How Experience Butler County promotes local golf courses to prospective tourists
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Scenes from the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Scenes from the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Scenes from the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Scenes from the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Scenes from the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Scenes from the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Scenes from the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Scenes from the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Scenes from the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Scenes from the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
When it comes to generating interest and revenue, golf is one of Butler County’s greatest assets.
Experience Butler County is well aware of this and devotes much time and effort toward promoting the sport to tourists.
“Some golfers like to play several courses while they’re here,” said Perry Latimer, sales manager for EBC, formerly Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau. “I attend golf shows, including ones in Cleveland and Toronto, and highlight the stay-and-play packages made available by our courses.
“Most of the tourists we deal with for golf are from Ohio, Michigan, New York and Canada. January and February, those are the months when we receive the most bookings.”
EBC is directly associated with eight courses in the county — Buffalo Golf Course, Conley Resort and Golf Club, Cranberry Highlands, Hiland, Lake Arthur Golf Club, Slippery Rock Golf Club, Strawberry Ridge and Suncrest.
“Some courses are able to hold special events (like wedding receptions and conventions), but the people who come often decide to play,” Latimer said. “With the U.S. Open being held at Oakmont this year (June 12-15), we expect many of the people coming in for that to want to play a round or two while they’re here and Butler County is easily accessible from Pittsburgh.”
A number of courses in the county are also part of the Penn-Ohio Golf Trail, a business that promotes courses in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.
“I met some of their reps at the show in Cleveland in 2023,” Latimer said. “They were already involved with a few courses in the area, and we were able to expand on that.
“Golf has always been popular, but it really took off during COVID. Our courses offer all levels of difficulty, and they stay open as long as the weather permits, well into the fall.”
Some courses offer their own golf packages while others work with EBC to do so. The non-profit organization also informs golfers of other attractions in the county.
Returning golfers are the best form of positive feedback.
“We have people who come in to golf a specific course every year, Conley for example,” Latimer said. “It becomes a tradition.”
EBC also works with All About Golf and The Turn Club, both of which offer golf simulator options, and Mars-Bethel Golf with its par-3 and miniature golf courses.
For more information regarding EBC and/or its involvement with local golf courses, contact Latimer at 724-234-4619.
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