(The 222/205 yard par three ninth plays through an avenue of trees to a circular green with a lone bunker guarding the front right and a ridge that splits the putting surface into two distinct sections. Hitting it in regulation is often times a win, but beware against being complacent with the putting.)
(The 413/375 yard opening introduces the course and its demands right away. A cut off the tee will put one in perfect position to start the day with a par. The white tees are left of the big tree and straightens out the hole considerably.)
(The 395/379 yard par four third doglegs right to a green nestled between the trees. Any ball not in the fairway must navigate the trees that block the outer angles. The subtle putting surface does not give up three very often.)
(The 178/130 yard par three fourth has a dual green system where the pin fluctuates between the upper and lower greens. The lower one is used most of the time. It’s a small oval circle that slopes hard to the front. The upper green deserves to be used more as it’s a better shot and brings more of the natural features into play.)
Goodpark is a strong test of driving. The holes dogleg in both directions and the golfer is asked multiple times to control his lines off the tee. Many consider the fifth to be the start of Goodpark, and the next seven holes are all tough pars. It’s not unusual to see hybrids or long irons being the club of choice to reach these holes in regulation. Any misguided drive that goes off the fairway will automatically put one in scramble mode. The green complexes are rather simple and don’t overwhelm with complex challenges. This aspect allows players with good short games to salvage par more frequently.
(The 429/417 yard par four eighth doglegs left in sweeping fashion. The drive must stay on the outside to have a straightforward shot into the green. Those who try to cut the corner might find a few limbs blocking their angle.)
(This view from behind the forward tee illustrates the demanding nature of the tee shots at Goodpark. The 441/430 yard par four tenth often takes three shots to reach the green. The big tree on the inside corner tends to be prevents folks from cutting off any distance. It’s a beast!)
(The 422/378 yard par four eleventh plays along the boundary line to a green on a slight rise. The two bunkers guarding the front left see a lot of action. After this hole, the next six all have short iron approaches to the green.)
Historically every good player from northeast Ohio has walked the fairways of Goodpark. So many great tournaments have been played here! The Summit County Amateur is held here annually. The Junior PGA Championship was another one. It’s also the home course for Tiretown Golf Association, the largest predominantly African American golf league in America.
(Akron keeps Goodpark in very nice shape, and the “walk in the park” feel makes this a must play for all northeast Ohio golfers.)
(The 448/427 yard par four eighteenth is treelined all the way to green on both sides. A hard draw gain some extra yardage and possibly crest the plateau…
…usually it’s a long iron or hybrid approach shot. A bunker guards the front left. There is room to run the ball onto the green. Looking back from the green, one be can see all the gorgeous hardwoods that make this a unique experience. A four here will win many matches.)
Goodpark was designed in 1928 by Bertie Wey. He also designed the South Course at Firestone before RTJ sr renovated it. One will find many similarities between both courses. It’s solid and can hold its own against any caliber of player. I give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). With renovation work, it has the potential to bump up one point easily.
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