The central Ohio - Northern Kentucky areas has a long list of excellent golf courses available to the public for $65 or less. Shaker Run should not be on the list. The Art Hills designed 18 has lost many of its trade mark Ash trees and the current club management seems not be interested in basic upkeep of the grounds.

I played May 5th and 6th 2014 on greens advertised as bent grass but in fact had a 80% poa annua grass mix, which had not been mowed in two days. The poa was in full bloom on the greens making it difficult to see balls on the green from more than 50 yards away and creating a less than ideal putting surface.

I do not believe the cups had been cut in three days based upon the condition of the lips.

My guess is in 6 months the greens will be close to 100% poa.

The rough was high (US Open high) but unlike Open course's rough Shaker's was filled with dandelions in full seed.

The bunkers have been maintained but the tee boxes are of poor quality. Most the par three tee boxes need top dressed and re-seeded.

Overall the Art Hills desing is very enjoybale but the "upscale" pricing is not warranted by the current course conditions.

Customer Service

The servie at the bar was terrible. On Sunday the bar tender took cell phone calls while making customers wait for drinks at the turn.

On Monday the bar tender poured a draft beer into a lipstick covered glass, when the customer asked the bartender for new beer the barteneder took the glass of beer and dumped it into another glass (not a new pour) and seemed annoyed with the request.

Looked forward to playing this place again, sorry to say I did. Played 18.. course was rough, green were bumby and 3 greens were burnt out. After the round we went in to have a drink and I just mentioned about the greens being bumby and burnt out and the guy said......"SO WHAT".....So What...I just paid $49 bucks and get so what?????? The bad part is the course could be back to what it once was but there are so RUDE ASS PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE. SORRY, but I won't be back this year and maybe not next either, I can play other nice courses in the area for less $$ and get better service. Right now this course in the shape it's in should be no more than $35 tops.

Customer Service

Service okay if you get passed the rudeness.

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Heatherwoode, Yankee Trace,Weatherwax

The original 18 was once a well-manicured majestic golf course. The beauty has somewhat faded. The greens consist of 80 percent grass and 20 percent dirt, which give it a nappy, but somewhat fast roll. I found myself disappointed in the course. I believe the course still maintains itself as one of the better public courses, but not worth more than $45.00 on a weekend. Shaker Run is under new ownership, I hope they can get the golf course back to its old glory.

Customer Service

Sorry to say, I asked a young staff member about the slope and course rating. He had no idea as to what I was asking. The staff seems prety young.

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FOur Bridges, Heather Wood, Hamilton Elks

Course vastly improving with the new ownership group that took over. Glad to see the Lambert's back at Shaker. Give the course until Spring and it will be better than ever!!!

Customer Service

Very good.

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Yankee Trace, Four Bridges, TPC, Heritage.

Waste of money. Layout was nice and had some beautiful holes but it was not maintained at all. Overgrown and a mess. Greens have large chunks missing out of them making putting impossible. Like they missed planting seed??? Tee boxes are so chewed up its like hitting in sand. Fairways were nice though

Customer Service

The pro shop attendant was outstanding. Our first time at this course and he was very helpful. Actually even admitted the greens were a mess. Gave us free range balls which was nice.

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Yankee Trace, Heatherwoode, Beavercreek Golf Club

I met one friend from Cincinnati and two from Louisville last Saturday. From two years ago when I last played here it has changed from one of my favorite courses to the worst condition course I played all year. The conditions of this course reminded me of a course in Texas a couple of years ago for 12.00 replay rate that included lunch! The ground was extremly hard, one side had greens that the ball bounced all the way to the hole. The other side we were sent on had bunkers with NO SAND!! The bunkers were full of weeds. One of our players had a rain check from a few weeks ago (on a Saturday)from an outing and they told him it was only worth 39.00 toward his round today and had to pay the difference in the regular rate of 69.00. Got me once but never again!

play the origional 18! beautiful course awsome layout some condition problems in the past when its right an ohio top 10

Customer Service

good

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weather wax

Shaker Run is not all it is cracked up to be. Certainly not "the best public course in Ohio". The layout is awesome, however, 5 of the greens were nearly unplayable due to the secada holes all over them. There were lots of areas on the fairways that were bare. Not just dead grass, no grass at all. Weather and bugs or fungus sometimes make a mess of a golf course. Often, the course managers can't do anything about it. However, here is where Shaker Run fails miserably. They did not tell us about the condition of the course. I came to the course with high expectations. The course was in terrible shape. I have played lesser courses where the staff told us about any problems with the course even before we got there. Here, nothing. I have played courses where the staff appologized for the condition of the course and offered a discount for play. Here, nothing. At the end of the round, we stopped by the "pro" shop to let them know how disappointed we were with the condition of the course, and were met with disinterest and arrogance. I will not play this course again. It is with out a doubt the worst 78 dollar round of golf I have ever played.

Fantastic golf course.

I was fortunate enough to play the original Arthur Hills-designed 18 holes (Woodlands/Lakeside) and I enjoyed every minute of it.

From the first moment that I stepped on to the tee box at the absolutely beautiful, long, winding, and wide Par 5 on the Woodlands side, I fell in love with the course. The entire Woodlands side is very entertaining, and very beautiful. I was strolling along the Woodlands side taking everything in, understanding that this was an extremely nice golf course, but it wasn't until I came the Par 3 No. 8 that I was able to understand just how special this golf course really is. The Par 3 8th plays fairly straight and slightly down hill, the path to the green is guarded with colorul high brush, bushes, and grass, but aside from that it is fairly straight-forward. I cannot understand why it is, but that hole is one of my favorite holes that I have ever played. That is really the essence of Shaker Run. I found the signature 200 yard Par 3. No. 6 with it's gigantic elevation change highly entertaining, and beautiful, but it just wasn't as personal for me. I love the hole, but it just didn't give me that sense of awe, amazingly enough. However, I did get that sense of awe when I met the Pebble Beach-esque Par 4 No. 9, which is a straight dogleg right along the lakeside. It is basically bite off as much as you want from the tee. The fact that it plays into the prevailing wind only helps to rattle your nerves even more. I happened to donate two balls to the lake, and walked off the green wimpering with my tail between my legs.

Lakeside did not disappoint either. I will always remember the Par 4 17th, and my approach shot from 195 yards (GPS on the carts confirmed this distance) was sent over the green and into the lake... with a 6 iron. The elevation changes and the wind are always a factor at Shaker Run. I learned that lesson well.

I could devote a few hours to describing how great this golf course is, but you'd be better off playing it for yourself. In the Cincinnati area, Stonelick Hills is the only other golf course that approaches Shaker Run in terms of it's beauty and shot variety. If you have not played Shaker Run, and you live in the tristate area, or will be in the tristate area, and have time for a round...Shaker Run is where you want to be. No question.