Sylvania Country Club (Sylvania, OH)

Sylvania is a terrific course that flies under most people’s radar. Inverness is obviously Toledo’s top gun, and Highland Meadows is receiving plenty of attention for hosting the LPGA, but this Willie Park Jr gem can hold its own, and is an example of the depth and quality of the golf in Ohio. 

(The view looking down the eighteenth hole with the par three tenth off to the right.)  

Sylvania is blessed with wonderful topography. The land is rolling, and several ravines and dips give the course much of its flavor. The Ottowa River flows through the northern part of the property, and it inspired three beautiful par threes. 

(The 168 yard third plays uphill to a green that slopes back to front. It plays at least one club longer and sometimes two. Being short is very common.) 

The front nine is a bit unusual, and it’s sequence of holes is such that one is never playing the same par twice in a row. (4-5-3-5-4-3-4-5-3) The three par fives make this feel like it’s the scoring side, but only one is reasonably reachable in two, and the 438 yard fifth sports the number one handicap. 

(The 390 yard seventh is a fine illustration of Willie Park Jr’s bunkering. Placed to the sides and often times much shorter of the greens, they were meant to trap players trying to run the ball into the green.) 

(The 556 yard eighth is a gorgeous par five that bobs and weaves it’s way to the green...

...the journey ends with an elevated putting surface. Setting up a good yardage is the proper play. The bunkers are placed precisely where a nonchalant three wood would land. It’s a great par five!) 

(The 185 yard ninth plays downhill to a small green...

...looking backwards one can see all the work done to clear the hillside underneath the tee box. Just a beautiful par three.) 

The back nine doesn’t give up much with the four hole stretch of 11-14 being the muscle. Of course back to back par fives at 16 & 17 makes for an exciting finish as birdie and eagle can change any complexion of a tournament or match. 

(The 161 yard  par three tenth looks similar to nine except the green is benched into the hillside. A false front and a couple bunkers protect it though the wind is often the biggest challenge in deciding club selection.) 

(The 382 yard eleventh demands a long drive to be able to carry to the upper level of fairway. This picture shows the dip and ravine that guard the green. For shorter players, this hole plays plenty difficult since the approach is usually blind.) 

(The 476 yard par four twelfth is the most difficult hole on the course. The drive is over a hazard to large hill that demands a right to left shot that can take advantage of the slope and roll to a flatter spot...

...if one hits a great drive then the green is reachable in two. For most people, this plays as a three shotter, and originally it was listed as a par five, but today’s equipment makes this a very demanding long par four.) 

(One of my favorite holes is the 230 yard par three fourteenth. A peek a boo slot in the ridge gives a glimpse of the pin. Besides being long, this hole possesses one of the most difficult greens on the course. A swale divides the green in half with a higher left and higher right. A three is always a good score.)

Sylvania also has a bit of history attached to it. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America was born here in 1926.  The Ohio State Open was won by Byron Nelson in 1940. And the most famous was Arnold Palmer’s 1954 Ohio Amateur win. He would go onto win the U.S. Amateur later that year. 

(The 517 yard sixteenth is a long solid par five. The green falls off into the sand both left and right. It’s a beautiful hole and water tower in background is a nice touch.) 

(The approach to the 395 yard eighteenth is uphill. There’s plenty of room to fly it to the hole or hit it low and let it run on. Long hitters have a decision to make with the Ottowa River  crossing the fairway.) 

Sylvania is a private club but it allows access to Toledo Golf District Association VIP Card holders. It’s a great pleasure to be able to play here once a year. It’s one of my favorite courses. I give it s solid 6 (very good)(worth driving two hours). 

[A sidebar to add to Sylvania. Architect Drew Rodgers did some bunker, tee, and green work back 2015. He recaptured the dimensions of several greens, brought the flat bottom rolled face bunkers back, and reintroduced some tees.]