Est. 1894 · William Langford (1918 redesign); later revisions by A.W. Tillinghast
Why we love this place
We love Portage for the sheer weight of history in every step. There is something grounding about walking a club that predates the automobile, past trees planted generations ago, on a course shaped by Langford and touched by Tillinghast. We love that its old pro shop once belonged to major champions, and that members still treat the place as a living piece of Akron golf.
Via Top 100 Golf Courses
About Portage Country Club
Portage Country Club ranks among America's oldest golf clubs, founded in 1894 by members of Akron's Goodrich family and moved to its present site near Twin Oaks and Portage Path around 1905. As membership grew, the club assembled enough land to expand to eighteen holes, and in 1918 architect William Langford was engaged to build a full-length course; A.W. Tillinghast later contributed revisions during the 1930s. The parkland layout sits in Akron's West Hill area, threaded by mature trees and rolling terrain. Portage is perhaps best remembered for the caliber of its head professionals: Denny Shute, who won the 1933 Open Championship and back-to-back PGA Championships in 1936 and 1937; Herman Keiser, the 1946 Masters champion; and Al Espinosa, runner-up to Bobby Jones at the 1929 U.S. Open. A 2014 bunker restoration refreshed the historic design.
Know this course?
Tell us more about its history.
Tell us more →