Salt Fork State Park at Salt Fork State Park Golf Course

Salt Fork State Park Golf Course occupies rolling terrain within Ohio's largest state park, located in the hill country of Guernsey County near Lore City. Designed by Jack Kidwell and opened in 1973, the course was conceived as part of the state's initiative to provide quality public golf within its park system. Kidwell, who designed numerous courses throughout Ohio and the Midwest during the 1960s and 1970s, routed the layout across forested ridges and valleys characteristic of the Appalachian foothills that define this region.

The course plays through mature hardwood forests with significant elevation changes that require thoughtful club selection and course management. Water features, including several ponds and streams, come into play on multiple holes. The natural topography creates a variety of lies and stances, and the tree-lined fairways demand accuracy from the tee. The layout takes advantage of the park's scenic qualities, with views extending across the surrounding woodlands and occasionally toward Salt Fork Lake itself.

As part of a state park facility, Salt Fork serves a broad public audience, from local residents to visitors staying at the park's lodge and cabins. The course complements the park's extensive recreational offerings, which include hiking, boating, and wildlife viewing. The setting provides a straightforward golf experience integrated into the natural landscape of southeastern Ohio, reflecting the practical design approach common to public courses built during this era of state park development.