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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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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.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 734
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Michigan Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing

Course Closed

I played the course several years before it closed and found it very enjoyable. It was not actually designed by Donald Ross, but there are many out there mistakenly attributed to him.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Best all aroiund golf deal in the Cleveland area

Do not fail to miss playing Hawthorne Valley.. It is challenging, yet playable by seniors or average golfers. There is lots of relief in its topography and there are challenging hazards, but they are masterabvle. The course has always been if marvelous shape when we have played it (at least once a month - usuall more often) I think that it is the most course for the money in the Cleveland area. If you try it you will be back. Great putting greens.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Bad shape :(

Course was not kept up well. Was informed a trim mower was "broken" so there was a cut that wasn't made for the entire course. Which made it possible to lose a ball 2 feet off a green if you weren't careful. Rough round...potential as a great course though!

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Response from on 10/09/2018:
Hello, on behalf of Hawthorne Valley Golf Club staff we appreciate you taking the time to address your concerns as we are always looking to improve. We are disappointed to hear that you were not happy with the conditions of the course but still hope you enjoyed your round. Again, we appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon.
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Yikes

You can see the potential and possibly what this course once was in its prime. Couldn't play a single bunker. Greens, although were a bit speedy, looked diseased, burnt out. Fairways were actually decent. Rough was... well.. rough. Torn up, long, weeds, not well kept by any stretch. If there are any grounds keepers looking for a challenge, apply now. Id love to see this course rejuvenated and back to what it was intended to be. No range, clubhouse is outdated and they ran out of hot dog buns. Don't you know fat guys need hot dogs, with buns, at the turn? Friendly staff.. but probably need some more to help bring this course back to life.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2018

Would never play here again. Played here in my league. Course is in very poor shape. Bunkers are unplayable. Fairways have no maintenance what so ever.

Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2018

Hello, on behalf of Hawthorne Valley Golf Club staff we appreciate you taking the time to address your concerns. The course faced some challenges and grounds maintenance suffered at the time you played. Since that time, we have been working diligently to overcome those challenges. Health is being restored as the disease on the greens has been cured, Rough length is returning to normalcy.

Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Previously Played

Donald Ross is Turning Over in his Grave!

I’ve played Hawthorne for years, since it became public. Ever since he new owners took over, it’s been going downhill fast. The layout is great, but the course conditions are embarrassing. Course is overpriced for what you get. Don’t play for any more than $25 for 18. This is sad.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Response from on 09/06/2018:
Hello, on behalf of Hawthorne Valley Golf Club staff we appreciate you taking the time to address your concerns as we are always looking to improve. We are disappointed to hear that you were not happy with the conditions of the course but still hope you enjoyed your round. Again, we appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon.
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Old school.

Most of the course was in fine condition except for the greens, with many being in poor condition. Even though it hasn’t rained very much there were parts of the course that were flooded. The course is definitely old school so you get tight landing areas with smaller greens but we expected that. It seems petty but the course adds on a city of Solon fee of just under $2. Booking for a certain amount and then finding this added on is disappointing, seeming a bit shady to me. We won’t go back.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Response from on 08/07/2018:
Hello, thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to review your experience with us, we truly appreciate your feedback and will certainly pass it along to our team. We hope to have another opportunity to welcome you back to the 5-star experience that you deserve.
Played On
Reviews 35
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Continues to need to TLC but generally good

Last played HVGC back in 2016 just when Davey Golf took over management. Back then said the course needed some TLC....it still does but you can see though that some work has been done.

Overall, the course itself is a gem. It's a Donald Ross design so very much about shotmaking and you will use every club in your bag.

Tee boxes, fairways, and greens were all in pretty good shape. The bunkers though.....oh, the bunkers. This was my contention with the course in 2016 and continues to be so. The bunkers appear to be the one issue where no investment is being made as these were some of the worst bunkers you can find. I'm guessing the last time new sand was put in had to be about 10 years ago. If they just invested in money to put new sand in the bunkers, oh wow, what a difference it would make. Right now, our group allowed anyone who hit into a bunker to remove the ball from the bunker since it was impossible to hit a clean bunker shot in current conditions.

Also some more pruning of trees and branches are needed. Of note is hole #7 where a big old tree with overgrown and drooping branches is essentially creating an awning over the entirety of one greenside bunker and surrounding areas making play there impossible. Some simple pruning would fix this instantly.

The course is getting there although it seems like the course is also continually on the verge of shutting down for good from the vibe one gets.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very nice course

This course is a challenge every time I play. Great value w very good staff.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Hawthorne Valley?

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.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/05/2018

Hi there. The name of the course stems from the creek which runs through it, the Hawthorne Creek. This creek is a tributary of Tinkers Creek, which itself is a tributary of the Cuyahoga River. Next time you're on the course, look for the abundant Hawthorne trees and bushes...they're all over the place, but you can see 2 glorious Hawthorne trees - and their 2" thorns - just behind where the carts are parked behind the clubhouse, as well as along #10. Thus, this area is called the "Hawthorne Valley."

Played On
Reviews 23
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

History

If you’re into the game, and the history, this is a treasure. If you’re into amenities it’s not for you.

I’ve always said bunkers are a hazard, so it’s seems a waste of money to groom them to perfection. But if you’re going to let the rough become unplayable, how much do out-of-bounds stakes cost? Greens were very slow which mitigated the difficulty of playing this maze for the first time.

I will be back; but it’s not for everyone.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Still a GREAT Round

First time playing the course in over a decade and since it converted from a private course. Conditions and Pace of Play were excellent and will keep it as one of my courses for special outings when I have out-of-town tests, etc. course is definitely a Donald Ross design and there is nothing easy about the layout. A definite challenge.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great layout but horrible condition. Bunkers were basically concrete. One even had a tree root thru it. What’s the point of having rakes if there’s no dirt or sand?? At the very least have dirt in them sheesh.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Response from on 07/11/2018:
On behalf of our staff here at Hawthorne Valley, we thank you for the feedback. We are sorry to hear about your disappointments with the condition of the bunkers. Our staff will keep working hard to keep the course in shape, and we hope you are able to see improvements the next time you are with us.
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

I’ll be back again soon

Great course w very helpful stafff.best golf value around.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice

Nice course especially for the value. It’s definitely plays short, probably why so many seniors out playing. Everyone was extremely nice and the course was in good shape for the price.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Response from on 06/28/2018:
Hello, thank you for taking the time to review our course, Hawthorne Valley Golf Club, and for the 3 stars. We hope that you enjoyed playing our golf course. It looks like you had a smooth round and a friendly experience with our staff. We're glad you received a good value for your round and had a fun time on the course. Thank you for choosing to golf with us, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Layout

The course is a great design with good mix of interesting holes. Definitely a shot makers course. If conditions were slightly better it would be one of the best public courses in the area.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Is a challenging course

The golf course was in excellent condition. This was my second time playing. It’s a good golf course worthwhile for the average golfer.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 87
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Top 500 Contributor
Ohio Advisor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Ruining a Masterpiece

Overall the course itself is in very nice shape -tees, fairways, and greens were all nicely maintained. However there are 3 issues that need addressed. 1. Trees and growth need trimmed back throughout the course. There are numerous holes where part of the tee is blocked off by tree limbs or overgrown grasses. And another 3-4 holes where a ball that lands in the wrong spot in the fairway is also blocked, or a half the green can't be targeted. 2. The pin placements, Donald Ross designed his greens tough enough without some greens keeper getting cute and putting most of the pins in inaccessible locations. The pins locations today would not allow for chips and putts to stop near the hole, and rarely rewarded good shots/chips/putts. Short putts often still had several inches of break to play. All this does is frustrate golfers, slow down play, and will cost the course repeat business. 3. The sand traps were awful, thin sand and full of pebbles & rocks. They're not the worst I've ever seen, but they need to get the proper sand in them or take them out. I hope that the ownership can get this course back to the way it should be, and conditions have improved since last year when I played, but it could be some time before I return given the issues I've pointed out above.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course!

Very nice course and layout. Greens are impeccable. I highly recommend!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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