Painesville Country Club (Painesville, OH)

Painesville Country Club was designed in 1928 by the head pro of Kirtland CC. This was not an unusual practice as many fine players teaching at prestigious country clubs found themselves being asked to design courses local to them. 

(Painesville's gorgeous clubhouse greets players at the start of the day.) 

I wonder how similar Painesville and Kirtland are to each other. Kirtland was open for several years and I'm sure Charles Alison's masterpiece had to have some influence. 

(Laying back to 130 yards leaves this view into the par five first hole.) 

The greens are small, open in the front, and slope away on the sides. The routing is simple as it basically goes up and down the hill. The front nine was designed several years before the back. It has three par fives, three par fours, and three par threes. 

(The par five fourth plays uphill to a green offset from the fairway. The slope short will keep most balls from reaching the putting surface.) 

(The short par three fifth is a lovely hole.)

(The third par five on the front is reachable in two....

...there's plenty of room to land it short and run it on.) 

(The par three eighth is a testy 175 yards)

(The short par four ninth uses the hill perfectly. The fairway meanders around it, drawing ones attention towards the bunker atop. The green is elevated with a false front, so obtaining the best angle and stance is imperative. There's many different options, thus making this an excellent hole.)

The back nine was designed several years after the front. Unfortunately, the terrain on this side of the property is very severe, and the golf isn't as good as it is on the front. 

(The new tenth added fifty yards to the scorecard. It looks pretty good too.) 

(The 240 yard par three eleventh drops bout fifty feet downhill. It's a neat hole but notice how the green is basically a shaved circular surface. Missing is the dramatic bunkering found on the front.)

(Twelve plays uphill (yes like eleven but in reverse!).....

.....the approach is to a beautifully bunkered green. It's the only green on back defended like that. The real concern is how much longer it plays.) 

(The short drop shot par three fourteenth is just 113 yards. It's amazing the architect found it in this cudesac of trees. A stream is just off to the side.) 

Fifteen sixteen seventeen.....   These three holes are terrible. The property ran out of room, that is basically what happen. It's a shame because up to now, I felt that Painesville could make my hidden gem list. 

The last hole ends the round with a bang! 

(From the back tee, the drive is very intimidating as you carry a ravine and between thick treeline on both sides...

....the 574 yarder transverses and climbs uphill to the green. It takes three strong shots to reach it in regulation. A five is a very good score.)

I like Painesville Country Club but it's hard to recommend or give a high rating to a fifteen hole course. Eighteen tee is just a few steps away from fourteen green, so maybe it's not such a bad idea to skip 15-17. Painesville does have some really good holes, and if you find yourself on, you ll have a blast. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth 30-40 min drive)