Sleepy Hollow Golf Course celebrates 100 years
by Dan Holland
Sleepy Hollow Golf Course, located at 9445 Brecksville Rd., kicked off its 100th birthday celebration May 24 with a special centennial golf outing and proclamation from Mayor Daryl Kingston commemorating the milestone.
The Cleveland Metroparks-owned 18-hole championship course, which provides a classic “out and in” layout with sweeping views of the Cuyahoga River Valley, is currently ranked as the No. 2 municipal golf course in Ohio. The course has hosted numerous amateur and professional events over the years, including qualifying events for the USGA championships and the Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship.
The course first opened as a private country club in 1924 on land leased from the Metroparks. It became a public course in 1963.
“It’s huge to have a facility here that’s open to the public that is of this caliber of a golf course,” said Clubhouse Manager Rena Galeti. “We are very highly-ranked among public courses, and for the public to have access to it is huge.”
The rolling terrain of the course, which is part of the 4,000-acre Brecksville Reservation, offers a unique playing opportunity, says Galeti. “The caliber of course that it is makes it unique,” she said. “For a public course, it plays as a championship course. It features a natural layout that isn’t manmade that follows the rolling terrain. It’s very tranquil and offers long-distance views that put you at peace.”
A specially-designed “100 year” logo adorns merchandise available at the club shop, including golf balls, apparel, stickers, scorecards and other items.
“We have this outing today, which we’ve been planning for months, that I’m very excited about,” said Galeti, a golf and tennis enthusiast and Brecksville resident. “There’s a lot of excitement around this event, because this is our course and we’re so proud of it. It reflects who we are and our staff here is amazing.”
The facility offers a golf pro shop with merchandise sales, golf lessons, cart rentals, a driving range, putting greens, private event space rentals and other amenities.
Plans for additional events are currently in the works, according to GaGaleti.l
“I want to do some family events and get the younger families involved,” she said. “We’ll be doing some ‘Rocking on the Range’ themes, and we’re throwing around some other ideas as well.”
“We have access to the Cleveland Metroparks’ resources – they support us and we support them,” she added. “They have a mobile nature center to possibly bring out for our Rock on the Range event. We want to host special events for the rest of the community that couldn’t be here today for our kickoff.”
“I’m really happy to be here to do this dedication for Sleepy Hollow Golf Course – not only to recognize it as one of the top municipal courses in the state of Ohio – but this proclamation enshrines the long-term relationship the city of Brecksville has with not only Sleepy Hollow Golf Course, but with the Cleveland Metroparks,” said Kingston. “From this day forward, May 24 will be known as ‘Sleepy Hollow 100th Anniversary Day.’” ∞
Brecksville Mayor Daryl Kingston reads a proclamation recognizing the course’s 100 years in operation.
Photo (main/above): Golfers Zach Durant, John Alberty, Brian Alquist and Jim Gilbride prepare to tee off at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course during the 100th birthday golf outing. Photos by Dan Holland.