Westfield Center, Ohio
Westfield Country Club’s South Course is a model of parkland excellence, blending tradition and recent architectural innovation. With top-tier course conditioning and a pedigree of elite amateur hosts, it brings classic championship shot values to the Ohio scene. If you treasure routed parkland golf that’s not stuffy, this is Northeast Ohio’s hidden ace.
On the 18th green, ask a local member to show you the infamous putt from above the cup—it’s a rite of passage for guests.
Westfield Country Club’s South Course is a study in modernized parkland architecture. Geoffrey Cornish’s broad, flowing corridors give way to a strategic rhythm enhanced by the Hurdzan team’s careful renovation—greens are notably more contoured, fairways are wide enough to tempt bold play, and hazards are positioned to reward shotmaking. Water, hardwood groves, and a variety of doglegs create a dynamic route that never feels repetitive. Despite decades of championship pedigree, the layout retains the feel of a welcoming members’ course: one you want to play again and again, especially after the polished updates.
The successful partnership of Geoffrey Cornish’s substantial routing and the Hurdzan duo’s thoughtful, modern renovation elevates Westfield’s South Course beyond the typical Midwest parkland circuit.
At 211 yards from the Blue tee, the 7th plays into prevailing wind and demands a full-blooded long iron. Missing the narrow green leaves a truly tough up-and-down.
Play for the fat of the green—even single-putt glory is better than tangled rough or deep bunkers lurking short or left.
Miss left and you’ll face a tricky, downhill chip; club selection is everything when wind swirls off the trees.
Impeccable fairways and true greens with attention to detail throughout.
Leisurely member pace—18 in under 4:15 outside event weekends.
Classic, polished, and friendly; welcoming to serious play but never pretentious.
Standard country club attire recommended; collared shirts and appropriate golf shorts or pants.
Short-yardage control will set you up for birdies on Westfield’s risk-reward par 4s and 5s.
Several one-shotters, especially No. 7, play much longer when the wind is up—be ready for a full-iron test.
Westfield’s famous slopes, especially the finishing green, demand you dial in pace and aim before the round.
The closing stretch is both a scoring and a survival test—don’t rush those final five holes.
Club opens with 9 holes in rural northeast Ohio
Junior Ryder Cup played at Westfield; Rory McIlroy and Tony Finau compete
U.S. Women's Amateur held at Westfield
Ohio Open returns for championship centennial
When the Junior Ryder Cup arrived in 2004, a teenage Rory McIlroy flashed his talent on Ohio ground, dueling with other top young stars on the North Course. Years later, many members still mention the sight of future major champs walking their fairways.
The South’s 18th isn’t the longest, but its severe right-to-left sloping green has shattered more scorecards than any other at Westfield. The caddies say 'Don’t leave yourself above the hole—unless you want a three-putt to remember.'
From a modest 1930s nine to a massive Hurdzan-led rebuild, Westfield’s history is one of quietly evolving ambition. Few Midwest courses combine such championship hosting history with fresh, modern routing as seamlessly.
Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, and Tom Weiskopf have all raised trophies at Westfield through storied Ohio Opens. The legacy and memories of those legendary winners linger with every member round.
The South Course’s 18th green is so famous for its slope that members stage friendly competitions putting from above the hole.
Westfield’s North Course was radically transformed after 2018 into a prairie-inspired, Scottish-tinged test.
Jack Nicklaus is among the legendary winners at Westfield, claiming the Ohio Open in his youth.
The club has hosted two USGA national amateur championships and the Junior Ryder Cup.
Westfield’s entire clubhouse and sporting campus were rebuilt in 2026—though the routing remains true to Cornish and Hurdzan’s design.
Host of numerous PGA Tour events—one of the nation’s most storied courses.
Full-featured Donald Ross classic offering public play and tournament-quality greens.
Accessible, challenging, and well-conditioned—perfect for an add-on round.
Highly ranked, Pete Dye–designed public track with a reputation for great design.
Classic, tree-lined private play with strong local prestige.
Akron or Fairlawn for central access, lodging, and dining.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: If Westfield Country Club is your kind of course, Pocasset Golf Club is worth a look because it puts the same premium on presentation.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. North Fork Country Club offers similarly polished playing surfaces, making it a compelling counterpart to Westfield Country Club.
Why it matches: What links these two? Puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Belleair Country Club's own setting.
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Community Sentiment
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