South Toledo Golf Club (Toledo, OH)

From South Park to South Toledo, here is another example of a well respected greenskeeper designing a golf course. This time it’s William Rockefeller from Inverness. Before discussing the architecture, a quick history lesson. Originally, this was part of 36 hole Heather Downs Country Club. Rocky designed both courses in 1925. When the Great Depression hit, the membership couldn’t afford two courses so the South was auctioned off. 

If we were to look at both courses, I think everyone would agree that Heather Downs possesses the best topography. The northern part of their property has a beautiful valley with good elevation change. South Toledo has none of that. It’s flat as a pancake! If it wasn’t for the beautiful specimen trees and a narrow little crick, it would be completely devoid of character. It also doesn’t help that the back nine is totally encased by the local community with houses lining the left side on every hole except the par threes. Thankfully, the greens are very well done.  They’re pushed up with a strong back to front tilt with a rolling center that creates a variety of interesting and challenging pin positions. Putting across the middle, especially long putts, can be very difficult. 

(Look how steep the bunker is and the slope of green pitching forward! Cool architecture like this adds intrigue to a flat site.) 

The bunkering is very good too! You can tell Rocky took Donald Ross’ style, and flawlessly executed it here. Ross visited several times to prepare Inverness for a couple US Opens, and worked exclusively with Rockefeller who was the superintendent. The sweeping face bunkers guard the sides and really punishes the player who has missed his target left or right. Some of them have steep lips that require a shot get up quickly. Foreshortened bunkers are used too. 

(The 414/406 yard par four third doglegs left around a pond before playing to a green fronted by a creek. Playing safe off the tee can unintentionally leave a much longer than approach. Note the winter flag only three feet tall.) 

South Toledo tips out just over 6500 yards but don’t for a minute think it’s going to be a pushover. Seven of the par fours play over 400 yards. On the front, the dangerous third gets your attention with the creek crossing short of the green. Then the back nine finishes with four of the last six holes 420-453 yards. The flat terrain, especially when it hardens up from the summer sun, shortens the distance that they play, but the elevated greens tighten the mid to long iron shots needed for the approaches. Hitting to the front of the green will leave you below the hole but the aforementioned roll in the center is a vexing feature to putt or chip over. 

(The 140/133 yard par three seventh is the signature hole at South Toledo. The horseshoe shaped water hazard guards almost the entire green. It takes nerve to shoot at a flag anywhere in the edge.) 

William Rockefeller only designed a few courses and his work here proves that he learned a lot from Donald Ross. I personally love the backstory to Inverness. It’s a solid course that serves the golfers in Toledo well. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play). I give it a slight nod over its brethren across the street. 

[Toledo received two inches of rain a couple days before I arrived so I was only able to play the front nine. I could not believe the amount of water that was still sitting on the back. It makes me wonder if the housing that surrounds the course prevents it from draining as quickly. Hmmm. I shot 39] 

South Park Golf Course (Pittsburgh, PA)

South Park was designed in 1929 by Emil Loeffler with advice from Oakmont founder William C Fownes. Allegheny County had a sprawling piece of land with rolling hills and desired to build one of the finest municipal golf courses in the country. Their ambition was recognized five years later when the course was awarded the 1934 USGA Amateur Public Championship. (David Mitchell 5&3 over Arthur Armstrong) 

(The banked fairway on the 423/400 yard par four fourth plays downhill before climbing steeply uphill to a strong back to front sloped green. It is rated as the most difficult hole on the front nine.) 

South Park is a dramatic golf course that plays across heavily sloped land. The holes angle across the ground, cambering left and right while tacking up and down the hills. The golfer is trying to access the proper line that will keep his ball in the fairway while gathering additional yardage. The ascending approach shots are none too easy, with a variety of lies and stances to play from. This doesn’t take into account the extra yardage the elevation adds. The greens are thankfully not too difficult. The round or oblong putting surfaces pitch forward with a simple strategy that allows keeping the ball below the hole an acceptable ask. More challenging are the subtle rises that can make chipping or putting formidable. All these characteristics give the course a distinct personality. 

If one had to nitpick, the overwhelming use of the uphill approach shot, often playing two clubs longer, is used on multiple holes (3,4,5,9,11,12,14,18). Besides being tedious, this repetitive shot makes one wonder is the best routing was employed. Granted, Loeffler’s lay of the land philosophy culminates in such holes, but there was an opportunity to use the ridgelines differently. As is, the best holes are the ones that play along the ridge, like the par three sixth, par four seventh, and par five tenth. The one shotter across the valley at eight is probably it’s more recognizable hole. That leads to another quirk that is enjoyable. Both eight and twelve have dual greens that alter the holes playing characteristics significantly. Each one has its own strategy and there’s definitely a sense of wonder as you arrive at the tee box in anticipation for which green the flag is on. 

(From the middle tee, the par three eighth plays either 135 yards or 198 yards. While the shorter green is below, the longer one is above. This can be two completely different holes.) 

Loeffler’s love for the long par three is seen a few times. The 192 yard sixth and 240 yard thirteenth are two examples of this. Seeing how idolized Oakmont’s drive and pitch par three eighth is, this template is seen at every course Loeffler designed. Mercifully, there is plenty of fairway short of these greens, and the player with a good short game can layup and save par. On both eight and fifteen, the greens are benched on a hillside and are reasonable distance. (Reading the pamphlet for the hole descriptions in 1934, neither the upper green on eight nor the back tee on fifteen are original. Since I’m down this rabbit hole, I ll also note a few other things. The course started on what is today’s seventeenth hole. The first hole on the nine hole course was actually the third. The sixth was an astounding 245 yards, still a par three. And the ninth hole was 441 yards, playing to the practice putting green. The addition of the clubhouse in 1938 initiated the changes including the nine hole course across the street and the new first hole used today. The clubhouse was designed by Pittsburgh’s own Henry Hornbostel. The classic two story brick building has a geometric shape opening in the middle and is his homage to the pyramids he saw while visiting the Yucatán in Mexico.) 

(The 192/187 yard par three sixth is ringed left, right, and behind by traps. Note how the C shaped bunker in foreground is above the putting surface while the others are below it.) 

South Park was a most worthy course to visit! It’s history fascinated me when I was researching it and it was an added bonus to find great material allowing me to look back on its beginnings. Presently, it is a very strong course, and the new superintendent has it in excellent condition. Even though I played in the late winter months (March) the course still played beautifully. The county keeps the price point very reasonable, and I would say value wise, it’s excellent. Tee times are difficult to get for good reason. I give South Park a solid 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).