Course Spotlight: Valley of the Eagles

American Golfer recently had the opportunity to play a preview round at Valley of the Eagles Golf Club - the only Nicklaus Design daily-fee course in Northern Ohio. Set on the site of the former Spring Valley Country Club and meandering along the Black River, Valley of the Eagles has been completely redesigned by the team from Nicklaus Design and is managed by industry-leading Troon. Enjoy a handful of images from the day.

The opening hole (above) is a dogleg-right par 4 playing 360 yards from the tips. Don't let the short yardage fool you, however, as water comes into play from tee to green and a pair of fairway bunkers threaten even safe tee shots.

Jack Nicklaus is known to design long par 3s. His team followed the leader with the back tee on No. 5 at Valley of the Eagles (above). This monster measures 276 yards and is all of 250 yards to carry the direct path! The four front tees are no picnic, either, with bunkers short, tall grasses right and the Black River guarding the left.

No. 10 (above) shares a tee box with No. 1 and plays in the shadow of the clubhouse, starter's station, and the future home of a Beer Garden. All this, combined with a pond, two deep bunkers and a shallow green, make this short par 3 a little intimidating.

Every course has a signature hole ... the hole everyone remembers the most. At Valley of the Eagles, that may turn out to be No. 14 (above). This par 4 requires a well-placed tee shot - too far left and you're in the Black River, while too far right and your approach becomes extremely difficult. As for that approach, it's to a tiny green on a slightly less-tiny island. My 120-yard wedge shot traveled 115 yards (wet). The shot following a drop wasn't much easier.

Considering how much the Black River comes into play throughout the round, it's only fitting that golfers must carry it one more time on the par 5 finishing hole (above). A big drive will allow you an opportunity to go at the green in two, but it's probably wise to play this 569-yarder as a three-shot par 5.

Slope and handicap are still being calculated at the moment, but by the official opening in October, all will be finalized.

When complete, the Valley of the Eagles expansive clubhouse (24,000-square-feet) will include an exciting new food and beverage offering known as the Black River Tavern, a fabulous venue for sports events and social gatherings, complemented by state-of-the-art golf simulators for year-round and multi-course enjoyment.

Valley of the Eagles is conveniently located at the intersections of highways 90, 80 and 57 — just 25 miles west of downtown Cleveland — in the beautiful Black River Valley, on the border of Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. Daily-fee rates at Valley of the Eagles will range from $35 to $60 and will include a golf cart. In addition, Valley of the Eagles is offering an annual pass program, which will provide golfers with course access for the remainder of 2017 and all of 2018.

For more information, visit www.ValleyEagles.com.