First, the chronological list of new golf course experiences ( as in first time played ), to wit;
- Shaker Heights CC
- Beechmont CC
- Youngstown CC
- Union League National
- LuLu CC
- Union League Liberty Hill
- Green Valley CC
- Jeffersonville GC
- Chartiers CC
- Elyria CC
- Pepper Pike Club
- West Shore CC
- Avalon GC
- Cumberland ( Md, ) CC
Second, condensed observations on each course, commencing with the wonderfully unique golf experience at Pepper Pike Club. PPC shuns the rankings and other intrusions from the golf
paparazzi. If such attention was sought, PPC would be hailed among the great courses and clubs. It is an intimate affair at PPC with a mere 250 members who comprise a who’s who of industry titans. The course recently underwent a stunning and creative renovation/restoration by the amazing Ian Andrew. The course and club radiate understated elegance. However, don’t mistake elegance for easy as PPC is a challenging track. The highlights are many and start early with an extraordinary stretch from 2 through the turn. The finishing holes equal this stretch and the entire round is a wonder.
Woodmont North is flat-out just a terrific golf course at the very top of the conditioning chart. Typically, solid conditions are just an added bonus, but at Woodmont the perfection of the place really enhances the experience.
Youngstown, LuLu and West Shore are the under the radar gems that showcase golden age design imagination and superb use of the terrain. When the names of Travis, Tillinghast and Ross are involved, a fun day usually is promised. With these three courses, it is well assured. In the top slot of the public access category is Jeffersonville GC. After the first hole, you may think you’ve arrived at Bethpage Black, but fortunately the course eases slightly and has a wide variety of pars, shot strategies and all around fun. Oh, and have fun with the tilt of the 18th green! Elyria, Shaker and Beechmont are Flynn, Ross and Thompson designs respectively. Need I say more? These are three fine courses in the Cleveland metro area and reflect the incredible depth of Cleveland’s golf scene.
The Union League courses at Liberty Hill ( formerly the Ace Club ) and at “the National” (formerly Sand Barrens ) combine with Frankford-Torresdale for a holy triumpharant of one club golf
courses. Liberty Hill a big, rambling, muscular course with magnificent contours and eye-candy layout. The National is a stunner with dunes rising high and invoking a sand hills experience by the North Sea or northern Nebraska.
Chartiers somehow escaped us throughout the years and shame on us. Just beyond the golden triangle of Pittsburgh, Chartiers is a great course with a vibrant club. City skyline views and rugged criss-cross slopes make for a stimulating and challenging round.
We had fun and memorable outings at Avalon and Cumberland CC. Cumberland is a Zen Hasenplug design with an opening par 3, a par 3 10 th and a par 3 18 th . Quite unique. At Avalon, we teed off at dawn ( 5:30am ) and returned to our family vacation with nary a grumble.
In all, we observed healthy golf club/courses with enthusiastic staff and members. Next up, a new batch of courses for a future essay.
Ben