Manakiki Golf Course

Manakiki Golf Course is a Public 18 hole golf course located 17 miles east of downtown Cleveland in Willoughby, Ohio. Its name is believed to be a Native American word for maple forest and was suggested by the predominance of maples along tree-lined fairways. Manakiki is one of eight courses that are a part of the Cleveland Metroparks system.

The 200 acres on which Manakiki sits were originally the summer estate of Howard Hanna, a Cleveland industrialist. The property was then obtained by a group from the Willowick Club and converted into Manakiki Country Club. The Hanna Mansion was turned into the clubhouse. Designed by Donald J. Ross, the Manakiki golf course opened in 1928.

In 1944, the property owners offered to donate the course to the city of Cleveland. The city graciously declined to offer and it was then sold to Cleveland Metroparks for one dollar, under the condition that it must forever remain a golf course. A plaque in honor of the former owners still stands near the 18th green.

From 1944 through 1960, Manakiki was operated as a private country club. On January 1, 1961, after the country club's lease was not renewed, Manakiki was open for public play.

Manakiki offers many great holes; #8 was considered the most difficult par 4 hole on tour in the '50s when Manakiki hosted the Carling Open. Hole #15 has also been selected as one of Cleveland's best par 3 holes. An electric trolley once carried golfers from the 15th green up the steep slope to the #16 tee. The mirror image canyon holes #10 and #18 are among the finest start and finish to nine holes in the country.

In 1990, a master plan was developed to renovate the golf course and restore much of its original character. The plan included installing water and irrigation systems, building a pond on hole #3, and restoring a pond at hole #15. Tees were rebuilt or restored on holes 6, 8, 9, 13, and 15. A continuous cart path was also constructed to assure that golf carts may operate regardless of weather conditions. In addition, sand bunkers that were taken out will gradually be restored to their original state.

Par for the course is 72. From the back tees, the course plays to 6,625 yards. From the forward tees, the course measures 5,390 yards. The longest hole on the course is # 6, a par-5 that plays to 568 yards. The shortest hole on the course is # 5, a par-3 that plays to 138 yards from the back tees.

Watch out for # 8, a 443 yard par-4 challenge and the #1 handicap hole on the course. The easiest hole at Manakiki is # 12, a 479 yard par-5.