Manakiki Golf Course

Manakiki Golf Course occupies rolling terrain in Willoughby Hills, a suburb east of Cleveland in northeastern Ohio. The course was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1928 as a public facility operated by the Cleveland Metroparks system. Ross routed the layout across natural elevation changes characteristic of the region's glacially formed landscape, incorporating wooded corridors and open meadow areas that define the playing corridors. The design reflects Ross's approach to public golf during this era, with strategic bunkering and greens that reward thoughtful approach play without requiring excessive length. Craig Schreiner undertook restoration work in the 1990s to reclaim original Ross design elements that had been altered or lost over decades of maintenance evolution. This work focused on bunker restoration, green contour recovery, and clearing sightlines to reestablish the intended strategic options from the tee and fairway. The course measures around 6,500 yards from the back tees and plays as a par 71, with variety in hole length and direction that takes advantage of the property's natural movement. Manakiki serves as a daily-fee course within the Cleveland Metroparks system and attracts both local golfers and visitors interested in accessible Ross designs. The wooded setting and mature tree canopy give the course a parkland character, while the preserved green complexes offer the subtlety and challenge associated with Ross's design philosophy. The facility maintains its role as a public golf resource while preserving the architectural integrity of its original design.