Mill Creek Golf Course is located in Boardman, Ohio, on the southern edge of Youngstown. It is part of the 4,500-acre Mill Creek MetroPark System that includes several Nature Preserves, Fellows Riverside Gardens, Wick Recreational Facility, historic Lanterman’s Mill, Morley performing arts pavilion, as well as, various lakes, ponds and trails scattered about the property to make this an ideal destination for both golfers and their families.
The Mill Creek Golf Course is owned and operated as a public facility to provide recreational, educational and open space opportunities for the surrounding area. Director of Golf, Brian Tolnar has been at Mill Creek for over seven years. He attended Youngstown State University and has received numerous awards from both the Northern Ohio Section of the PGA and Western New York PGA, where he worked before he moved back to the Youngstown area and Mill Creek.
Brian told us,
“We have many great hotel partnerships within the Mahoning County and are a member of the Penn-Ohio Golf Trail that offers stay and play packages for those that wish to stay locally. The Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau does a wonderful job of helping us promote our region in Ohio. There are so many points of interest in the Mahoning Valley, we are happy to have visitors play on our historic Donald Ross courses, while they are here. The goal at the Mill Creek MetroParks is to share all the great amenities of our park system for golfer and non-golfers alike.”
Watch a video chat with Brian Tolnar.
Head Professional, Stacie Butler grew up and learned the game on Mill Creek’s fairways. She was a member of the 1991 and 1992 NCAA Division III National Championship golf teams, while at Methodist College in Fayetteville, North Carolina and was named NFHS National High School Girls Golf Coach of the Year in 2017 and OHSAA Award for Sportsmanship, Ethics & Integrity in 2015.
Stacie spends a considerable amount of her time teaching the game of golf and shared,
“I really enjoy working with young people and beginners that are new to the game of golf. We have a variety of programs at Mill Creek that complement our facilities- the practice facility, multiple short game areas and our Par-3 course offers an added dimension for golf instruction. Most facilities don’t have the luxury of great facilities to offer player development and we’re proud to have them all here at the Mill Creek MetroParks.”
In this video Stacie tells Back 9 Report TV about the membership and junior programs at Mill Creek.
Under the guidance of both Brian and Stacie, Mill Creek Golf Course strives to offer the best golf experience for every visitor to this historic venue. The MetroParks long ago realized the importance of this valuable asset. They have seen fit to invest in the facility to update and modernize it to satisfy even the most insightful modern-day traveler. Their re-investment over the past five years has seen a complete bunker restoration, greens drainage, new cart paths, new hole signs, benches, and a major Golf Shop renovations.
The Clubhouse at Mill Creek is filled with history and is currently undergoing extensive remodeling. When complete the dining area, Hole 55 Bar & Grille will be drastically remodeled and provide a compete menu, as well as, provide a comfortable gathering place for golfers, after their rounds are complete for the day. Plus, the rocking chairs on the expansive front porch are the perfect place to wind down after a day on the links.
Mill Creek is a proud member of the Donald Ross Society and the massive clubhouse will be home to a Donald Ross historical area when the upstairs construction project is completed. Ross was involved with over 400 course designs around the country, and Mill Creek is one of the few locations featuring two Donald Ross designs. The facility was ranked by Golf Week as one of the “Best Courses You Can Play” nationally in 2014.
The North Course opened for play in 1928 and the South course was completed in 1932. Both provide excellent golf opportunities for corporate, as well as, family outings, buddies golf trips, girls golf getaways, plus the local leagues keep the tee sheets filled.
Five sets of tees assure an enjoyable round on both courses. The two par 70 courses can play a little under 5,100 yards for the less skilled, but can be stretched to a very competitive 6,500+ yards for the serious player. The North Course features tree lined fairways with more even terrain. The South Course is slightly more challenging and traverses the diverse hilly eastern Ohio landscape.
There are over one hundred bunkers to avoid at Mill Creek Golf Course and Ross once said, 
“There is no such thing as a misplaced bunker. Regardless of where a bunker may be, it is the business of the player to avoid it.”
A full practice facility and driving range are available to get tuned up before your round. If you are not happy with your game, Brian and Stacie will be happy to schedule a private, or group lesson to get your game back on track.
In addition to the two challenging championship courses at Mill Creek, the MetroPark also operates an 18 Hole lighted Par 3 course that is perfect for juniors, as well as, families. It also works for an emergency nine, or a friendly game after your round on the big courses.
Mill Creek Golf Course enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with the Mill Creek MetroParks System–
“Mill Creek is as fine of a golf course as you will find, public or private” Aaron Young – Executive Director of the Mill Creek MetroParks.
The Mahoning Valley realizes the importance of this wonderful facility in their back yard and understands the historic significance of having these two Donald Ross designed courses that are appealing to the golfing public.
To compliment the Mill Creek MetroParks mission of providing recreational activities for the general public, the Mill Creek staff debuted the, “Let’s Play Golf Youngstown” initiative, in 2019. It is designed to provide playing and instructional opportunities for beginners, intermediate and advanced level golfers. This initiative creates new player development via a Family Fun Night every Friday and Saturday evening at 6:00pm, April through November. A family of four can play a round for $25.00 with cart.
The MetroPark enjoys hosting events of state, regional and national interest. Mill Creek plays host to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) for the annual Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation Junior All Star Tournament and the East Regional Junior Optimist Tournament each June. In a new partnership with the Notah BeGay III Tournament Mill Creek will host both an 18-hole local qualifier in held May, plus a 36-hole Ohio Regional Qualifier in August. Regional winners will be invited to compete at the 54-hole National Championship to be held at Kosati Pines in Louisiana and broadcast on the NBC Golf Channel. Each fall Mill Creek also hosts the annual Rosanne Schwartz NCAA Invitational presented by the Youngstown State University.
During these COVID times driving trips have become the preferred method of travel. Ohio golfers do not need to fly to find great golf value. Mill Creek is easy to find via I-76 or US Highway 224. The two Donald Ross designs at Mill Creek offer historic, as well as, enjoyable golf for every skill level, as well as, accommodate any size group.
If you want to bring the entire family, the MetroPark system has something for everyone, plus Stay and Play options are available. Visit https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/visit/places/mill-creek-park/mill-creek-golf-course/, https://www.youngstownlive.com/ or https://www.pennohiogolftrail.com/ for more information.
Under the guidance of the MetroParks Management Team and along with the help of the PGA Professional Staff, the two Donald Ross gems at Mill Creek are in very good hands and will be serving golfers for many years to come.
