As much as I like Manakiki, it has a few flaws that prevent it from being very good. Number one are the par threes as a collection. Seven is well designed as it plays over a shallow valley with two large traps guarding the green. A small ridge bisects the putting surface and forces a well struck shot to get close to pin. This is the best of the bunch! Fifteen is arguably the worst hole on the course. The entire hillside needs to be cleared of the overgrowth that protects left of the green. Five is a short par three with no bite. And eleven is a nice hole, which has plenty of challenge as long as as tee marker goes further back for a full wood shot. As a group I think it's a weak quartet.
The second flaw are the par fives. They are typically short and the long hitter can hit mid or even short irons into them. Now three is a fine short par five and a good example how to get the most out of a sub 500 yard hole. The player has to layup to an advantageous position if he wants to reach the green in two. The thumbprint green is really cool and birdies are hard to come by, especially flags just on the green on the upper shelf. The par five sixth is one of the best three shotters in the city!! It rambles into a valley before cruising over a big ridge to the green. It's a bruiser of a hole and takes three quality shots to reach the putting surface. Twelve and thirteen are back to back par fives. Twelve is downhill and many of the long hitters have mid or short irons to the green. A thumbprint green is the only defense for them. The other players will be hitting longer clubs which makes this a fun hole for them. Thirteen can be reached in two if you can carry the ridge in the fairway. The long hitter has a huge advantage once again. The sidehill lie second shot is his difficulty. The majority of players will be trying to find a good distance for their third shot. I suppose I'm being hypercritical because the long hitter has such a huge advantage on this quartet of holes. The average player who can play these well has a chance to post a fine score.
Now what Manakiki does have are quality par fours. In fact a couple of them are all city and would be included in a list of best holes in northeast Ohio. The eighth is a long par four whose tee shot must draw across corner of the dogleg to have opportunity to reach green in regulation. No traps protect this green as it sheds balls left, right, and long into the trees. The tenth is called the canyon hole and is a brute to play. Tee shot must be long and straight to have a chance to reach this green. The putting surface is one of my favorites. It's well bunkered, nicely situated on the hill, and is cleverly contoured. Great hole!
Sixteen is a fine short par four where the player decides to layup atop the hill for a view of the green or drive it to bottom for short iron but blind shot. Then seventeen has the best positioned green on the course. It just sits across the valley slotted in the hill with no place to bail out. It's another great hole. Finally eighteen ends as another canyon hole played down into the valley before playing back uphill to a small oval green. Hit this in regulation and birdie is a good possibility.
Manakiki is a wonderful treat for public golf in Cleveland. It would be a disservice if I failed to mention the clubhouse. The white Victorian home greets you as you drive into the parking lot. It's ambiance starts the round way before you put on your golf shoes. I've shot some very good rounds here. It's very playable which explains its popularity. It's a strong 5 rating. (Good)
