Stanley Thompson

Brecksville, OH

Sleepy Hollow Golf Course sits within Brecksville Reservation, part of the Cleveland Metroparks system along the Cuyahoga River valley south of Cleveland. It was designed by Stanley Thompson and opened in the 1920s as a private club before the Metroparks brought it into public play in 1963. The layout runs as a classic out-and-in routing. Front-side holes play downhill and downwind, so they feel shorter than the card suggests, while the closing holes turn uphill and into the wind and play long. Several holes, including a demanding par 3 and a risk-reward short par 5 on the back nine, are frequently discussed among area golfers. The course is open to the public year round, weather permitting, with carts and a driving range on site. It has hosted USGA qualifying rounds and regional amateur events, and collared shirts are required.