A Golfers’ Paradise is Closer Than You Think
Nestled in the stunning Appalachian foothills just two hours from northeastern Ohio, you’ll find Oglebay, West Virginia’s most popular golf destination offering affordable golf getaways and a multitude of amenities for golfers of all ages thanks to a Cleveland business tycoon who purchased a stately mansion and farmland in Wheeling, WV more than 90 years ago.
To fully appreciate this hidden gem, it’s important to have a little background. The resort’s property was gifted to the people of Wheeling by Cleveland industrialist Earl Oglebay, who willed his beloved 2,000-acre Waddington Farm to the people of Wheeling for public recreation. Oglebay died in 1928 and the rest, as they say, is history, as the property would evolve into a major travel destination in the years to come.
Today, Oglebay offers course layouts for golfers of all abilities, including two exceptional 18-hole championship layouts at The Speidel Golf Club designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Arnold Palmer. The Crispin course, the resort’s 5,600-yard course dating back to 1930, is perfect for warm-up rounds, seniors and beginners. Plus, guests can enjoy two driving ranges and a family-friendly par-3 course.
Oglebay also offers multiple restaurants and shops, a lake, hiking trails, manicured gardens, museums, an outdoor amphitheater which plays host to national musicians throughout the summer, a 30-acre zoo, and more. That’s right; guests can observe more than 50 species of animals, 20 of which are rare or endangered, at Oglebay’s Good Zoo. It’s the only zoo in the state of West Virginia accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. So yes, you can play a few rounds of golf and visit rare and endangered animals in the same day at the same place.
The Speidel Golf Club pays homage to two golf legends, Palmer and Jones. The newest course at Oglebay is a par-71 championship layout with six par-3 holes, seven par-4 holes and five par-5 holes designed by Arnold Palmer. It ranges in distance from 6,800 yards from the championship tees up to 4,200 yards from the forward tees, and is designed to accommodate golfers of all skill levels. This new layout takes advantage of the existing terrain and with the addition of strategically placed bunkers, attractive mounding and generous greens, the course’s unique character was completed.
Oglebay’s Speidel Golf Club also features a spectacular course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Multiple tee placements allow the course to play from 7,000 yards from the championship tees, to 5,515 yards from the forward tees. Home to the West Virginia LPGA Classic for more than a decade, this course is sure to provoke conversation as well as settle some bets.
Oglebay also features the 18-hole regulation Crispin Course, a nine-hole, par-3 course, and a full-service practice range and short-game area at the Speidel Golf Club.
Overnight accommodations include the inviting Wilson Lodge, recently renovated cottages and spacious estate houses, and a variety of golf packages are available for individuals and groups of all sizes.
“Our superb packages are just the ticket for long days of golf followed by nightly recharging in our comfortable lodging options,” says Rodney Haley, Executive Vice President of Operations. “Few destinations offer as much ‘bang for your golfing buck’ as we do here at Oglebay.”
For additional information about Oglebay’s golf packages, visit www.oglebay.com/golf or call 877-436-1797.
Golfing Oglebay West Virgina
