Briardale Greens Golf Course (Euclid, OH)

Located in the center of Euclid, Briardale has all the amenities that introduces new players to the game while providing older ones the opportunity to perfect it. There’s a driving range, chipping green, putting green, and a sporty clubhouse to cool off. In a way it reminds me of Ridgewood, not from an architectural standpoint, but rather as a community asset. Quite simply, the game grows here. 

(The 313 yard par four third doglegs around a water hazard and entices the long hitter to drive it. Most of the putting surface slopes hard towards the water except for a small area in the back left. It does not give up three easily.) 

Pat Laconte designed the course in 1977 and while it plays just over 6000 yards, it’s par of 70 will be hard to match. It has several stout par threes sprinkled with a few long par fours. What I found interesting was how well it plays on such a small acreage of land. The par threes do a job connecting the longer holes and controlling the tempo of the round. They’re well positioned and allowed Laconte to get the most yardage for his par fours. For a course of this length, it says a lot to have only three par fours play under 350 yards. 

(The 310 yard par four thirteenth defends  itself with a large oak tree demanding a precise tee shot.)

Laconte gave Briardale plenty of bite by bunkering every hole and making a tough set of greens. The greens in particular are worth describing. On each hole, one specific bunker is the catalyst for the slope, and the green revolves around the shoulder of that bunker. 

(Look at bunker on left. The shoulder has a slope that goes to the right bunker forming a front pin location. But the pin in pic is beyond that slope, so the shot now needs to carry the shoulder. If the pin was even further left, then the shot would need hit to other side of that shoulder...

...the shoulder from left bunker initiates a front pin position and back pin position. Note how high the slope is left of the pin. To putt over that is difficult...
...the bunker on this hole is front center. It’s not visible in this pic but you can see the arc of shoulder just left of the golfer. Note how shoulder divides the left half from the right half.) 

If you find yourself at Briardale, you will not be disappointed. The city has the course in very good condition. It’s a very easy walk and the pace of play is quick. All these ingredients make for a delightful round of golf. I give Briardale a 3 (average)(worth driving 30 minutes to play).  The locals have a nice place to start their day or cap it off before the sun goes down. 

(The 148 yard par three sixteenth)