Deer Ridge Golf Club & Black Dog Tavern

Deer Ridge Golf Club sits in the rolling farmland of north-central Ohio, near Bellville in Richland County. Designed by Brian Huntley, the course occupies terrain characteristic of the region—gently undulating fields with stands of mature hardwoods and occasional elevation changes that provide natural interest and strategic variety. The layout takes advantage of the property's topography to create holes that move through corridors of trees and across open meadow areas, offering a mix of risk-reward scenarios and straightforward tests of accuracy. The course serves the local golfing community and visitors exploring Ohio's mid-tier daily-fee market, where playability and conditioning balance with enough challenge to engage regular players. Huntley's design philosophy typically emphasizes accessible golf that rewards good shots without excessive penal elements, and Deer Ridge reflects this approach with fairways that accommodate a range of skill levels while still requiring thoughtful club selection and course management on approach shots. The Black Dog Tavern provides the clubhouse dining and social hub, offering a casual atmosphere typical of Midwestern golf clubs where post-round gatherings center on straightforward food and local camaraderie. The facility operates as a public-access course, drawing golfers from nearby Mansfield and the surrounding rural communities. Deer Ridge represents the kind of regional course that forms the backbone of American golf—well-maintained, reasonably priced, and designed to deliver an enjoyable round without pretense.