Briarwood Golf Club (Broadview Heights, OH)

My uncle was a member at Briarwood for several years when Mr Rini owned it. It had three nines, Lochs, Glenn, and Ben. The main combination was Lochs and Glenn, and from the tips it stretched over 7000 yards. Today that doesn't seem very long, but back then, the pros were barely playing courses that length. 

(The ninth is one of four holes that remain from the old design. It's a beautiful 200 yard par three.) 

Unfortunately, the land became more valuable as a housing community than a golf course. The course that resides today is a hodgepodge of new holes, blended holes, and four original holes. That's a shame because several of them were excellent, including the "dell hole" and the tough ending 18th. 

(The par five fourth was known as the "canyon" hole.  A creek crosses the fairway 350 yards from tee before going down the right and bending in front of the green. Reachable with two well struck shots, golfers have a chance to do something special, or get a big number.) 

With the houses taking up the majority of the land, the golf course is saddled with a slew of short par fours. In some cases, there's not even enough land, like putting two holes where one should be. Five, six, and seven are pushed into a triangular parcel. Personally, I don't feel five has enough room. Seven is very much like Speidel down in Wheeling WV, where you're hitting to a huge banked fairway like NASCAR at Daytona. (The hole in between is actually pretty good.) 

(The sixth is one of the newer holes.  It plays uphill with an interesting green that slopes to the back left to front right.) 

The back nine occupies the land that was the Ben nine. It was always considered the relief nine, so putting the entire back nine here is disappointing. The land on this part of the property is very simply not as exciting. Eleven and thirteen are garbage holes. Twelve is fine. 

The lack of bunkers and any ground features takes away from the approach. 

I also thought the newer holes had awkward greens. They sloped away, or pitched too much to the left or right. 

(The par three third slopes so much to the left that the members I played with hit short and let it bounce on. The bunker is right where the ideal shot lands, but that option is gone. ) 

(The first hole is theoretically original, but this green was reworked from a large putting surface to a small one.) 

Briarwood is one of the four courses on the Mallard Creek pass. Some would say it's the best one. The greens are terrific! I have to give the course that credit! Having played here back when it was really good, I'm reluctant to give more than a 3 (average)(worth driving 15-30 min). The clubhouse and patio are still great places to kick back and relax after a round. 

(Eighteen is a nice looking finisher. It usually plays into the prevailing wind. A mound just short of the green is a tricky feature.)