More Than a Golf Course
Highland Park Golf Course isn’t just 36 holes of golf. It’s a place where generations of Clevelanders learned the game, where legends walked the fairways, and where a community has gathered for nearly a century. Today, the Highland Park Golf Foundation is writing the next chapter.
A Storied History
Established in 1927 in Highland Hills, Ohio, Highland Park Golf Course was designed by Grange “Sandy” Alves, the Midwest associate of legendary architect Donald Ross. Spanning more than 300 acres of rolling terrain with Mill Creek winding through its holes, Highland quickly became a beloved fixture of Cleveland’s public golf landscape.
The course has deep roots in the game’s history. Highland was home to legendary golf professional Charlie Sifford, a pioneer who broke barriers as the first official Black player on the PGA Tour. During the 1960s, the course hosted the Cleveland Open, drawing icons like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player.
Though located just outside Cleveland’s city limits, the course is owned by the City of Cleveland and sits just streets away from the renowned Canterbury Golf Club. For generations, it served as a hub for minority golfers in the region and a gathering place for leagues, high school teams, and everyday players.
A Groundbreaking Legacy
Long before inclusion was a national conversation, Highland Park was already living it. In an era when most American golf courses were closed to Black players, Highland stood apart as one of only two courses in the Cleveland region that welcomed African-American golfers. Today, it is the only one of those two still in existence.
Highland was a frequent course for legendary PGA Professional Charlie Sifford, the first Black golfer to earn a PGA Tour card, and a gathering place for the region's Black golf community for generations. The course hosted the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship (formerly the NCAA Minority Golf Championship) nine times, welcoming the next generation of players to a place that had always made room for them.
That legacy isn't just history. It's the foundation of everything we're building. Highland was opened to all from the beginning, and today it remains a course where every golfer belongs, regardless of background, income, or experience.
The Challenge
In recent years, Highland Park fell into decline. The golf shop sat nearly empty, carts were unreliable, and the course often closed by midafternoon. Without investment or a clear path forward, the facility seemed destined for closure.
But Cleveland wasn’t ready to let go.
A Community-Driven Revival
Recognizing Highland’s significance, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb championed the course’s revival, viewing it as a landmark worthy of restoration, much like the city’s efforts to revitalize Shaker Square and the West Side Market.
Following a competitive bid process, the City of Cleveland awarded management rights to the Highland Park Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the course’s restoration and sustainability. The Foundation partnered with Troon, one of the world’s leading golf management companies, to run daily operations and with Down to Earth for turf and landscape care. The Foundation was driven by a dedicated group of Cleveland leaders making up the Board of Trustees.
The results have been immediate and visible. The 2025 season marked Highland’s strongest performance in decades. A brand-new driving range opened in October. The golf shop has been fully renovated and restocked. A refreshed fleet of carts replaced the aging ones. Both courses now welcome players from sunrise to sunset, all season long.
The Vision Ahead
The Foundation’s work is just beginning.
Plans on the horizon include:
An indoor learning center to grow the game year-round
TopTracer range technology at the new driving range
Renovations to the Blue Course
Walking paths and community park improvements
Clubhouse upgrades and enhanced food and beverage options
Bring a national tournament back to the course
Highland Park Golf Course is a cherished Cleveland landmark, and its best days are ahead.
