History:
Golfweek magazine has ranking Sleepy Hollow Golf Course the #1 municipal course in Ohio and the #14 in America. With its spectacular views of Cuyahoga River Valley and classic layout, Sleepy Hollow Golf Course ranks as one of the great golf challenges in Cleveland. The punitive nature of the course is clearly evident by the deep ravines and 58 bunkers that can come into play on its 18 holes. The greens are clearly the main challenge on many holes. "Stay below the hole" is the best advice on these greens that can be very steep.
The course was designed by Stanley Thompson, a member of the Royal Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. It opened in 1924 as a private country club on land leased from Cleveland Metroparks and was opened to public play in 1963. The course is set up as a classic "out and in" layout. The early holes on both nines play down hill and down the prevailing wind, therefore seeming shorter than the yardage indicates. The incoming holes play uphill and into the wind making them play surprisingly long.
It would be hard to find another course in Northeast Ohio where so many holes are praised for their aesthetic beauty as well as their challenge. Hole #2 is an impressive par 3 and with the tees back, it's a driver tee shot for all but the longest of hitters. Followed by the par 4 hole #3, which stretches 481 yards from the back tee. The back nine is shorter and more strategic. It features #14, a short par 5 and #17, a short par 4 which are both classic risk/reward holes!
Sleepy Hollow has been the site for many amateur and professional events including qualifying events for USGA championships and every other year hosting the Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship.
