
Catawba Island Course
Catawba Island Club



About this course
Catawba Island Club sits on a peninsula jutting into Lake Erie near Port Clinton, Ohio, in a region known for its waterfront recreation and island-hopping tourism. The course was designed by Arthur Hills with Chips Letterhos, reflecting Hills's characteristic approach to working with natural terrain and creating strategic variety within the landscape. Hills, an Ohio native who designed numerous courses across the Midwest, typically emphasized playability for members while incorporating thoughtful bunkering and green complexes that reward precision. The property occupies relatively flat terrain typical of the Lake Erie shoreline, though the design likely uses subtle elevation changes, water features, and native grasses to create definition and challenge. The routing takes advantage of the peninsula setting, with holes potentially offering views across the water and exposure to the winds that sweep off Lake Erie. These conditions can significantly affect play, particularly on approach shots where club selection becomes critical. As a private club in a seasonal resort area, Catawba Island Club serves members who appreciate the region's maritime character and relaxed summer atmosphere. The course provides a retreat for golf within a community oriented toward boating, fishing, and lake life. The layout offers a balance between challenge and enjoyment suited to regular member play, with design features that encourage strategic thinking without overwhelming difficulty. The club functions as a centerpiece for a residential community that values both the game and the distinctive setting along Ohio's northern coast.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in OH
Quick facts
- Location
- Port Clinton, OH, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1928
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- Arthur Hills, Chips Letterhos
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,729 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.8/136
- Course Vaults score
- 8.0
Getting there
The journey to Catawba Island Club begins at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), roughly ninety minutes southwest of Port Clinton, or alternatively through Toledo Express Airport (TOL), situated about an hour to the west. From either hub, the drive traces a gentle path north through Ohio's agricultural landscape before the terrain softens into the Lake Erie shoreline, where the air itself seems to shift with the proximity of water. The final miles wind through the quiet residential streets of Catawba Island's peninsula, a narrow spit of land cradled by the lake, before arriving at the club's gates - a transition from the modern world into one of the Midwest's most storied and deliberately private golf sanctuaries, where membership has remained a closely guarded privilege for generations.

FAQ
Common questions about Catawba Island
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Catawba Island has a Course Vaults score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 13 logged golfers.
Catawba Island was designed by Arthur Hills and Chips Letterhos.
Catawba Island is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Catawba Island is 72.
Catawba Island plays 6,729 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Catawba Island is 136.



