A stone’s throw from the Ohio state line 60 miles southwest of Pittsburgh is Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, WV, one of the finest municipally-owned and operated resorts in the nation. The cornerstone of the 1,700-acre, family-friendly complex, set near the Allegheny Plateau on the former summer estate of Cleveland industrialist Earl W. Oglebay, is the Speidel Golf Course, a burly Robert Trent Jones layout circa 1971 built on the rolling pastures of a former dairy farm. The narrow, wooded front nine is carved from pines, elms and oaks; the longer back nine is flatter, more open. Both nines feature large, generously sloped greens that make putting an adventure. Also at Oglebay is the sporty Crispin Golf Course, a 5,670-yard layout built in the mid-1930s that plays up, down and across steep hills. The resort’s newest course is an Arnold Palmer-designed layout opened in 2000 that features six par 3’s, seven par 4’s and five par 5’s. A gentle westerly breeze cools the courses all summer long.
Amenities at the well-kept property include 16 acres of formal gardens interlaced with brick walking paths; the Mansion Museum (Mr. Oglebay’s summer home built in 1846): and numerous shops (Carriage House Glass showcases the region’s largest selection of decorative glass). Additional amenities include horse stables offering trail rides, a large outdoor pool, a lighted par-3 course and the Good Zoo, a 30-acre children’s zoo enjoyed by visitors of all ages (don’t miss the ocelot and red panda exhibit).
Oglebay's Spiedel Course is one of West Virginia's best
Accommodations at Oglebay range from the 271-room Wilson Lodge, a recently expanded hilltop hotel crafted from fieldstone and wood; to multi-bedroom golf cottages.
As you’d expect in this neck of the woods, golf package rates are extremely reasonable. Details: http://www.oglebay-resort.com/
