Whiteford Valley Golf Club — A Legacy in Every Swing
In 1967, Michigan golf course architect Harley Hodges stood on the rolling farmland of Ottawa Lake and imagined something special—a golf course where anyone could play, feel welcome, and enjoy the game without barriers. That vision became Whiteford Valley Golf Club.
The first layout, known today as the West Course, opened in 1969. True to Harley’s design style, it flowed naturally with the land, offered plenty of room to play, and kept hazards fair—making it perfect for families and casual players. As Harley once told his son Greg:
We built this for families. For people who just love the game and want to enjoy it, without needing a membership or a dress code.
Harley, along with his partner Jim Barrett, didn’t stop there. Over the years, Whiteford Valley grew into a 72-hole golf destination, home to four unique courses:
- West Course – The original farmland course, open and forgiving.
- Blue Course – A par-72, 6,222-yard design opened in 1995, offering a mix of open fairways and strategic s
hots. - Yellow Course – Added in 1995, winding through wooded terrain and along a peaceful creek.
- Red Course – Another inviting layout designed with variety and playability in mind.
Located just two miles north of Toledo near the Ohio–Michigan border, Whiteford Valley has been the home course for generations of golfers. Affordable rates, welcoming staff, and a relaxed atmosphere make it a place people return to year after year.
Harley’s legacy didn’t end here—he went on to design other beloved Michigan courses, including Green Meadows Golf Course and Pine View Golf Course, while Greg carried the family tradition forward at Rustic Glen Golf Club and Hills of Lenawee Golf Club.
But no matter how far the Hodges family’s designs have traveled, it all began here—on the farmland that became Whiteford Valley Golf Club, where the love of the game lives on.
