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4.0
165 Reviews (165)
5 Stars
60
4 Stars
68
3 Stars
22
2 Stars
14
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.9
Value
4.0
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
4.0
Pace
4.6
Amenities
3.8
95.6%
Recommend this course
140 out of 165 reviews
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Layout
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About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 70
Length 6533 yards
Slope 132
Rating 71.8

Editor's Note: Course closed for business in 2019.

Hawthorne Valley Golf Club in Solon is a Donald Ross design that is considered one of the best public golf courses in Ohio. Since opening in 1926, the course has undergone several improvements over the years that have built upon its longstanding reputation. It became more challenging while maintaining its classic design. The layout features numerous strategically placed bunkers as well as water hazards on several holes. The greens and fairways are also kept in immaculate condition. The final trio of holes is the most challenging on the course. The 16th is a long par 4 with a sloped fairway, and there is a lake on the left side of the fairway on the 17th. Hawthorne Valley Golf Club's finishing hole is a tricky par 4 that doglegs left and plays uphill.

Course Details

Year Built 1926
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Donald Ross (1926)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Caddies Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed No
Walking Allowed No
Dress code Collared shirt and bermuda shorts required. NOT permitted are denim, cargo shorts and cargo pants, sweat pants, cut-offs, bathing suits, and tank tops.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks, Grill, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Banquet Facilities

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Ohio (2015 #19)

Reviews

4.0
165 Reviews (165)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 8
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 23
Narrow Fairways 20
Bunkers 17
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 21
Locals 16
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 15
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 18
In the 'Burbs 13
Worth the Drive 13

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 0-4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Good Value for a nice course!

Other than really slow play on a Friday it was great. I ended up going off the back 9 and it was wide open. The front was jammed up all day so even when I finished the back 9 I had really slow play on the front. But the course was good and some tight fairways makes for some tough shots. Some blind tee shots. You really have to play the right distance a lot. Makes it fairly challenging. I will play again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
2da7fd53-6f79-5764-92aa-62d11c7cb9d2
Commented on 07/12/2016

danders1,

Thank you for the great 4-Star review! We are sorry to hear you had a slow pace of play, but we hope you give the course another shot soon!

Best regards,
Hawthorne Valley Management

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great Value

This Donald Ross course is in excellent condition and was a very good value. Many players, but our foursome finished in 4 hours and 20 minutes.

Happy to see it reopen !!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
2da7fd53-6f79-5764-92aa-62d11c7cb9d2
Commented on 06/23/2016

Stencew,

Thank you for your wonderful 5-Star review! We are happy to hear you found value in the course. Come play again soon!

Best regards,
Hawthorne Valley Management

Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

poor management

Several player's had to wait for a cart as there was not enough.And at the turn.could not get a hot dog as there wasd not any ready
Will not be back again.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
2da7fd53-6f79-5764-92aa-62d11c7cb9d2
Commented on 06/23/2016

Dear navigater,

We are sorry to hear you did not have a good experience with us at the course. Please, email us directly at hawthornevalleygolfclub@gmail.com, so that we can sort something out with you and further discuss your concerns. We hope you give us another shot, so that we may exceed your expectations next time.

Best regards,
Hawthorne Valley Management

Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Good Conditions

The course was in good condition. There was no starter or marshalls. I had a group in front that was extremely slow. Would have like to have someone push them a bit.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice old style

A lot of great features on this course. Need to play it a few times to learn how to score. A few blind shots. Only complaint is the ball washers were empty but it is early in the season. This is a very fun course.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Hawthorne valley

Nice course with a variety of shots that need to be hit the only thing I would like to see are some visible yardage markers on the course. At this point only 200 yards out is painted on cart path and some sprinkler heads in some fairways which the gentleman in the pro shop said " are not easy to find" . Other than that a nice place to play.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 158
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 100 Contributor
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

Course in exceptional shape

This is the first time I have played here and this course will certainly be on my recurring schedule. The fairways and greens are in wonderful condition and will only get better as the weather improves. There are many challenging holes and narrow fairways as well as several blind shots. I highly recommend you give this course a chance as you will be hooked like I am!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

The course has a great layout

The conditions of the course we're average considering it's the middle of December. The course layout is great and demands you to use all the clubs in your bag.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Fall golf at its best

Considering it was November 2nd you could not ask for better more playable conditions. And the course layout is outstanding. I am a big Donald Ross fan and this Hawthorne Valley does not disappoint.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Hidden Germ

Gorgeous view and great value. Strongly recommend this course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Very nice old Donald Ross course

Played on a beautiful fall day before all the mayhem of leaves everywhere, and it was very challenging and enjoyable. A lot of dogleg tee shots, some made more difficult due to 1st time playing. Greens rolled nice but I was surprised how many ball marks were not fixed given the quality of players there. Sad. A few barren hard pan areas, but that is more and more common given costs, weather, and more. So I except it now if it isn't everywhere, like here. Rough was challenging. Slower than I like just due to players ahead who probably should consider going to a less difficult course. Am going back again for sure. Note: bought on golfnow but same price as at the course, so I wasted the extra fee they charged. Call first for rates...

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Only go if you have time

It looked great on line and in person practice range is irons only. Putting green very nice.

My complaint is, they had a huge back up of 3 foursomes of ladies and 3 foursome of older gentleman. Now, I do not have a problem with either playing with women or older clientele, but they struggled like crazy to get off the tees and the course seemed to just keep selling tee times. Just my 2 cents

Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Lots of lefts

Beautiful course. Lots of left doglegs. If I could draw a ball I could have taken off 5 strokes. It was my 1st time playing so I know what to expect in my next round. Enjoyed!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

round I played

well kept course. Interesting holes, a lot of fun!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excellent Condition beautiful golf course

Great condition, beautiful course due to a large labor force and an obvious quality commitment by management .
Challenging design with excellent but fair greens. A true hidden treasure at a great value.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

TRICKY BUT FAIR

ENJOYED PLAYING; IT OFFERED UNIQUE SHOTS AND SMALLER WELL TRAPPED GREENS.
WAS NOT BUSY ON A MONDAY AND PLAYED 18 IN 135 MIN. LIKED THAT

Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Small slow greens

Overall this is not a bad course but the greens are very small and when we played them they were extremely slow. Lots of doglegs and blind shots so knowing where to hit drives was essential. Yardage was poorly marked in fairways so had to use a lot of guess work. Pace of play was not an issue as we played in just at 4 hours on a fairly busy Sunday afternoon. We played under a golfnow.com rate which made it barely acceptable for what he got but would not have been happy to pay the published walk in public rate.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

Hawthorne Country club

Course was wet and extremely muggy the back nine was much drier. Small greens lots of dog legs.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A donald Ross gem

Beautiful Donald Ross design, tight tough track ,very small greens. Course knowledge very helpful in knowing which side of fairway to favor to open up clear approach shots to the green. Highly recommended

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

perfect round

one of the best course near east side of Cleveland!! Perfect!!

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