Grantwood Golf Course (Solon, OH)

It's nice seeing a city view their golf course as an asset, and invest money into improving the green space that the community can enjoy. Grantwood enjoyed a much needed facelift when Solon hired Ron Forse to remodel it in 2004. A wonderful practice range, putting green, and short game station were installed, and few holes remodeled to make this a really nice municipal course. 

(The old stone tunnel is a cool feature that takes golfers to holes 5-7 and 11-17.) 

There's not much to say bout the first six holes. The course goes around the driving range, and the holes lack any real interest. The long par four second and the two hundred yard fourth will challenge the player to keep his card clean before back to back par fives at five and six give the player a chance to steal a couple back. 

Then the fun begins. 

(The wonderful seventh is beautifully bunkered, making the small green look even smaller.) 

(Ten green is edged against the water. This view from eighteen tee makes the hole look tougher than it really is.) 

(Look at the eleventh green!! What a beautiful shot! It's just a short par four where the player lays up before hitting a wedge.) 

(Twelve is another gorgeous par three!

It plays over the valley that fronts eleven, to a green that teeters above the same valley. Erring long leaves a difficult chip or putt.) 

(The par five fifteenth is a good chance for birdie.) 

(Sixteen green is fronted by sand and water. A four on this hole is well earned.)

(Eighteen is an awkward looking par four, but those trees are forty yards short of the green. I think they're still in play, but a high shot could carry them.) 

Grantwood reminds me of Ellsworth in Hudson. All the work put into the practice facility, and into the course, has made it into a much better place to play. However, in my opinion, Grantwood has better holes. Seven and twelve are both excellent par threes. Eight, thirteen, and fifteen are beautifully blended. The course is very playable, and the last three holes have enough variety to make for an exciting finish. I'm not sold on the eighteenth. A back left pin location would be directly behind those trees. Overall, I feel comfortable giving Grantwood a 5 (good)(worth driving 1hr). Kudos to Ron Forse for his work on the greens and tees. The course is in really good condition.