Hawks Nest (Creston OH)

Designed by Steve Burns in 1994, Hawks Nest has been a top public golf course in the state of Ohio ever since. The course has wide fairways and just enough strategic bunkering to make the golfer think bout how he wants to attack
each hole. The variety of angles and slopes makes this both playable and enjoyable.

The third hole is a good example of the playability here. The hole doglegs right with a group of traps guarding the elbow. Most pin positions are accessible by driving down the left and hitting a longer approach shot. Aggressive players can challenge the traps and drive the ball up close to the green. Conservative shots laid up to traps take pressure off the tee but leave semi blind approaches.

The fourth hole is an excellent par five that requires three well played shots. The hole doglegs left so the tee shot should be kept middle to right center off tee. A creek guards the right side making this an unnerving shot. Players that go down the left will need to either layup to 175 yards or try to draw it hard to get more yardage. The creek is still on the right so an aggressive shot can find it. The elevated two tier green is the final step. Back pins are especially difficult to get close.

The "cliff hole" fifth is a lovely short par four. The second shot is downhill over a cliff to the green forty feet below. Six is another short par four that doglegs left with a trap in the elbow. If you can carry the sand, then there s a chance to drive the green. Plenty of options off the tee to setup a favorable pitch.

The final three holes finish the front in style. Seven is the most difficult hole on the course. This 470 yard par four doglegs right before dropping downhill to the green. The eighth is a beautiful par three framed by native grass. The four tier green has several great pin locations. The ninth is a dogleg right that plays to a natural amphitheater. The right green side bunker does a good job of protecting it.

The back nine continues with a couple mid length par fours but it really starts to shine at the twelfth. This short par four uses the terrain perfectly. The fairway rises slightly before cresting and sliding downhill to creek. The green is above the creek on the hill. Drives not in the fairway make the creek a real concern for the approach.

The next three holes are scoring opportunities. Thirteen is a reachable par five. The drive is the only real threat with trees left and right. The fourteenth is another excellent short par four. It's all downhill to the creek which fronts the green. Players can layup with an iron or hit all the way to the flat short of the hazard. Of course the longest hitters have the
option of driving the green. Fifteen is a downhill par three. It's well bunkered with some fun pin positions tucked behind the traps.

The course ends with a 5-3-4 finish. Sixteen is tough par five that I've only once seen reached in two. Normally you ll be fighting uphill to set up a decent third shot across the valley. The green has a prominent lower bowl in the front left that influences all the shots regardless of where the pin is. Seventeen goes downhill where the green slopes away from the golfer. Hit it short and let the ball funnel to the hole. Finally eighteen is a bruiser of a par four with a big dogleg to the left. Long hitters can blow it over the elbow and hit a mid to short iron. Otherwise the play is just inside the 200 yard marker for a longish approach.

Hawks Nest is one of the top 20 public courses in the state. The pictures don't really convey how good the strategy is to score well here. A huge plus is the location. It's out in the middle of nowhere so it's a pure golfing experience. A six rating (6) really puts this as a one of the top courses in NE Ohio.

Boulder Creek (Streetsboro OH)

There have been many examples of amateur architects loving golf so much that they design their own course, and design incredible golf course. Joe Salemi designed Boulder Creek off I-480 in Streetsboro and Golf Digest rated it as one of the top ten new courses in 2003.

As you arrive on the first tee, you will notice the first, tenth, and eighteenth all play parallel to each other. Essentially they're the same hole. All three are long tough par fives. The first hole is the worst of the bunch. A valley of rough needs to be carried with your second shot, which is probably too much to ask on the second shot of the day. Ten is a little uphill and plays very long despite usually being downwind. Eighteen is the exact opposite, downhill but into the wind. The three tier green is the biggest defense. It takes a well gauged shot to get close for a birdie.

The triumvirate of holes that stand out in my mind are the ones that play on the bank of the lake, 2nd, 11th, and 17th. From any of the greens, you can watch the action on the others. It's a great spot on the course. Two is a lovely par four that doglegs left. Long hitters can take it over the elbow but they have a lot to carry including water. Most will club down off the tee and hit a short iron to the green. Eleven is another short par four but this one has no options. Layup off the tee, and then a across the lake to the green sitting on the hill. Seventeen is the island green. It's downhill, 130 yards, and is just a wedge, but you really need to control your swing to get it close.

Besides an island green, Salemi designed a couple other feature holes. There's the split fairway par five sixth. The upper fairway does make the hole play shorter, but the lower fairway is easier to hit off the tee. The penisula green seventh is an excellent par three. The left and lower sections bring the water into play. The long par four ninth can be seen from the turnpike. The fountain in the middle of the lake entices all the motorists to come play.

Boulder Creek has three terrible holes that I can't stand. Twelve is a good par three. Nice view, well designed. Thirteen is long, tough, and uphill playing along a steep hillside. It's a great par four. Then the three holes... You have to climb that steep hill to get to the 14th tee. Fourteen would be ok if they cut down some trees. You cannot hit at the fairway. Fifteen plays up that steep hill you played down. And has a silly two tier green to boot. Fifteen is just flat out boring. If those three holes were better, than this would easily be a top ten public course in the state.

Boulder Creek has a very nice driving range but the one amenity that underwhelms is the clubhouse. For a course of this caliber, that is a deficiency that can't be overlooked. Nonetheless, the course is definitely worth a look if you're in Cleveland. It's a solid 5 (good rating)

Shale Creek (Medina, OH)

I drove by several golf courses on my way to Shale Creek. Weymouth, Pleasant Valley, and Bunker Hill are all on the same road, leaving any doubt to the rapid growth of medina. Shale Creek however has a strong advantage compared to these other courses. It has an expansive beautiful clubhouse, spacious driving range and a well conditioned course.

Brian Huntley designed Shale Creek in 2006 for Granite Properties. Rocky River runs thru a section of the land otherwise it is mostly farm land. You know you're in farm country when you see a sign that says "manure for sale here".

Shale Creek starts off with a very approachable short par four. Plenty of room to hit the ball from the tee with water down the right to keep you honest. Much of the golf course is like this hole. The course is playable but there's spots where a big score can be made. 3, 4, and 5 are the best holes on the front. Three is a good par five with water on the right. Traps set at good yardages squeeze the second and third shots for those shying away from the hazard. Four is a dogleg par four. A trap thirty yards short of the green is key here. It hides the putting surface yet releases the ball to the front pin locations. Five is a nice par three placed tween a creek left and sand right.

The back nine is shoehorned in my opinion. Huntley tried to incorporate the river in as many holes as he could and the result is mixed. Ten would be a good hole if the fairway was wider. If you re laying up then you re hitting to the narrowest part. Eleven is a nice par three. Great views of Rocky River and the elevated green is a challenge to hit. The left pin position demands an excellent shot. Twelve doesn't really have the river in play. It's a sharp dogleg right. Bunkers on the inside turn. It's a really tough driving hole. Fourteen is a good par five along the river. Too bad the tees weren't on the other side so you can drive over the water.

Shale Creek ends with a strong par four. A creek cuts across the fairway and goes down the right side. The closer you play towards the water, the shorter the second shot. The approach is uphill but it's accessible in the front. Its my favorite hole here.

I know this is the favorite of most guys living on the west side. They just built the clubhouse and it's popular place. I just don't find Shale Creek that interesting. I think there's too many bland shots. However, that might be the appeal of the place. Guys shoot good scores here. But if I only live forty minutes away, and don't go out of my way to play here, then how can I talk this place up? Truthfully, it's a 4 (above average) course.