The nine-hole, Par 34 Hermitage, Pa. golf course remains free to this day due to the philanthropy efforts of the late Frank H. Buhl and his wife Julia. Buhl donated much of his fortune for the community’s civic and cultural affairs. The park is funded and maintained through interest from the Buhl Trust Fund and donations.

Buhl Park Golf Course opened as one of the best bargains in golf over 100 years ago. Anyone could play free of charge.

It remains that way today, reported The Times.

That’s right. It doesn’t cost a penny to play the nine-hole course in Sharon that’s nicknamed “Dum Dum.”

To this day, it’s the only free golf course in the United States, the Times reported.

It’s also believed to be the only free golf course in the world. Any time anyone associated with Buhl Park has ever made that claim, it’s never been disputed, reported the Times.

“It’s really a cool place,” said Bob Collins, a long-time golf pro from the Shenango Valley who occasionally gives lessons at the Buhl Park driving range. “People around here are lucky to have a place like that.”

Buhl Park GC exists because of the philanthropy of the late Frank H. Buhl, a millionaire steel magnate in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and his wife Julia, the Times reported.

Buhl, who owned Sharon Steel, donated much of his fortune for the community’s civic and cultural affairs.

In 1911, he bought 300 acres of land on which he would build Buhl Farm Park, reported the Times. Amenities at the park include an 11-acre lake, swimming pool, tennis courts, bocce courts, walking/jogging trails, etc.

“Every activity at Buhl Farm has to be free so the working people of this community will have a place to take their families,” Buhl said in 1911 when he bought the land for Buhl Farm Park.

The park is funded and maintained through interest from the Buhl Trust Fund and donations, reported the Times.

The course, which opened in 1914, is by no means the most challenging or most picturesque course in western Pennsylvania.

It’s a par-34 spread out over 30 acres that only plays 2,378 yards from the back tees and 2,192 from the regulation tees, the Times reported. It’s almost like a short executive golf course that does have any par 5s.

The first hole is a par 3. The next seven holes are short par 4s, the longest a 352-yarder from the back and 339 from the regulation tee box. The ninth hole is another par 3, reported the Times.

There aren’t any sand traps on the course. There aren’t any water hazards.

There isn’t an irrigation system that waters the fairways, the Times reported.

There’s some crabgrass in the fairways and rough. Generally speaking, the course is neat and well-maintained.

The grass is cut regularly, and the greens are in excellent shape—for the most part.

“There’s a bit of a misconception that when people hear it’s a free golf course, they think it looks like a cow pasture. It is not a cow pasture,” said Riley Atterholt, the director of Sports and Recreation at Buhl Farm Park and The First Tee program director at the course.

“We try to keep in it the best shape we can,” said Atterholt.

Buhl Park GC does not have a clubhouse, pro shop or snack bar, reported the Times. Riding carts aren’t available at “Dum Dum.” Golfers may use pull carts if they bring their own.

There is a driving range on the premises with plenty of space. There’s where Collins and three other pros give lessons.

The course is open from mid-April to November between 8 a.m. to sunset, reported the Times.

For golfers who want to play Buhl Park, it’s first come, first serve. All they have to do is sign in upon arrival, reported the Times.

“The course opens at 8 and there are a few guys who are there waiting for the barricades to open,” Atterholt said. “They show up every morning ready to play.”

In recent years, there was been speculation that the golf course might have to someday charge greens fees or even close due to financial concerns, the Times reported. It costs approximately $55,000 to maintain the course.

“The plan is to keep it running the way it is now … free and open to the public,” Atterholt said. “That’s the plan. That was the original goal of Frank Buhl.

“It is a large expense to Buhl Farm Park. There is a separate account set up just for the golf course. It is an area of concern. It is something that is looked at each year. But I don’t see it closing.”

As far as the golf course’s nickname, Atterholt doesn’t know when or why “Dum Dum” got its start, reported the Times.

“Everybody asks me that, but I don’t have an answer,” he said.

Legend has it that Buhl Park was first called “Dum Dum” decades ago because of all the beginners and unskilled golfers who played there, the Times reported.