This story first appeared in the Fall 2024 edition of Northern Ohio Golfer Magazine, the official print publication of the Northern Ohio Golf Association. NOGA members who provide a mailing address in GHIN receive a copy mailed to their home twice per year. Not yet a NOGA member? Join for 2025 now!
2025 marks the 100th Anniversary for J.E. Good Park Golf Course in Akron, Ohio. With its rich history and significance in the community, this iconic course has become a cherished destination for golfers of all skill levels.
Designed by Bertie Wey – the same visionary architect behind the Firestone South course on the other side of town – Good Park opened its doors in 1925, just one year after the completion of its design. Known affectionately throughout Akron as “The Park,” this course is celebrated for its many mature trees and challenging layout, making it one of the most esteemed tests for public golfers in the area.
Golf Digest has recognized Good Park with a four-star rating in its nationwide evaluation of public golf courses.
Junior Golf at Good Park
Beyond its public play, Good Park has had an instrumental role in promoting young talent through its long-standing commitment to junior golf. In 2024, the course hosted the 85th Annual Good Park Junior Tournament, a significant event on Northern Ohio’s junior golfing calendar. Good Park established this three-day junior tournament in 1938 and has seen as participants PGA TOUR pros like Ryan Armour, Harold Varner, Justin Lower, Chase Johnson, and Ian Holt, and past Ohio Open champions like Mike Emery, Rob Moss, Ryan Dennis, and Mitch Camp.
The Summit County Ams
Another significant tournament on the Northern Ohio golf schedule has its roots at Good Park. The Summit County Amateur Championship, first played in 1975, celebrated its 50th Anniversary this past summer.
Former General Manager at Good Park, Larry Zimmerman, now retired, has run that tournament since its inception.
The 50th Annual tournament was shortened to a single round in early August due to weather. Chris Okeson made headlines by clinching the Championship title for the second time. A field of 117 golfers participated, showing that Good Park remains a cornerstone of the Northern Ohio amateur golf season even after five decades.
Zimmerman added the Senior Summit County Am to the roster of Good Park tournaments in 2000. That tournament fills its field even faster than the Am, and is sold out every year. David Trier won the 2024 Senior event in a playoff.
Tiretown Golf Club
In a significant addition to the course’s legacy, in 2022 Good Park became home to the Tiretown Golf Club, the largest predominantly African American golf club in the United States. Founded in 1950, the Tiretown Golf Club emerged when Good Park was among just three courses in Northeast Ohio open to African Americans. The partnership between Good Park and Tiretown aims to promote growth in the game of golf by championing inclusion through diversity and fostering a spirit of friendly competition.
A Centennial Year
As Good Park Golf Course marks its centennial, it celebrates its storied past and looks forward to a future rich with opportunity, connection, and a commitment to fostering talent and embracing diversity.
This 100th Anniversary is a testament to the course’s importance — not just to Akron but to the Northern Ohio golfing community as a whole. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just starting, Good Park is a place where the love of golf continues to thrive.
