called the other day to remind everyone about the 14th annual Poland Community Baseball Association's Matt Harty Memorial Scholarship outing on July 19 at Countryside.
The event benefits a big scholarship fund, which has awarded over $25,000 to seniors at Poland High School. Four Poland seniors, two boys and two girls, receive $500 scholarships each year.
For more information, call Dennis Reardon at (330) 757-4845.
mollica@vindy.com