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Cleveland’s Heritage Greens: A Journey Through Time on Cleveland’s Oldest Golf Courses

Aug. 12 2025 golf courses By Joseph Powell

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1. The Country Club & Cleveland Golf Club – The Roots of Golf in Cleveland

It all began in 1889, when Cleveland’s elite horseback riders formed the Country Club as “a club in the country for picnics and parties.” Their pastime blossomed when club president Samuel Mather brought back a love for golf from St. Andrews, leading to the creation of the Cleveland Golf Club—the first golf course west of the Appalachians—opening in 1895 . This modest 9-hole layout near Lake Erie sowed the seeds for organized golf in our region.



2. Euclid Club, Mayfield, and the Birth of Shaker Heights Country Club

At the turn of the century, golf fever spread. The Euclid Club opened in 1900, backed by none other than John D. Rockefeller. Internal disagreements led to the formation of Shaker Heights Country Club in 1913—land donated by the Van Sweringen brothers and a clubhouse by architect Frank B. Mead. The course was masterfully designed by Donald J. Ross, with the full 18 holes ready by July of 1915 (Case Western Reserve University, shakerheightscc.org).




3. Canterbury Golf Club: A Champion’s Stage

Founded in 1921 and opening in 1922, Canterbury Golf Club was born from friendly rivalry and golf passion. Founders held challenge matches that evolved into a full-fledged club. Designed by architects Herbert Strong and C.H. Allison, Canterbury has since hosted an astonishing array of major championships—Western Opens, U.S. Opens, Amateurs, and more—featuring legends like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Walter Hagen. 

4. A New Era: Public Courses and Metroparks Legacy

Golf’s popularity boomed post-1920s. The Metropolitan No. 1 course opened in 1925 as the first public course in Cleveland’s Metroparks system. By 1930, eight public courses were available to all (. Among these, notable treasures include:

  • Sleepy Hollow (1925) by Stanley Thompson, a challenging layout nestled in the Cuyahoga River Valley and consistently ranked among the state’s top municipal courses.
  • Manakiki (early 1920s), a Donald Ross classic with dynamic elevation changes.
  • Seneca (1940–41), which hosted PGA events and saw legends like Palmer and Nicklaus walk its fairways.

Why It Matters

Each of these courses carries a story—not just of golf, but of our city's evolution. From clubhouses fueled by horseback riders to public greens open to all, these fairways reflect Cleveland’s spirit of innovation and community. Whether you’re gearing up for a ride around town or headed out to tee off, knowing this legacy enriches every round.

Ready to bring history along for the ride? At Lake Erie Golf Cars, we’re as passionate about storytelling as we are about delivering your perfect ride—through every era, color, and course.