Golfing

The Challenge

This lovely region provides the perfect foundation for a golf course, with a unique mix of challenge and charm. So, it follows naturally that the area is home to some great courses, with something to quench the thirst of your inner golfer - whether male, female, young or old - for the ultimate challenge.If you don't feel ready to tee off with the pros just yet, don't worry. All the courses in the area are ready and willing to help you discover the golfer within.

Starting Point

The starting point for anyone exploring the Lake Erie Islands is Catawba Island, so let's begin our tour there. Catawba Island is the location of The Islander Golf & Country Club. This 18-hole course is surrounded by beautiful lakes, making it a moderately difficult challenge even for a seasoned golfer, yet welcoming enough to embrace the entire range of skills. Its resort-style setting, with the Islander Grille and distinctive Tiki Bar is sure to win over even the members of the family who don't think golf is quite their 'thing'.

For a smaller, more intimate experience, visit the Saunders Golf Course on Put-in-Bay (also known as South Bass Island). This 9-hole walking course provides a par three and four challenge for golfers of all ages and abilities. While on Put-in-Bay, take a trip to War of 18 Holes and battle it out with family and friends, testing your putting skills on this refreshing 18-hole miniature golf course.

Is it the time to bring out the big guns? Originally seen as just flat farmland, Sawmill Creek Golf Resort and Spa has undergone a facelift that's transformed it into one of the finest links courses in the state. With water providing an additional test on the 13 of the courses 18 holes, spectacular mounding, huge bunkers, and desert-like waste areas with mounds of grasses and bluegrass rough, Sawmill Creek is the ideal place for a definitive test of skill. Of course, as though an inimitable golf course weren't enough, the Club House of Sawmill Creek Resort and Spa features luxury suites with Jacuzzis, a banquet hall, a pool and cabana, its very own Scottish pub, and a fitness room. It also includes conference facilities, making it an excellent location for a corporate outing.

Huron Golf

Organizing a tournament? Speak to the Sawmill Creek about their tournament package and make it an experience people will talk about for ages. Check out www.golfsawmillcreek.com for more information on the exciting events and packages they offer. Another must-see on the site is the Pro tips section with advice on how to navigate the course. Other great golfing-grounds are The Keys Course, situated just 4 miles from Cedar Point amusement park, and Mills Creek Golf Course, Sandusky.

Looking for a cozier, more family-oriented experience? Try out Green Hills, Woussickett, and River Cliff Golf Courses. Adapted and altered from farmland to fairways over the years, these courses are still owned and operated by the Crockett family, descendants of Robert S. Crockett Sr. who began the process in 1957. All the courses offer award-winning club house facilities, packed with everything you could ever need or want. As they say at Green Hills, "Great golf, great food and good friends. Isn't that what life is about?"

We conclude our tour with the star of the show. Located in picturesque Huron, Ohio is a sensational 36-hole public golf course –Thunderbird Hills Golf Club. Conveniently located just 10 minutes east of exciting Cedar Point amusement park, Thunderbird Hills combines beautiful views with an imitable golfing challenge. For those who want to escape the fast-paced world outside, this is a great place to seek sanctuary. Do make time for a visit to http://www.thunderbirdhills.com/ to make sure that you don't miss out on any terrific special offers like Thunderbird Hills' Free Golf for a Year Draw. Whether you are looking for the ultimate test of skill, a place to spend some quality time with your family while enjoying the game you love, or a retreat to escape to from your busy work schedule, you are sure to find it all by the shores of Lake Erie.