Plum Brook Country Club: 110 Years of Golf in Sandusky, Ohio

Plum Brook Country Club opened for play in Sandusky, Ohio in 1914, making it one of the oldest continuously operating golf courses in the state. More than 110 years later, the course still draws golfers to its rolling fairways on the south side of Sandusky, a short drive from Lake Erie.

A Course with Real History

The club began as the Sandusky Golf Club, organized on January 29, 1914, on land belonging to the August Pfaff family. Two years later, the membership relocated and rechristened the operation Plum Brook Country Club. The original nine holes, attributed to Cleveland professional Bertie Way, gave local golfers a legitimate layout in an era when northern Ohio had few options. The club expanded to 18 holes in 1929 as membership and demand grew.

The layout you play today owes much of its shape to a 1994 redesign by Arthur Hills, a Michigan-based architect who spent decades refining courses across the Midwest and Southeast. Hills tightened the bunker placements and repositioned tee boxes, sharpening a course that had softened over 80 years of use. The result is a layout that rewards accurate ball-striking while remaining approachable from the shorter tees.

The Numbers

Plum Brook plays to par 71 across 18 holes, a detail worth noting for anyone who assumes par 72 is the default. From the back (Black) tees, the course measures 6,448 yards with a rating of 71.2 and a slope of 135. The Blue tees bring it in at 6,127 yards (69.6/132), and the White tees at 5,503 yards offer men's numbers of 67.0/123. The Red tees at 5,111 yards carry a rating of 69.5 and slope of 124, while the Yellow tees at 4,378 yards are well-suited for juniors and players focused on working the short game.

The slope of 135 from the tips means Plum Brook has some teeth. That number reflects genuine difficulty, not just length.

Terrain That Stands Out

Northern and central Ohio lean flat. That makes Plum Brook's rolling terrain a genuine surprise. The course moves through gently elevated ground, with fairways that change elevation between tee and green on multiple holes. Mature trees line most fairways, creating corridors that demand accuracy off the tee. Errant drives here tend to find trouble.

The greens run fast and sit elevated on several holes, which changes the approach game considerably. Shots that miss the green short face awkward chip angles, and anything above the hole puts pressure on your lag putting. Players who favor a controlled short game and accurate approaches tend to score better here than those who rely on distance alone.

A Venue with Regional Weight

Plum Brook serves as the permanent home of the Northern Ohio PGA Golf Hall of Fame, a distinction that marks the club's standing in regional golf history. The course has hosted competitive events including the OGA Ohio Senior Amateur Hall of Fame Championship and the Ohio Senior Open. These are not ceremonial connections. The layout holds up under tournament conditions, which tells you something about how it plays when the flags are set on the difficult pins.

What to Expect at the Course

The course is walkable, and walking is allowed, which suits the terrain well. The pro shop handles equipment and merchandise needs. A driving range with four practice tee positions lets you warm up before the round, and the facilities include a full dining operation that draws visitors beyond just golfers.

Sandusky puts you near Lake Erie's shoreline and, for those traveling with family, within range of Cedar Point. Plum Brook itself keeps the focus on golf, and the atmosphere runs quieter than the resort-adjacent tracks in the area.

Should You Play It?

If you're in the Sandusky area and want a course with real age and character, Plum Brook is the call. The combination of a century-plus of history, an Arthur Hills renovation, and terrain that actually challenges you makes it worth the trip. The slope of 135 and fast elevated greens separate it from the flatter, more forgiving public courses in the region.

Players who like courses where positioning matters more than power will find a lot to like here. The par-71 layout has no coast-along holes.

View the full scorecard, tee ratings, and course details for Plum Brook Country Club on Stymie.