(The 376 yard fourth is a demanding par four with a downhill approach shot over a creek. The severely sloped green is best putted from below the hole but rarely is that the case for first putt. A four is a solid score.)
Heather Downs was designed by William Rockefeller in 1925. He was the greenskeeper for Inverness and was involved in every aspect of building it. This gave him some credibility and an opportunity to do both courses at Heather Downs. It’s speculated that Donald Ross helped him out with the routing.
[according to South Toledo GC website]
(Note the lip of the fairway bunker. Balls hit too close to it will need wedged back into play. The lack of rough by the trap allows balls to roll in. More sand is needed to put the bite back into it but the bones are present.)
Except for the north end of the property, Heather Downs is very flat. The front nine has very little character, and the challenge is initiated by the fairway traps and greens that slope back to front. Three putting is the biggest concern. The back nine plays among giant oak trees, and shaping the ball off the tee into play is the difficulty.
(The 193 yard fifth is considered one of Toledo’s finest holes. From an elevated tee, it plays to a green tucked into the hillside. A members bounce off the hill is one way to play it, but it’s a risky strategy subjected to luck. Along with the fourth and sixth, this is a key three hole stretch.)
Rockefeller was not an architect by trade, and this may be the reason why the architecture is repetitive throughout most of the course. Almost all the greens are open in the front and have bunkers on the sides. Several have a slight roll in the center which makes putting across the green a cautious affair.
(The 322 yard eleventh is a good chance to make birdie. Note how the tall trees distort the players view and perception. Long hitters might get goaded into attempting to drive it, but a well played layup is the best strategy.)
While the front has the two best holes on the course, the back nine is much better test. The driving lines are tighter and demand more skill. The ability to curve it around trees and change the trajectory is a huge advantage. A one shot player will be stymied from being in optimal positions. The huge trees also have another effect. They alter ones depth perception and when the shadows are flickering can make it real hard to focus on the target.
(The pivotal 131 yard par three sixteenth has water short, left, and behind. The front hole locations are very difficult to get close, and a roll in the front third makes this an easy three putt. Back and middle pins are your best bet for a duece.)
Heather Downs has seen better days, but it still provides a good challenge for the locals who call it home. There’s good bones here and it wouldn’t take much to make this a top course again. Sand in the traps would be a good first step. I give it a 3 (average)(worth driving 15-30 minutes to play). There’s potential for this to bump up, but with it being on such flat terrain, that’s probably only one notch.
(The 363 yard eighteenth plays through a very narrow corridor off the tee. The green is a bit offset, so most approaches will need to carry front bunker. The old clubhouse must have been quite a sight back in the day.)
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