The Country Club (Pepper Pike)

Founded on the shores of Lake Erie in the 1800s, members of the Country Club became enamored with the game of golf soon after the club was established. The city of Cleveland was growing and encroaching on the club’s initial property, ultimately leading the members to move out to Shaker Heights. There, a large piece of land with many distinct features presented a far more interesting property on which to lay out a golf course. Philadelphia architect William Flynn was brought in to design the course, routing the front nine on the property's more gentle land and saving some drama for the inward nine.

Like many courses, the Country Club lost some of its character over the years, leading to a course that felt tired and in need of some TLC. Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner were hired in the early 2020s to restore and renovate the course. With green and corridor expansions and character reinfused into the bunkering, the Country Club is a design that properly highlights its amazing landscape.

Take Note…

Back to the Future.  William Flynn originally planned for the 18th green to be in its current location, but that green was never built. Clubhouse plans forced Flynn to shorten the closing hole and it stayed that way for nearly 100 years. In Hanse and Wagner’s renovation, they extended the 18th in accordance with Flynn’s plan, removing the short-game area in the process.

Sighting Gap. Described by William Flynn as “sighting gap,” the view off the 15th tee is a unique visual. The landing area is blind, leaving the player with a dramatic and somewhat unnerving tee shot. As Gil Hanse said, “When you see something and think ‘Wow, I’ve never seen that before,’ that gets you excited.”

‍Use the right address. The Country Club in Pepper Pike abuts Pepper Pike Club, an entirely different country club and another William Flynn original. Double-check the GPS when driving up.

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