SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — The No. 1 hole as the signature hole?

A bit off the wall, perhaps, but at Oakview Golf Club, it's all about convenience.

General manager Jesse Horner, in his second year at that position after serving as head golf pro at Olde Stonewall for a number of years, has changed Oakview's golf course back to its original rotation.

That means the 417-yard par-4 that had been No. 17 is now hole No. 1 at Oakview.

"That is our signature hole and I suppose it's a little odd starting a round there, but it only makes sense to us," Horner said.

"The practice putting green is right next to the tee box for that hole. It's only three steps away. Logically, that's where the round should start."

Before the change, Oakview's first hole was across the road and out of view from the practice green.

The No. 2 hole is a 488-yard par-5. Under the former rotation, that was the No. 18 hole.

"That used to be a tough way to finish a round here," Horner said. "Seventy percent of our membership is age 50 and older. A number of them used to play the first 16 holes and go home."

Oakview Golf Club is owned by Joel Adams and Darrin Coulson. Horner was brought in to oversee the operation.

"I didn't change the rotation of the course last year because I wanted to observe the layout for a year," Horner said. "I played on this course when I was in college (Slippery Rock University), when it was Armco.

"It just plays better under the old layout. I saw a need to go back to that."

The current rotation also lends convenience to golfers in terms of clubhouse stops, picking up and returning golf carts.

Along with the restructuring of holes has come the enlarging of tee boxes. Course superintendent Adam Schultz and his staff have been working on saving on the wear and tear by the tees.

"The grass was getting worn down in the high traffic areas because the tee boxes weren't big enough," Schultz said. "With a larger area to tee off from, that should be averted.

"People use irons on par 3's and you get a lot of divots. There needs to be room to place your ball in the tee box."

Par from the ladies tees had been 73. From the men's tees, par was 70 "which caused a logistics problem for mixed play," Horner said.

Oakview recently bought a backhoe to aid in planned in-house projects for the course this year.

A few years ago, 200 trees were removed from the golf course — but the stumps of those trees remained.

"Besides presenting an ugly look, those stumps affected the playability of the golf course," Horner said. "The stumps were located off to the side of most holes, but that's where a lot of golf balls go."

A semi-private golf club, Oakview has 300 members at $1,000 a year. The course is also available for non-members to play.

"We've reshaped the mounds and the greens," Schultz said. "The back nine is a little more wooded and challenging, but the change in rotation has enabled us to keep the pace of play moving along."

Horner said the course has handled 100 rounds of golf in a day — some players walking, some riding — without play backing up.

"Now our finishing hole is a two-tier, challenging green," he said. "Our overall 18-hole structure is where it needs to be."