If you've visited Cleveland Golf Club this summer, you've probably noticed something. The fairways aren't bright green. Instead, they're golden brown, running firm underfoot and offering the kind of bounce and roll that links golf was built for.
For some golfers, that can come as a surprise. After all, we're often conditioned to believe that the greener the golf course, the better the condition. In reality, especially on a traditional links course, the opposite is often true.

Unlike parkland golf courses, links courses are built on free-draining sandy soils, often close to the coast. These natural conditions mean the turf doesn't retain large amounts of water, allowing the course to become firm and fast throughout the summer. This isn't a problem to solve—it's exactly how links golf was intended to be played.
Rather than flying every shot directly at the flag, golfers are encouraged to think strategically. The ground becomes part of the game. Approach shots can be bounced into greens, drives gain extra distance as they run down the fairways, and course management becomes just as important as ball striking. It's the style of golf that has challenged the world's best players for generations and remains one of the purest forms of the game.

One of the biggest misconceptions in golf is that a brown golf course is unhealthy.
In fact, many of the world's greatest golf courses intentionally allow their fairways to dry during the summer months.
The grass naturally enters a period of dormancy, conserving energy until rainfall returns. The turf remains healthy beneath the surface while providing the firm playing conditions that links golf is famous for.
For golfers, this means:
- More run from the tee
- Firmer, more consistent playing surfaces
- Greater emphasis on creativity and shot-making
- A different challenge every time you play
The result is golf that's exciting, strategic and endlessly enjoyable.

As golf continues to evolve, sustainability is becoming increasingly important.
Maintaining lush green fairways throughout long, dry summers requires significant amounts of water, energy and resources. Across the industry, many clubs are moving towards more environmentally responsible course management by reducing unnecessary irrigation and working with nature rather than against it.
For traditional links courses like Cleveland, this approach isn't new—it's simply embracing the landscape the course was built upon.
Using less water helps conserve valuable natural resources while creating the authentic playing conditions that make links golf so unique.
It's better for the environment and, many would argue, better for the golf.

The next time you visit Cleveland Golf Club, embrace the conditions.
Enjoy the extra 30 yards from the tee.
Experiment with bump-and-run approaches.
Watch your ball release across the fairway rather than stopping where it lands.
You'll quickly discover why golfers travel from around the world to experience firm, fast links golf.
Our golden fairways aren't a sign of a course struggling with the weather—they're a reflection of golf being played exactly as nature intended.
Come and experience the challenge for yourself.