RTJ’s Public Debut
Speidel’s Jones Course is the first public-access course built by Robert Trent Jones Sr., bringing his championship pedigree to the masses on the historic Speidel/JoBetty Farm grounds.
The verdict
Elite Regional Resort Experience
The Jones Course at Speidel delivers championship pedigree, tough tests, and pure Robert Trent Jones Sr. design in a welcoming resort setting. The storied LPGA history and strategic demands make it a prime destination for golfers traveling the Ohio Valley.
Course DNA
Difficulty
86
Scenery74
Conditioning63
Shot Variety81
Walkability66
Green Complexity72
Wow Factor78
Design Quality81
Don't miss
Pay tribute to the unique Robert Trent Jones Sr. bronze plaque near the Jones Course first tee, a dedication honoring his original vision and public golf legacy.
At a glance
Quick facts
Course Architect
Robert Trent Jones Sr. (Jones); Arnold Palmer (Palmer)
Major Tournament Host
West Virginia LPGA Classic (11 years)
Greens Type
Bentgrass
Max Slope Rating
140
Club Access
Resort guest, daily fee
Scenic Setting
Oglebay Park’s rolling hills
Resort Amenities
Full lodging, dining, family activities
Historic Distinction
First public course by RTJ firm
The design
The architecture
The Jones Course at Speidel is a pure translation of Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s championship playbook: demanding par 4s, long-iron par 3s, and a relentless emphasis on angle, carry, and recovery over a classic rolling parkland canvas. With no tricks but plenty of defenses, the layout punishes missed positions yet rewards smart strategy, all while remaining fair for players of different skill levels. Built with sweeping holes over the slopes and valleys of historic Oglebay Park, the course shifts between broad vistas and tree-framed corridors, and the strategic design leaves you reaching for a different club around every corner.
Jones’s mantra—'an easy bogey, hard par course'—is realized fully, with architectural tests that remain relevant and compelling decades after the course’s debut.
Defining features
- Strategically placed bunkers frame every shot
- Large, contoured bentgrass greens challenge approach play
- Bold, rolling fairways demand precise tee positioning
- Classic Jones doglegs with risk/reward decisions
- Signature long par 3s and brute-force 4s
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 7
The Long Test
PAR
3
YARDAGE
223
A demanding par 3 at 223 yards that tests your long-iron accuracy and nerve, set on an exposed stretch with little room for error. Its length and subtly contoured green have decided many a match and made it a local legend.
Play it smart
Hit to the largest part of the green and avoid the front bunkers; missing short or long will almost guarantee a bogey.
Where it bites
Anything left or right is likely gone or bunkered—bring your best long iron and no fear.
Course management
Shots to think about
Facing a long-iron approach on the par-3 7th
Play smart to the center of the green—missing left or right brings big trouble.
Second shot on the par-5 16th
Only go for it if you have a perfect lie and angle; otherwise, a lay-up sets up a real birdie chance.
Tee shot on the 14th
Aim for the right-center of the fairway to shorten the hole and find the best angle into the green.
Approach to a raised bentgrass green
Factor for more carry—short-sided shots are harshly penalized here.
Windy day on open holes
Club up and judge the wind carefully, especially on par 3s where exposure is greatest.
Short par-4 tee, angled fairway
Don’t pull driver automatically—position is more important than distance on these RTJ doglegs.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Well-kept bentgrass greens and fairways; conditioning is solid but not on the meticulous side of premium.
Pace
Steady, with occasional waits during busy resort weeks; mornings tend to be faster.
Vibe
Friendly, low-key resort feel with a sense of championship gravitas.
Dress code
Standard golf attire (collared shirt and proper shorts/pants recommended).
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Bring the Full Bag
This course will make you use every club, especially the long irons—practice those hybrids or woods before you arrive.
02
Walk or Ride Strategy
The undulating terrain is walkable but demanding; consider a cart if you want to save energy for the closing stretch.
03
Check the Weather
Conditions can shift with exposed sections and rolling hills—pack rain gear and a wind shirt just in case.
04
Book Tee Times Early
Peak weekends fill quickly at Oglebay; secure prime morning times, especially if adding the Palmer Course for a 36-hole day.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1962
Oglebay master plan updated, leading to championship course initiative
- 1970
Jones Course front nine opens to the public
- 1971
Jones Course back nine completed; course fully operational
- 1974
Hosts inaugural West Virginia LPGA Classic
- 2000
Palmer Course opens, expanding Speidel to 36 holes
Stories & legends
What makes it special
LPGA Comes to Wheeling
For over a decade the Jones Course hosted the best in women’s golf, elevating West Virginia’s golf scene and providing memorable moments in LPGA history.
Use Every Club
Jones insisted his layout would force players to use every club in the bag, a design philosophy confirmed by everyday players and top competitors alike.
Parkland Legacy
The course was built as a shared legacy for the region after Earl W. Oglebay’s estate became a park, blending public recreation with championship-caliber golf.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The Jones Course was the first public design by Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s firm.
2
Speidel hosted the West Virginia LPGA Classic for over a decade, drawing stars of women’s golf.
3
Major events at Oglebay brought TV coverage and press attention to Wheeling for the first time in modern golf.
4
Oglebay Park exists today only because of a bequest from Earl W. Oglebay, intended for public recreation.
5
Arnold Palmer himself cut the ribbon on the second course here in 2000.
Build the trip
For an Oglebay-Pittsburgh regional golf adventure
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Palmer Course at Oglebay Resort
Resort
An excellent modern contrast to the Jones Course, playable and scenic.
Crescent Hills Golf Club
Public
A fun, affordable nearby round to stretch your trip in the hills.
Willow Tree Golf Club
Public
Solid Pittsburgh-area public golf if you’re routing northward.
Totteridge Golf Club
Public
Broad, exciting layout—ideal for a big-group adventure, just over the PA border.
Quicksilver Golf Club
Public
Championship-caliber Pittsburgh choice with daily-fee access and tough finishing stretch.
Oglebay Resort, for all-in-one access and convenience.
Course DNA
If You Like Speidel Golf Club at Oglebay Park Resort
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match6.9
Pleasant Valley Country Club
Little Rock, ArkansasDifficulty
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Pleasant Valley Country Club asks for the same disciplined decision-making, making it a compelling counterpart to Speidel Golf Club at Oglebay Park Resort.
Strong DNA Match6.8
Twin Bridges Golf Club
Danville, IndianaDifficulty
Why it matches: If Speidel Golf Club at Oglebay Park Resort is your kind of course, Twin Bridges Golf Club is worth a look because it brings a comparable level of challenge.
Strong DNA Match7.0
Bayou Club
Largo, FloridaDifficulty
Why it matches: What links these two? Brings a comparable level of challenge — a familiar feeling, expressed in Bayou Club's own setting.
The architect's other work
More from Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Southern Hills Country Club
Tulsa, OklahomaA major-championship icon with Maxwell pedigree
Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)
Bloomfield Hills, MichiganAmerica’s Monster: The Major Champion’s Test Awaits
Silverado Resort North Course
Napa, CaliforniaNapa’s championship stage for PGA Tour drama
The Broadmoor Golf Club West Course
Colorado Springs, ColoradoHistoric mountain resort golf with championship pedigree
Wilmington Country Club
Wilmington, DelawareDelaware’s championship classic, modernized for PGA Tour
North Hills Country Club
Manhasset, New YorkClassic RTJ championship golf on Long Island’s Gold Coast
Community Sentiment
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