With both courses at Coto being unavailable due to the "Windmill Classic" on Friday & Saturday, was looking for somewhere to play which did not charge weekend rates and was not too far from home. Deci... Continue »

With both courses at Coto being unavailable due to the "Windmill Classic" on Friday & Saturday, was looking for somewhere to play which did not charge weekend rates and was not too far from home. Decided that Willowick might fit the bill.

Arrived at 5:45am on a misty, drizzly morning and only one other person was there, so no issue getting out right at 6am. As I was waiting for the shop to open, I could see just how much conditions in general had deteriorated. After playing the first two holes, I came to the conclusion that this is what a golf course looks like just before it dies. It was just awful and depressing. However, as the round progressed, things did improve and by the back nine, it almost looked like a golf course again. Fairways on the back had decent coverage, greens were at best fair, but at least were puttable. The greenside bunkers were actually not bad. Reasonable amount of well-maintained sand.

It had been a few years since a last played here and will probably be a while before I return. But I think there is a place for Willowick type course and pleased to see that they have not yet closed the doors here. Golf needs basic, no frills, inexpensive walkable courses. I can't in good conscious recommend playing this course as it exists now, but I do remember when this place was actually "alive"