This weekend The Dewsweepers loaded up and headed out to Hinckley at a fun course called Valleaire, right on the Medina/Cuyahoga County Line at the end of Boston Road. We all agree that Valleaire is pretty good golf. Challenging, but still a place where good ball striking can lead to low scores.
Valleaire to it's credit and charm is a no-nonsense facility. The humble clubhouse sits right on the 1st and 10th tee boxes, and friendly people always get your experience off to a good start. Tee times area good idea.
Valleaire is not overly long, but there is a bit of everything which makes it fun. Some long holes, some on a hill, some with elevated greens, some with a bit of water, there is some sand, a bunch of trees. Just a real nice mix of a few kinds of courses that make it play interestingly, and make you use all of your skills and clubs. Going out there and whamming away with the driver is not the smartest play all day long. Although Valleaire seems harmless enough as you stand on number one tee and look out at a short 285 yard par 4 up the hill. Don't let it lull you to sleep. Number 2 is all the par 4 you'll want to play at 430 yards to a tough to hit green. A living, breathing double bogey if you play it wrong.
This was the weekend that the Dewsweepers crossed over into some better golf. We all played very well, and enjoyed the great weather and fine course conditions. Beef was sailing along carefree on the front with a bevy of good shots until a bit of unraveling on number 5 a tricky par 4, where he took a double with a 1 putt. Then he got a totally unlucky break on the par 3 number 9 off the hill as he ended up in the plant box. We called it "Beef In the Box". But over all Beef was solid all day posting a very tidy 83, with 2 birdies and ton of pars, and real consistant play. Beef also threw one into the drink on the par 5 number 16, and somehow I ended up in the ditch fishing it out. We all had a laugh on that. But, that's what you do for buddies you've known 30 years. Made a nice photo opp!
Tex hit the ball as well as he has all year. Tex was striking the ball well off the tee, and of course played a nice short game around the green. He banked a few pars, including all 4 par 3's. Always good for the card. Good scoring on par 3's help any round. Well done! Tex had a tough stretch of doubles on the front, 3-6. But survived, and moved on.
Joe Red hit the ball well most of the day, although he did almost kill us on number 2, with a bad pull left, but all was good. But his putting was suspect. Red wrestled on the front, but recovered nicely on the back, eliminating short game errors, and and put up a nice 88, after shooting an uncharacteristic 47 on the front. Red's day could have been much better, but the putter let him down. I put together a nice round of 81, with three birdies, and a bunch of greens in regulation. Although I temper my enthusiasm, as I screwed up the back 9 with a triple bogey 7 on number 18, a hole I have never played well. Beef and I both could have posted rounds in the 70's with a coup[le less unforced errors.
Valleaire course highlights. Hole 2 - brutal long par 4. Number 9, an elevated par 3 tee, over water to a green 50 feet or so below. Number 10, tough par 4 over a creek, elevated green and long. And 18 a very tough driving hole par 4, as a creek cuts the fairway in half at the landing area, leaving you a long shot in to an elevated green next to the practice tee. Where you are trying not to kill people there with an errant shot in.
We all enjoyed a hot dog at the turn too. Plus, Valleaire does something really fun. They stock and serve a huge selection of "retro beer," for a really fair price. So we all had one at the turn as well. Beef a Genessee Cream Ale for his late Father-in-Law, and all around good guy Chris. Tex, a Blatz for his late father. Red, a Black Label for his dad, Paul. And me, I had a Stroh's for my late father Bob.
Over all a real good time, and place worth playing for tons of reasons. Valleaire is easy to get to, and is always in really nice shape. It's deep in the trees so it's quiet and relaxing too. This was our first trip there this summer and it won't be our last, we look forward to the next visit, with more pars, and less bogey's and more retro beer.
Scores
Wynn 81
Beef 83
Joe Red 88
Tex 97
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