I’m a big fan of a Madison Country Club. If it was in a little bit better shape, it’d get more recognition statewide. It was designed in 1923 by Ross construction foreman, Sandy Alves. His vision to take a singular feature, a valley that cuts through the northern portion of the property, generated ten holes (1,2,3,6,7,8, 11,12,13,14,18). The valley is grassed in at spots, has a crick that meanders through, and holds a couple ponds. To par these holes, one needs a cache of shots.
(The 408/363 yard par four first hole drops into the valley before gently climbing out and finishing at a well bunkered green. One will find misery driving it left, so favor the right side. Par is a fine start.)
(Many will find the 509/480 yard par five sixth to be a good birdie opportunity. While conservative players are laying back to a good yardage, aggressive players can utilize the fairway right of the green to access all the pin positions. The back to front sloping putting surface will hold a long shot for the courageous golfer.)
(The 422/397 yard par four seventh requires a long accurate drive from the tee. The forward tee ahead is slightly elevated and frames the driving lines from the back. It’s a strong hole.)
Keeping the focus on the valley, Alves routed the course to interact with it in multiple ways. I love that you drive through it, sometimes over it, that tees are placed behind it, greens are backdropped by it, or second shots have to clear it. It such a plethora of looks that one doesn’t even realize it’s the same feature cutting across the land. That’s good architecture!
(The 512/497 yard par five eighth has the valley and crick cutting across with cool landforms demanding one can clear this with their second shot. The longer hitter can get to this area with their drive but risk being out of position if they miss the fairway. The green is saddled so balls typically funnel to the middle. This is a really fun golf hole.)
(One of my favorites and possibly the best hole on the course is the 353/345 yard par four twelfth. A drive down the right side opens up the angle to a green that sits on a ridge. Long grass left, sand right, and a deep fall off long makes this an interesting approach.)
(The 267/244 yard par four thirteenth plays over the valley before turning left behind large hardwoods. Long hitters can take the challenge and try to drive it. Besides trees, bunkers also guard the tiger line. It’s another cool hole.)
Madison’s location in the far eastern side of the state by Lake Erie keeps it off most people’s radar. Even from Cleveland it’s a solid hour away, and it’s more if you’re coming from the west side suburbs. Public golf greatly benefited when it decided not to be private. I think $64 with a cart is a fair price for a Saturday morning, and I believe it should be an annual stop on the CNCGA schedule. It’s a solid 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).
(I first blogged Madison in 2014. This is an update with better pictures. The above diagram illustrates the routing well. Note the course rating from the blue tees, a full stroke over par. A good score at Madison is well earned.)
(I have to comment on the seventeenth and what I think is one of the coolest greens. It’s the old pushed up style with a large lion’s mouth bunker guarding the front. Notice how high the lip is compared to the green. The pitch from that shoulder will shoot balls long off the back. The rear third is tipped towards the fairway so long is an instant bogey. The hole is only 325/309 yards so demanding a precise wedge is completely within reason.)
Blog 518
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