Brookledge has several things going for it. First it's in great condition. Second it's very playable. Third it's affordable. Three things that are the cornerstone of success for any golf course.
The first seven holes at Brookledge are fairly easy holes and any good round takes advantage of this. The two holes that stand most are the second and the third. Two doglegs left before rising several feet and playing to an elevated green. The safe play is laying up to 150 marker and taking a chance with a semiblind shot. The risky play is trying to drive it to the top level of fairway. The green is so difficult here. It slopes to the left and then to the rear the further back in the green. Three is a driveable par four if you're long enough to carry it all the way to the green. Usually most balls gather at the base of the hill and leave a little pitch shot. This is why Brookledge is so good. The green slopes severely to the right so the golfer must be able to judge both the line and speed of his pitch to get close, otherwise a three putt will become concern.
Brookledge really starts heating up at the ninth, tho some might say the eighth, which is a long par three. Nine usually plays into the wind and at 438 from the back tees is a real brute of a hole. A creek fronts the green several yards short and it tends to catch a lot of balls that balloon up in the air. Ten is a short par four with a wicked green. It slopes toward the front and then in the middle slopes away to the right. A giant trap fronts the right half and makes all the pins on that side touchy shots. There are wide variety of holes. Greens have multiple places for a pin and each one demands a certain type of shot.
Eleven is a reachable par five. Drive it off the right trap with a draw and it's a straight in long second shot. The green is the defense here. It's really hard to get close. Many little ridges and slopes are tough to read. Twelve is next. 185 yard shot across wetlands to rolling contoured green. It's an amazing hole! Even if you hit it in regulation, two putting is a challenge.
The short par fours here at Brookledge are really good and thirteen continues that trend. If the drive is long and straight, then it's an unhindered pitch into the green. A large oak tree guards the left and a tee shot not hit long enough or pulled will have to be manipulated to avoid it on the approach. The green however is the most severe. It looks like three inverted saucers were placed in the green, making all sorts of difficult and crazy pin positions. Fourteen is then a good par three with a trap front right and water left. It's a skinny target so confidence is needed to work the ball off the trouble back to the flag. Fifteen is a long classic looking par four. The green is spread across a lone plateau with grass traps a dozen yards short. It's best to carry it just past the traps and let it bounce on. Sixteen is a long par five that requires three precise shots to reach the green. This is one hole where being out of place will leave some type of tree trouble to solve. It's these eight holes that make Brookledge such a great course. A good score is really possible if the right kind of shots are hit.
Brookledge is still a hidden gem. I'm not sure how much longer that's gonna be especially since I believe it's one of the top 20 courses in Ohio. It's a very good course and a surprising 6 rating.
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