About
Hole 17
Opened
in 1928 , the city-owned golf course boasts a rich history . Not only is it where Cleveland native Bob Hope played his first round of golf , it is also where some of golf ’ s greatest players , including Arnold Palmer , Jack Nicklaus , and Tony Lema , competed in the mid-1960s as part of the PGA Tour ’ s Cleveland Open . Highland Park Golf Course has an undeniable historical and cultural significance . Highland was the home course of Charlie Sifford , who is known as the “ Jackie Robinson of Golf .” Dr . Sifford was the first African American to play and win on the PGA Tour , and to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame . Therefore , the course ' s legacy is one of inclusivity and accessibility for all golfers . Highland also hosted the inaugural PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship in 1987 , at which African American golf stars ( including Lee Elder , Charlie Sifford , Calvin Peete , Jim Dent , and Renee Powell ) held free golf clinics for the community . After the Minority Golf Championship moved locations , Highland launched a Cleveland Minority Scholarship tournament . The opportunity to play golf at minority colleges was often rare and so players would come from all across the country to compete . The program also included funding and scholarships for minority colleges to create golf teams in an effort to diversify the sport . We are proud to continue this effort today . In 2022 , the City of Cleveland , recognizing the significance of the facility to the local community , made the decision to request proposals for the revitalization and long-term management of Highland Park . Several local business and community leaders with common interest in Highland ’ s future took notice of the opportunity , leading to the formation of the Highland Park Golf Foundation ( HPGF ), a 501 ( c )( 3 ) organization dedicated to restoring Highland Park ’ s key role in the community . In May 2023 , HPGF was awarded a 20-year contract to operate and rejuvenate Highland Park and partnered with Troon Golf – the worldwide leader in golf course management – to manage daily operations and advise in long term planning .
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