Profile of The Country Club in Pepper Pike Ohio is posted

[jonathan_becker]

It's interesting because outside of this discussion board and even throughout most of NE Ohio, no one really knows about this place.  Before I got into GCA, I thought there was just Pepper Pike CC (as do a lot of people in Ohio).  Most people have no idea that the two courses are across the street from one another.  However, with the women's am coming soon and through sites like this, the secrecy of this place is being lifted.

[Will E]

Can someone explain to me what this course is missing that keeps it out of the top 100?
 
Perhaps having no expectations when I visited helped the course some, however I keep replaying the course in my head and truly think it's one of the finest courses I've seen.

[jonathan_becker]

Can someone explain to me what this course is missing that keeps it out of the top 100?
 

I would like to know the answer to that question as well.   


A recent shot of #17 for the fans

[BHoover]

Becker, you make a good point about the anonymity of TCC, even in NE Ohio. I've never had the pleasure of playing there (hopefully soon). But how do you think TCC compares to the other heavyweights in the area, such as Canterbury, Kirtland, Brookside? Even less well known is the Pepper Pike Club across the street? How does that compare?

These pictures look fantastic.

[jonathan_becker]

Hoover,

I've never played The Pepper Pike Club and I'll leave my beloved Brookside out of this since it's in Canton ,  but I think that TCCPP is the best among the remaining 3.   Kirtland and Canterbury are outstanding places to play as well and I love playing them both but this place gets my vote for a complete 1-18.  It's just personal preference.

You'll be amazed at the property and how the holes are routed with the elevation changes.   You grew up in NE Ohio too so you know the land, but this place is different than anything I've played in the area. 

One last shot with the par 3 14th






 

[BHoover]

The land on the east side of Cleveland is incredible for golf. Much more interesting than what we have here in the Columbus area. Just seeing these pictures makes me anxious for next spring and the hope that I can get up to TCC. Definitely need to go to next year's women's am just to see the place in person.

[Dean DiBerardino]

Can someone explain to me what this course is missing that keeps it out of the top 100?
 
Perhaps having no expectations when I visited helped the course some, however I keep replaying the course in my head and truly think it's one of the finest courses I've seen.

Is it possible that the members at Country are less concerned about golf course rankings and does not "promote" itself to the raters from the various publications?

[Michael George]

There have been recent renovations to CC, Kirtland and Brookside that have greatly improved the courses.  I think they remained quiet prior to their renovations because there were problems with the courses.  However, I don't think any of them are trying not to be ranked.  It is just harder to create buzz about a renovated course than a new course.

I believe the all 3 of the foregoing are better than Scioto and Double Eagle in Ohio, which are always in the top 100's.  Why they are not ranked as such in Golf Digest and Golf's rankings, I have no idea (Brookside is 69 in Classic Courses in Golfweek). 

There are a lot of great courses in the country that are not top 100.  These are just 3 of them. Ballyneal just barely cracked Golf Digest's top 100.  Plus, great courses like Dismal River, Baltimore CC, Holston Hills, Kingsley and Lancaster are not in all of the top 100's. 

[Will E]

Michael,
I'm curious as to which courses you feel belong in the top 100 that are now missing.

I found Country Club to be so much better than Canterbury that it's not even worth comparing them to each other.
Still wondering what flaws in the design that I'm not seeing.

[Phil McDade]

Michael,
I'm curious as to which courses you feel belong in the top 100 that are now missing.

I found Country Club to be so much better than Canterbury that it's not even worth comparing them to each other.
Still wondering what flaws in the design that I'm not seeing.

Shooter:

I'm loathe to compare the two, because I haven't played them, only walked one fairly extensively (Canterbury). But, having grown up in NE  Ohio, I can say that the TCC -- among the top-tier clubs in that area in terms of quality architecture -- may keep the lowest profile of any of them. In fact, get rid of the "may;" TCC's membership has always been very "old money" in Cleveland (and there's still a lot of old money in those parts), and I'm guessing they just don't care a wit about rankings, publicity or any of that. I'm still fairly astonished they agreed to host women's US Am next year.

Reminds me a bit of Milwaukee CC (near where I live now), which alot of folks around here know little about but is generally regarded as one of the best Classics in the Midwest. But you don't hear much about it.

[Michael George]

I played The Country Club (PP) yesterday and once again, I was reminded of how much I love this club... and I say club on purpose, because the total experience is quite incredible.  You simply cannot rank just the course at Country as the experience is that special.  It reminded me of Laurel Valley in that way.

On the experience, the entrance to Country is one of the best that I have seen.  Due to brick walls and the large clubhouse, you cannot see any part of the club or course from the entrance.  The grounds in this area are unbelievably maintained.  The gardens are nice, but what hits you is that the grass looks the perfectly green fairway, tightly mowed.  There is a small cut out of the wall for the bag drop and you next see your bag at the driving range with your caddie.

You walk under a canopy into a room that has Flynn's drawings for the course on both walls and then you walk down a double wide staircase into the best locker room that I have ever been in.  The story is that after Arnold Palmer played the course, he told the President of the Club that they should put in the bylaws of the club to never change the locker room.  Thirty foot ceilings, 20 foot fireplace, double wide benches, 12 foot in diameter shower heads, large screens and tables/chairs bar at the end of the locker room.  Unbelievable service.

Next to the locker room is the men's grille.  Old style with brick bar.  On top of each wall is painted names of the club champions.  Tristan Lane (son of Walker Cup player/captain) is the current dominant player at the club.  Great men's grille.  Upstairs is the more formal Flynn Grille, which has a ton of Flynn memorabilia and Walker Cup memorabilia from Mr. Lane.

30 feet outside the locker room is the driving range, which is actually fairly non-descript.  Not one of the best ranges that I have seen.

The golf course really is a lesson in routing a golf course.  It simply is seamlessly laid out over the land and provides for a very pleasant walk.  While Cascades gets a lot of recognition for its routing, I think Country is better routed than Cascades and in fact is a much better golf course than Cascades.  There has been a lot of talk about the golf course on here, so I will defer to Ran's and Wayne Morrison's reviews.  However, the praise that is provided for #17 is well deserved.  It is a unique golf hole that could never have been found by topo map. 

Yesterday confirmed to me that Country is the best overall club in northeast Ohio.   In fact, I would say that it is the best country club in Ohio - total package - appearance, service, facilities, golf course, etc...  I don't know if the golf course is better than Brookside (it is impossible to beat those greens), but I think the golf course is better than the other standouts, Kirtland and Canterbury (even though all 4 are so good that it is hard to rank them).  If you are in northeast Ohio, it is a must play.