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I asked around, but I still haven't found out why this course is called "Hawthorne Valley," whose name I associate with Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I normally play by myself, but today, I paired up with two gentlemen with a good sense of humor. While the course was wet here and there after the previous night's heavy rain, the play went on the whole quite smoothly.

I think Hawthorne Valley is on a par with other well-known courses around Cleveland, such as Manakiki, Fowler's Mill, St. Denise, Chardon Lakes, Wicked Woods, Tanglewood, etc in maintenance and difficulty.

I have been playing golf in the Cleveland area for the past 20 years or so, and It is only this year that I heard of this course for the first time. I played at Chardon Lakes (it's very good course) a number of times, but to my chagrin, I wasn't aware of St. Denis. This course is a very good course. it's very well maintained. The layout is interesting and challenging. The staff are very friendly. The course is quiet, unlike some other courses, not bothered by nearby heavy traffic and/or aircrafts from a nearby airport.

Unlike some other courses, St. Denis, like Hawthorne Valley, is very relaxed about power carts going into the parking lot, which to me, who am senior, is one luxury.

St. Denis, whose name intrigues me, will be one of my favorite courses from this year on. Driving through the beautiful countryside to get there is also fun and pleasant. It's a treat for me.

This is the second time I play this course. I want to play here as much as possible before snow sets in. Many of the holes here are doglegged and very challenging (and fun). The course still retains elegance and luxury of the former private golf course. Also, unlike other stuck-up courses, they are not fussy about power carts entering the parking lot. Another sign of luxury and relaxation?

Hawthorn or Hawthorne? If Hawthorn, Hawthorne Valley probably means a valley of hawthorn (berry bearing shrubs), but if it's Hawthorne, I don't know what it means or where it's from. Hawthorne is the name of the author of The Scarlet Letter.

I heard that this course was originally private, and it became public only recently (5 years ago?). I think this (the fact it was once private) tells a lot about the course. In almost every aspect, it is simply excellent (luxurious?). (Well, the only problem is the old power carts, many of which don't quickly respond to acceleration.) The people working here are very polite, relaxed, and friendly unlike those authoritative attendants of the likes of Big Met and Manakiki. At Big Met and Manakiki, I was ordered to "consolidate" (i.e., abandon my cart and ride someone else's) as, I suspect, some kind of punishment for "offending" them. At Big Met, for instance, I drove my cart near the far-away parking lot (I didn't enter the lot, as the sign said it was forbidden) to pick up my heavy-duty golf bag. The attendant scolded me for that and (because of that, I suspect) made me "consolidate." About the same (I'll skip the details) occurred at Manakiki.

At Hawthorne Valley, they told me I was free to drive my cart into the parking lot to pick up my bag. As far as I saw, no one left cart in the lot.

In any case, Hawthorne Valley escaped my notice on Golfnow until last Monday. I live not far (20 minutes or so) from the course. Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, might have been alienating me from the course. I wonder why the area is called "Hawthorne Valley." Any relationship with Nathaniel Hawthorne?

The couple (I was to play with them, but they teed off a few minutes before the designated tee time. What was the attendant doing?) ahead of me was a bit slow, which was frustrating. Other than that, the play was enjoyable. The course was fairly challenging to me, and I had fun.

Pace was very slow, and because of this I missed an appointment. Maybe because the course is said to close after this season, many people, including myself, seem to come here to play.

This is a very interesting and challenging course. If either this or shawnee hills must be closed, I think shawnee hills should be closed. Shawnee hills is a good course, but Astorhurst is better.

Well manicured beautiful course. This course is going to be one of my favorite ones.