Hawthorne Valley Country Club

Northeast Ohio golfers are very fortunate. Hawthorne Valley becoming public is a huge upside. For years golfers have been able to play Donald Ross' Manakiki Golf Course and now golfers are to see his work at Hawthorne. If you include the two courses in Boardman, Mill Creek South and North, northeast golfers have four Ross courses to choose from.

Hawthorne Valley is an old east side golf club that sits on the border of Solon and Bedford Heights. It wasnt as prominent as some of the other clubs that dot this part of town, but it was still highly regarded as a great golf course. It reminds me a bit like Mayfield CC in the sense the clubhouse sits high on the hill while the golf course plays down in the valley. A creek intertwines with many holes but is more like a spectator than a participant as it only influences play on a few holes.

The first four holes are all par fours. They set a brisk pace of play and the player needs to strike the ball well to get off to a good start. The first plays straight downhill with trees both left and right. You want to be ready to play or you'll make bogey right away. The creek is 70 yards short of the green and poor drives need to be laid up to it. The second is a fine par four that is a blind dogleg left. A draw is the perfect shot from tee. The green is elevated and severely slopes left to front right. It's a common sight to see downhill putts since most players try to feed ball in from the left. Missing this green leaves a very tough up n down.

After a couple holes that should be good birdie opportunities, the player arrives at the first of four very good par threes. The fifth is classic Ross. The green is spread across an elevated shelf and the player needs to have correct club and shot selection to get close to pin. It's a beautiful par three. The par five sixth is next and it is a ninety degree turn left. It's another beautiful hole and probably best to setup a short iron third as the elevated green is very small. Seven is a lovely downhill par three that is well bunkered. Then the eighth follows with one of the city's finest par fours. It's 440 yards and plays downhill from the tee. The green is cut just beyond a roll in the hill. This roll flows into the putting surface and influences the strategy and shot shape of the approach. It's possible to take advantage of the roll, but not gauging it properly leaves a tricky recovery. A high draw comes in at a good angle and is a good shot. It's a great par four. The ninth is a pretty hole whose green is etched into the base of the hill nicely. It's well bunkered and is a good way to end the front nine.

The back nine starts off much like the front with a par four down the hill. Ten however is much shorter with a yawning bunker guarding the green. I personally like how the green is lower than said bunker thus making distance control a bit tricky. There had been some alteration to the back nine with a new pond built on opposite side of the fairway of eleven. This addition is makes eleven a terrible hole. The C shaped hole now is a crapshoot as you may be blocked out by the trees as lay up to the hazard. Maybe by cutting back the inside dogleg branches, the hole can be salvaged to be a neat little par four.

The next six holes are the key to a strong finish. Twelve is an uphill par three set in a small bowl. The front of the green is pinched in by a large tree on the right thus a fade is shot of choice. Thirteen is a gambling par five that follows. The fairway doglegs ninety degrees right around a fescue strewn hill. Big hitters can take on the hill and carry it, setting up an iron approach. It's still reachable if the ball is driven past it, but it's a 220ish shot. Truth be told, thirteen is only birdie hole on the back. There is a lot of pressure to walk away with a four.

The fourteenth is a long nasty par three where few people can actually hit the shot required. The volcano green is just a pedestal from the 200 yard tee, and the height needed to hold it belies most people's talents. The forward tees makes this a much better challenge. Nonetheless, if you're up on that hill, consider laying up. I ve made several pars this way. Fifteen is a nice par four. It d be better if the creek on the right was cleared of all the trees and vegetation. Then the tee shot would be quite the challenge. Sixteen is an excellent par four. The fairway cants to the left and a high draw can get some extra yardage which is needed for this 460 yard beast. The approach is unbelievable! The ball is above your feet, the green is downhill, and there's no bailout anywhere! Take your par and run!! Seventeen is a long par four that completes this stretch. The unfortunate water hazard from eleven comes into play on the left for the approach. With OB guarding the right, some may consider the second shot over the top. A good drive does take the sting out of the it, but it's still a round wrecker.

Eighteen is a necessary evil. After both one and ten played downhill to the valley, I guess it should come as no surprise the last hole plays up the same hill. It's really a slog of a hole!! Only the longest of drivers will view the green for the approach. Everyone else will be hitting a blind shot. It maybe one of the worst ending holes on a good course I've played.

Hawthorne Valley is regarded as one of the top ten public courses in the state. It's hard to argue with this, but I would put it just outside of it. It just needs a little bit of cleaning up. It's still a very good golf course and I truly love playing here. I've seriously considered joining here for a summer membership. (6 rating)

Sharon Woods Golf Course

There are many regional architects who have put a lasting imprint on the state of golf, but you would be hard pressed to find one who has touched it as much as William Diddel. An Indiana Hoosier, Diddel not only was an incredible player, but he was an accomplished architect who designed courses in five decades. He was also mentor to arguably the greatest modern architect to date..... Pete Dye.

When it came to the golf course, Diddel let the natural contours dictate the strategy. He was very good at routing it over the landforms and challenging the golfer to hit good shots. Many times he didn't put sand traps in. He felt the holes didn't need them.

Recently, I went to the football game in Cincy, and I was able to play nine holes at Sharon Woods. I was so impressed that I had to put in my blog. I have played several courses in the queen city, and this one quickly jumped to the top of the list as one of my favorites.

Holes 13-16 are a great sequence of holes. Thirteen is solid par three that plays across a shallow valley. It was dead into the wind the day I played it, requiring a fairway metal to reach the green. Fourteen is a wonderful looking par four with a rolling fairway. It's a great advantage if you're able to carry the crest. Otherwise, it's an awkward approach shot with the ball below your feet. Fifteen is a solid long par four. Sixteen is a great par five that plays out towards a valley before dipping down and back up to the other side where the green is located. Players who can carry the valley with their second shot are left with a much easier task of getting the ball closer to the hole. The majority of golfers will be trying to gauge a blind third shot. It was my favorite on the back nine.

The last hole was a good par four. The landing zone was a rolling sloping hill. Most good drives are going to funnel to the far right side. From there, its a straight forward shot to a green devoid of sand traps, just the way Diddel liked it!

Before I go on, I have to mention the par three 11th. 235 yards that plays uphill by at least fifty feet!! I never seen anything like it before!! It was both cool and somewhat stupid. I hit driver to it, and was able to up n down for a par from just short of the green. I hate to think how tough it played in the '30s!

Sharon Woods is owned by Hamilton county. If they put more money into this muni, I guarantee it would be one of the top public courses in the state. It justs needs cleaned up a bit, that's all. I must play the front nine next time I'm in town. I think it's a real gem of a course! (5) good rating.

                                          235 yard uphill 11th (50+ feet uphill!!)

                                          Tenth hole. Note the grass ditch short of the green.
                                           Diddel demands an exacting short iron shot.

                                          The picturesque par three 13th.

                                         If you can carry the slope to where the bunker is then
                                         its a short pitch into green. Otherwise the player will have
                                         an awkward lie with the ball below his feet.

                                         The second shot of the par 5 sixteenth hole
                                          (arguably the best hole on the course)

Eighteenth hole. Notice the hillside in the distance. It influences the approach in many ways.

Barberton Brookside Country Club

A well designed course that's in good shape and has an affordable price is exactly what I think golf needs. Barberton fits that description to a tee. Weekend play is in $25 range to walk and the course is kept in very nice shape. The greens were some of fastest we played on. If we had more courses like Barberton, I think there'd be a lot more participation in the sport.

If there's one valid critique, it's the short length of Barberton. The good player will be hitting a short iron into ten of the first eleven holes. Plus all four par 5s are in the first 10 holes, so there's a possibility of reaching one or two in two shots. The average player on the other hand will be quite content as the course will be playable and likely much more fun. The par four second illustrates this. The 350 yard par four has a water hazard that crosses the fairway diagonally. The proper line is to carry it to the left side leaving a favorable angle to the green. It's a well thought out hole. Nowadays, good players just play straight at the green knowing they can carry the hazard all together. Not quite what the architect had in mind I'm sure.

The third hole is another short par four but the main challenge here is hitting a precise approach to a green beautifully cut into the hillside. Get above the hole and three putting is a real concern. Many of these short holes have tough greens to keep you honest and to keep birdies at a minimum.

After a few more short par four holes and a good par five whose green is protect by water, we arrive at arguably the best hole on the course, the lovely par three ninth. Played over a shallow valley with a drop off on the left, the green is severely canted right to left asking the player to hit a controlled draw to obtain lower pin positions or hit a high cut to higher pin positions. Putting across this green is borderline unfair especially going downhill which easily can go off the putting surface.

The back nine is the better half in my opinion, and it plays counterclockwise around the front side. Several holes are set hard against the property boundary and the OB stakes play a large role in their strategy. The twelfth is one such hole, and possibly the toughest hole on the course. A long par four, the drive must be hit solid to leave a mid or long iron approach. Any type of slice will be punished with a two shot penalty. The green is similar to nine, severely sloping right to left. It's a very a difficult shot to get close to the pin.

The thirteenth is one of my favorite par threes. The tee is on the hillside and the shot plays across the valley to a green perched atop a plateau. A crease separates the front tier and the back tier, thus it can be a tricky proposition hitting the correct club. Missing the green means hitting a difficult recovery from an uphill lie. Fourteen is a wonderful par four whose tee and green a just a few yards away from the OB stakes. The player can hit on a straight line from the tee, but most will hit out to the left. Either way, the tee shot ends up in a valley tho the one out to the left is an inferior angle. The green has a back right tier so look where the flag is before walking downhill to your ball. 12-14 is a really nice stretch of golf.

The golf gets less interesting on the last four holes although 15, 16, & 18 all tee off next to the Boundary stakes. I think most OB shots are hit on these holes because players are starting to get tired. However, the land is pretty dull and shots not too exciting. The approach into 18 maybe the exception as the player tries to place his ball on the correct side of the green. The Ohio high school athletic commission makes this one of their courses for regional and state championship implications. That's a good endorsement for Barberton!! 4 rating (Above average)
                                    
                                          looking across the thirteenth, first, and fourth holes

                                          The ninth hole looking back towards the green.

                                          This is the ninth from the tee. You might not tell from the pic but there is a huge slope from right to left.

                                          Par four Eleventh hole

A very good par three thirteenth.  (Just think how intimadating it would be if they reinstalled the bunker short of the green!)

Chippewa Golf Club

Chippewa is the type of golf club golfers want to play. It's in perfect shape, it's playable, and with the addition of several new tees, is as much as a challenge as anyone can want. Architecturally it has solid design principles, however, the three holes that stand out, or at least are the most talked about after the round, are affectionately called the "Bermuda Triangle" 14th, 15th, and 16th.

The front side plays to a par 35 and if youre looking to shoot a good score, then then you need to take advantage of the easy holes and opportunities on this nine. The golf is pretty simple here at Chippewa. The only holes worth mentioning is #2 and #7. Two is a redanish par three whose green slopes front right to back left. The green is uphill so the difficulty is gauging the proper place to land it for the bounce. Seven is a short par four. I think the options off the tee make it fun to play. Layup or drive it close, the second must be come in from the front angle to green. If you're coming in from the sides, it's hard to make the ball stop close to the hole. Good birdie opportunity.

The back nine is the tougher of the two sides, and besides the triangle, possesses a couple really nice holes. Ten is beautiful par five that sweeps across the hillside. It's such a fun shot trying to turn the ball over to take advantage of the slope leading to the green. The par three twelfth has a long but narrow green. The severe slope places an emphasis on hitting the putting surface or else the golfer has a very difficult up n down to save par. With a width of only 15 - 20 yards, it's an elusive target to hit, especially if there's any type of wind. It's one of my favorite par 3 s anywhere.

Finally we get to the triangle, the three hole stretch that defines Chippewa. All three holes are very difficult par fours whose greens are large but unpinnable except for the back tiers. Thus the first 2/3s are simply false fronts, with the pins more or less always being in the rear. I know there's been talk of redoing the greens, but I haven't seen or heard of anything yet. The 14th is a demanding par four of 429 yards. Most of the fairway slopes off to the right. The best position is the left side where a level stance can be found, otherwise it's a sidehill, downhill lie uphill to the green. The 438 yard 15th is in my opinion the most picturesque hole on the course. Wildflowers sweep down the hillside as the player hits his tee shot. Another incredibly slopes green plays two clubs longer from the fairway. It's very difficult to get on the rear tier. The 16th is the longest hole in this stretch, playing 449 yards. The tee shot plays out to a downslope that runs all the way to the water. Most players hit off a downhill lie to an uphill green. It's the least sloped green which makes up for the very difficult second shot. This stretch is the key to any round at Chippewa. Play well here, and you have a chance to post a good score.

Chippewa has been a mainstay in many of the golf associations of northeast Ohio. The work management has put into the course has made it one the most popular in the area, especially the conditioning which is second to none. This course has grown on me over the years and I find myself looking forward to it every time I play it. 5 (good rating)

I would be remiss if I didn't mention two of Chippewa 's best features. It has a stocked pro shop that is one of the areas finest and an excellent grill which makes getting to the course early a good idea with a delicious breakfast. Little things like this add to a courses ambiance. Count me as a fan.

beginning of triangle par 4 14th

Note where the golfer is in fairway is sidehill lie.

The preferred angle is twenty yards right of him where a level stance is found.

par 4 15th

I love the wildflowers cascading down the hillside

View looking towards tee from 15 green

Par 4 16th

Note downslope in fairway makes difficult uphill shot

Par 4 5th

Wish the christmas trees were eliminated

Beautiful sweeping par 5 10th

Pic doesnt do it justice unfortunately

One of my favorite par 3s.

I was unable to get the preferred pic I wanted.

Note how narrow the green is.

Difficult chips when missing shot left or right.

Sugar Bush Golf Club

I didn't break 100 the first time I played Sugar Bush. Nor the second...or third times either. Sugar Bush is a course that demands all the shots. It's usually in great shape and the greens are plenty fast. Harold Paddock designed it in 1965 and it's arguably his best golf course.

As you drive out to Sugar Bush, the rolling hills of Portage county give you a glimpse into what's to come..... sweeping vistas of rumpled land, creek filled valleys, and skyline ridges. The topography was absolutely made for golf! And the first hole shows off the lands attributes right from the start. One is a reachable par five that makes the long hitter contemplate the hazards protecting the elevated green, woods left, OB right, and long grass short. The shorter hitter has a decision too. Should he layup to the creek? Or carry it for a short pitch shot? The second is a lovely par three in an amphitheater of trees. I witnessed a hole in one that bounced off the hill and into the hole. A few years ago the green was extended further right and it's an incredibly difficult pin to get close to.

The par fours at Sugar Bush really excel and are the main reason why it's such a challenging golf course. The third hole is an excellent example. It's 433 yards that requires a good drive from an elevated tee followed by a long approach up the hill to an elevated green. It's such a great hole that Paddock didn't even need a sand trap to help protect it. The seventh is 450 yards. A creek crosses the fairway bout 100 yards from the green before protecting the right side. Any shot leaked to the right will quickly lead to double bogey. The ninth at 440 yards is just a tad easier since a draw can take the slope and gain a few extra yards off the tee. The green falls away on the sides so the approach must be straight. The putting surface is flattish so birdie can be made with a good approach.

While the front nine is the power side with many long shots required to score well, the back nine is mostly bout finesse. The 185 yard tenth starts it off. The green slopes hard to the right and the player who can hit it underneath the hole has a good chance to make a three. The Mickey Mouse hole, named after the bunker short of the green, is just a short iron approach but the first half of the green is basically a false front so it's precision shot to get it on the back level. 400 yard twelfth is precision squared. A tight fairway leads to a slightly elevated green benched into the hill. Severely pitched to front, the approach must come from the fairway , otherwise the ball rolls to the rear where a two putt is not likely.

If there's any weakness to Sugar Bush, it's the last four holes, and specifically the par fives. There's nothing wrong with them, but they are short and can give up four straight birdies to end the round. Fifteen is a beautiful par five but the long hitter can get there with a long to mid iron. Sixteen is only bout 300 yards but it's skyline green is 30 feet above the fairway and it has a fiercely sloped green. It's a great example how tough a well designed short par four can be. Seventeen is par four posing as a par five. Finally eighteen is a gorgeous downhill par four. I holed out a 7iron for eagle to break 80 for the first time here. The green is well trapped in front so the player should take a half club more for approach.

Sugar Bush is chocked full of really good holes that I didn't comment on. There's the dangerous par 3 fifth playing 200 yards slightly downhill. No bailout as the green slopes to the front left as a ravine guards the left, meaning a chip from the right is difficult to get close. Six is 371 yards with the creek protecting the entire right side. The uphill approach on thirteen with its sloped to right green. The fourteenth has a severe back to front green for its 180 yard par three shot. It's just a very good golf course! I wouldn't hesitate to take anyone out to play it. I think it is one of top 25 courses in the state. (6 rating)

the beautiful par 4 18th hole

the risk reward par 5 opening hole

par 4 3rd hole

the dangerous par 3 4th hole

note: right of this pic is tree filled ravine (golfers left)

the 450 par 4 7th

the creek seen in photo guards the right side of the green

Par 3 10th

heavily sloped left to right green (tough to see in photo)

second shot on par 5 15th

Plum Brook Country Club

100 Years!! Plum Brook has been in existence since 1914, and I had the pleasure to play it this summer as it turns a century old. I looked thru a lot of records and unfortunately I was not able to find an architect of record. That's too bad because this is a fun course to play and I thought it was well designed.

Arriving there I got the feeling Plum Brook is a laid back country club. The parking lot is a small and holds only a handful of cars. The practice green lies next to the clubhouse and has a chipping/pitching fairway attached to it as well as a sand trap. I can see members showing up late in the afternoon and getting a little short game practice in before playing cards.

The ground game is very evident at Plum Brook. Many greens are at fairway level with traps guarding the entrance ways to the putting surface. Playing short and letting the ball bounce on is a very viable strategy here. A few holes have elevated greens that will test the aerial game, but even those have entrance ways to run it in.

This is not a difficult golf course. A lot of short to mid length par fours. The fourth however is not one of them. This tough par four demands a long tee shot to carry the creek before the fairway ripples uphill to the green. Slotted atop a little knoll, the putting surface is difficult to find with the approach. It's one of the elevated greens here and has more slope than the others. The par three fifth is a good example of a "short" par three. The architect simply leveled off a ridge and placed the green there. The dramatic bunkering makes this one of the more exciting shots on the course. It's a hit or miss, and miss can lead to a big number.

Nine and ten are a couple picturesque short par fours. A driver is not required to to score well on them so a club that puts you in the fairway is the best bet. Hardwoods frame both holes. The eleventh is a beast! The green on this long par four sits way atop the hill and deep traps are cut short n left to catch the player who fires carelessly at the pin. I found the bailout out to the right to be a good place to salvage par with a reasonable chip. The pond at the base of the hill is really pointless in my opinion. It distracts from a really good hole, especially since there's a fountain in it.

The final three holes all offer the player a chance to make birdie. Sixteen is a beautiful downhill short par three. A horseshoe bunker guards the front and left side. If it wasn't for the fact that there are two other short par threes proceeding this hole, I would probably love it. Seventeen and eighteen are back to back par fives. Seventeen is a cool hole. A huge hill dominates the second shot, and the player must carry it to leave himself a good opportunity for a birdie. Failure to do so will mean an awkward stance and lie for the third shot. Eighteen then plays downhill and then up over a smaller hill. This hole is reachable with a good drive as there is a runway on the left side to the green. It's a fun way to end your round, and chance to shoot a good score. I really enjoyed the course and looking forward to playing it again. I rate it 5 (good).

Par 4 Fourth

Par 3 Fifth

Par 4 Eleventh

Horseshoe bunker Par 3 Fifteenth

Pitch into Par 5 Eighteenth

See how the fairways extend into greens.

Deep bunkers guard the greens.

Seven Hills Country Club

Seven Hills Country Club is my definition of a hidden gem. Located down in Hartville, a little sign pokes up above a corn field with an arrow pointing towards the course, otherwise you may very easily pass the road. Don't be fooled by all this, Seven Hills is a man-size course. Playing 7000 yards from the tips, it's as challenging a test as any public course in Ohio. It's also in absolutely perfect shape. The greens are fast and firm, well bunkered, and crowned. Execution is the word for the day. The course tests everything. Your ability to hit it long and straight, hit well struck iron shots, and putt slick greens.

Seven Hills was designed by William Newcomb in 1971. Newcomb was an accomplished golfer who won the Michigan Amateur, and played in the Masters. It's no wonder this course is such an examination.

The course tests the player right away. The first hole is a long par 5 with trees lining both sides. A pond short of the green negates any thought of going for it in two while demanding a couple well placed shots to reach it in regulation. Over the next few holes, a couple things will become very clear. First, any drive hit offline will find tree trouble. Second, when the approach hits the green, the ball bounces before biting. Like I said previously, Seven Hills is setup to be played firm and fast.

The course really starts to take off on the par 3 sixth. The 198 yarder plays uphill with traps front left and right. When the long iron shot hits the green, the trajectory makes it skip so most balls finish in the rear. Putting from the rear is a very tricky task. The 472 yard par 4 seventh follows. This tough hole doglegs right while the terrain slopes left. The player must be able to work his tee shot to hold the fairway. The approach is then a long iron shot to an elevated two tier green. A gaping bunker guards the upper right tier, and the pin is often placed there. A high cut would be the perfect shot.

The greens on the back nine are more crowned than the ones on the front. Holes like 11, 12, and 15 all have slightly elevated greens whose edges repel balls into the rough or bunkers. Even on some of the other holes, if you hit it near the edge, the ball rolls off into the fringe.

The par 3s on the back nine are difficult to hold in regulation. The ball must be hit precise, and usually to the middle of the green. Theyre both beautiful holes.

A couple par fours stand out on the back also. The thirteenth is a very nice par four where the player hits diagonally over a water hazard to the fairway. The more aggressive line you take, the less your approach into the green. The other par four is sixteen. It's 334 yards but the fairway is at 70 degree angle with water guarding the the right side. It's possible to drive it over the covered bridge close to the green. For more prudent shots, the player must find a line and hit it the correct distance to the fairway. I think it's a wonderfully strategic hole!

There s a couple things that holds Seven Hills from being one of Ohio's elite public courses. First, too many trees dot the landscape. They're taking many out which is a great start but many more have to be cut down. Second, the cart paths are way too close to the fairways. It's been said the scuff mark is Seven Hills logo. Ouch! If those two things are remedied, then this may well be a top 10 public course. Still, this is a very good course, and it's a great opportunity to play in such ideal conditions. (6 rating)

Aurora Country Club (NLE)

It is with great sadness that this wonderful Bert Wey course went NLE this year. It was such a great throwback to yesteryear and how golf was designed and played. The Cleveland Open was played at Aurora three times. In '67, it was Gardner Dickinson outlasting the youths with a -9 271 total. Two years later, it was Charles Coody taking the title with -9 271 total. The following year turned out to be the best one yet. Bruce Devlin in '70 would set a course record 64 in the third round and add 66 in the final to win at -12 268.
As you can tell in the scoring, Aurora held its own against the pros. Having played it several times, I'm not surprised. Aurora was a difficult course. Greens had to be approached with precision. Bert Wey demanded the ball be below the hole. Holes 1, 3, 6, 9, 13, 14, 15, and 18 were all designed with back to front sloping greens. Holes like 2, 7, 10, and 17 had putting surfaces that canted to the side or even away from you. The player always had to be aware so he could play the proper shot.
A couple holes will be sorely missed, starting with the all world fifth, An excellent par four whose fairway ended at 270 from the tee. The fairway resumed down in the valley with the green elevated above the chagrin river. It was such an intense approach shot into that green. And view was beautiful. I was fond of the following hole too, a short par four under 300 yards. The green was a terrifying thing, sloped hard towards the player. It took skill to pitch it close.
I loved driving the ball across the valley on 10. It was tough seeing the green but if you hit just short, the ball would take the slope and funnel to the middle. And who will forget the go for broke gamble tee shot on 12? It was probably best to just hit it straight but it was fun taking on the chagrin river and trying to fly it over. It was much shorter approach if you pulled it off. Finally, the 15 had the most uphill approach I can recall anywhere. And this hole was 437 from the back tees!! Vicious green!!
Alas!! Aurora is gone and we are less fortunate to play its challenges anymore. I always enjoyed playing here. It was a 6 in my book. (very good rating)

                                          Par 4 Fifth hole

 

Par 3 Thirteenth

Sleepy Hollow

Sleepy Hollow has long been hailed as one the finest municipal golf courses in the country. Designed by famed architect Stanley Thompson in 1925, the course is routed in two out n in loops. Several ravines come into play throughout the round, and they are integrated in multiple ways, making for an interesting and varied test of golf. You can play here everyday and not get bored. My love for golf architecture originated here, and it's one of my favorite places to enjoy the game.
First hole, 530/478 yards; The new tee adds much needed length to the opening hole. It has the best opening view from the tee of the cuyahoga river valley and it sets the mood for a great round of golf. The hole is so downhill that the balls thirty-forty yards short can bounce and bound their way onto the green. Coincidentally, the front pin positions are very difficult to get close. The course gives you a good chance at birdie and start round off strong.
Second hole, 235/220 yards; This is one of the best holes in the city. Uphill, ravine on the right, and potentially playing 250 yards plus, two demands a fairway wood struck perfectly to find center of the green. Can you imagine this hole when Stanley Thompson designed it in the '20s?! When I was younger, the pro told me to layup short of green, and try to up n down for a three. It's still solid advice.
Third hole, 481/454 yards; What an incredible par four!! It may well be the best hole in northeast Ohio! It plays downhill off the tee. If you draw it, the ball might take the power slot and propel forward 220-170 from the green. If not then you'll be challenged to carry over valley 80 yards short of green. Player must also not block it right or it'll go in the valley and be blocked out by large oak on the hill. Those who do find fairway must hit a long iron or hybrid. It's a well protected green with ravine on the left. Once again, it's open in the front so balls can run on using ground game. It's my favorite hole on the course!

Fourth hole, 586/572 yards; It used to be unreachable in two shots, but today's technology brings it within range. It's the last hole to play downhill before the front nine starts tacking its way uphill to the clubhouse. The small green slopes back to front with a level spot in the rear. Not many fours get written on scorecard.

Fifth hole, 401/388 yards; We are now playing back uphill tho we may not sense it because of the gradual slope. The tee shot doglegs right and there's an opportunity to cut it with an aggressive drive. The fifth possesses one of the cruelest greens on the course. It slopes high left to low right. You must be short of the pin with your second shot. Even short of the green is better than being above the flagstick. It's an underrated hole.
Sixth hole, 171/155 yards; Stanley Thompson is known for designing excellent par threes that take advantage of the terrain, and the sixth is case in point. The green is perched atop a ridge and the tee on another as we play over a scrub filled ravine. It's a beautiful par three and the player must be careful not to be short or his ball will roll to the bottom of the ravine. It's playable from bottom but it can turn into a mess quickly. If the player does hit a shot, It is one of the easier greens to putt on, so a two can be had.

Seventh hole, 386/372 yards; The only mediocre hole on the course. The player must not be fooled into his inclination to cut the corner. It plays straightaway. The large green has a bowl in the front right corner. It's the main line of defense. When the pin is placed away from it, then three can be scored.

Eighth hole, 180/157 yards; Oh what a hole this was! Unfair in every way. The green was so severely pitched that balls would roll to the cup and tumble back to ones feet. Brian Huntley came in and flattened the green to its present look. However, he mounded the green and took away the imposing view from the tee when you knew a ball not hit straight would jump into one of the ravines guarding the left and the right. A needed improvement but missed opportunity.
Ninth hole, 366/357 yards; Nine is an up n over hole that has a very cool green. It's an uphill tee shot where a good drive will crest the hill, otherwise its a semi blind shot hit from an upslope. As I said, Thompson designed a very cool green. It's a punch bowl green with a severe back to front pitch to it. Players can hit shots off the side banks trying to take advantage of the slope to bring the ball close to the pin. Regardless of the shot, the ball must be below the hole. Otherwise it's an automatic three putt.

Tenth hole, 440/423 yards; Not many know this, but the tee box used to be back where the parking lot is now and played as a par five. This explains the small green and explains the use of the swale that crosses the fairway where all the long hitters drive into. As a long par four, many players instantly reach for a driver and hit the ball into the valley. It's a shorter second shot from the valley, but it's completely blind. From 200 marker, the player has clear view of green, and can use the terrain to run the ball on. It's a difficult start to the back nine.
Eleventh hole, 476/418 yards; Another gorgeous view of the cuyahoga river valley welcomes the player as he steps on the tee box. This long par four has the only fairway bunkering on the course, and the elevated tee screams for a full turn, no hold bars drive. The entire hole is downhill and players can land the approach several yards short of the green and watch it bounce on. Looking back from the green makes you appreciate how great this course is!

Twelfth hole, 143/137 yards; The old architects designed courses as the land dictated thus there were some unusual routings. Here at Sleepy Hollow, the back nine has only one par three and one par five. Twelve on the scorecard looks like a birdie hole, but this is one of the toughest short holes you ll play. The green is set at a 45* angle, and is 42 yards long. The left pin position requires a longer more accurate shot since the green narrows on that side. Once on the putting surface, two putts is not guaranteed as the green slopes hard to the right. There may not be a more diverse, more challenging set of par threes in northeast Ohio!
Thirteenth hole, 441/392 yards; Thirteen is a hole unlike any other. It possesses a fantastic tee box set across a ravine back in the hollow. Looking out towards the fairway, the player sees a couple shallow valleys that must be carried. It's a probably a good 220 from the tips. The green is placed at the end of a downslope, two bunkers carved into the hill just short of it. The inclination would be to bounce it in but Thompson's bunkers force an aerial approach. With a green that slopes away, the approach must be very high to hold it, or else it runs off into rear bunker. It's a hole I've not seen elsewhere.

Fourteenth hole, 497/465 yards; This risk reward par five has lost more tournaments than any hole on the course. It doglegs right like letter "L" around the property boundary. The aggressive play is a drive down the left side so one can hoist it over the trees and OB stakes to reach the green in two shots. Failure to do so is... A big umber! Those playing it as a three shot hole must still focus on hitting it the
correct yardage to the fairway across the valley. Anything that goes thru the fairway will be blocked out. This is an exciting par five.

Fifteenth hole, 327/319 yards; Fifteen starts the stretch into the clubhouse, all relatively short par fours. The green here is probably the most dramatic. With a valley left, right, and short, this effectively plays as an island green. Players must set themselves up with a good layup that leaves a favorite yardage so they can attack appropriately with the ball beneath the cup. This ferocious green is not one to be above the hole. As I've said a few times before, a hole you won't see elsewhere.

Sixteenth hole, 378/360 yards; Sixteen is routed thru a shallow valley and the golfer who challenges the treeline down the left side will be rewarded with a flat lie and clear view of the green. Those who hit straightaway take their chances. The valley is a very subtle hazard. The green is beautifully sited as the valley then protects the left and sand guards the right. Its a perfect example of Stanley Thompson's routing ability.
Seventeenth hole, 312/272 yards; The penultimate hole is a short par four that doglegs left uphill around a ravine. Huge oak trees rise from the ravine and the player must determine how much of the leg he wants to carry. Regardless of where he puts it, the player must be able to keep it below the hole. The green is small and slopes quickly back to front. While some say it's driveable, I've never seen it done before. A must birdie hole in competition.

Eighteenth hole, 386/364 yards; Sleepy Hollow finishes with a good par four. Not overly long, the challenge comes at the green. Sloping rear left to front right with a false front makes the approach a very demanding shot. Often players try to place the ball underneath the cup, and watch it catch the slope and spin down the hill short of the green. It's a classic ending to classic par four.

I'm biased towards Sleepy Hollow, it being my home course for many years, and I've always shied away from giving it the praise it deserves. Golfweek magazine just rated it #2 public golf course in Ohio which supports the view i had all along that Sleepy Hollow is a top 5 course. I give it a 7 rating. (great)