Golf in Columbus is plentiful. Whether you’re playing a local Columbus City course or driving out to Granville to play Denison Golf Club, there’s no shortage of beautiful tracks to choose from.
But the downside of having so many options is figuring out which ones really stand out from the rest.
So we asked Central Ohioans on our Facebook page to name their favorite public courses in the Columbus area, and they did not disappoint. Because not all of us can afford a membership at Scioto or Muirfield Village.
If you’re planning to hit the links, this list will not lead you astray.
And if you like receiving guides to golfing, things to do, places to eat, and more around Columbus and Central Ohio, subscribe to our daily newsletter here!
The Best Public Courses in Columbus, Ohio
12. Mill Creek Golf Club | 6,310 yards | Par 72
7259 Penn Rd, Ostrander, OH 43061
If you like a well-maintained course with incredible fairways and greens, Mill Creek is a totally underrated course that delivers for skilled and new players alike. Hole 17 is their signature hole, but don’t let the short distance trick you. You need a near perfect shot to land it on the green for a birdie putt.
11. Lancaster Golf Club | 6,724 yards | Par 72
3100 Country Club Rd SW, Lancaster, OH 43130
Don’t be confused by the name of the road it resides on, Lancaster Golf Club is open to the public. Opened in 1909 as just a 9-hole course, Donald Ross came in and redesigned it in 1926. It wasn’t an 18-hole track until 1959, and has offered incredible views (and golf) ever since.
10. Chapel Hill Golf Course | 6,856 yards | Par 72
7516 Johnstown Rd, Mt Vernon, OH 43050
At just under an hour outside of the city, Chapel Hill Golf Course leans into the rolling terrain of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Featuring frequent elevation changes and a notoriously well-maintained layout, this Barry Serafin design has left its mark on Central Ohio golfers as one worth the trip.
9. Eaglesticks Golf Club | 6,508 yards | Par 70
2655 Maysville Pike, Zanesville, OH 43701
An hour east of Columbus, Eaglesticks is another pristine course that is well worth the drive. With 90 bunkers scattered throughout the course and frequent elevation changes, Eaglesticks dares you to shoot under par on this rather unusual Par 70 layout. Our advice? Aim your shots well.
8. The Links at Echo Springs | 6,875 yards | Par 72
5940 Loudon St Rd, Johnstown, OH 43031
Like the name would lead you to believe, this course leans heavily into the classic Links-style golf you’d find across the pond along the Scottish Coast (with a few more trees). The rough, as you’d expect, is unforgiving. Stay on the fairway and you’ll be fine (easier said than done, we know).
7. Cumberland Trail Golf Club | 7,237 yards | Par 72
8244 Columbia Rd SW, Pataskala, OH 43062
Cumberland Trails is notorious for its length. While the elevation changes are rather minimal, you better be striking your long irons and your woods well if you want to score at Cumberland Trails. It also doesn’t help when just about every green has a bunker staring you in the face. Cumberland Trail is a great challenge, yet approachable.
6. Champions Golf Course | 6,555 yards | Par 71
3900 Westerville Rd, Columbus, OH 43224
Perhaps the most notable Robert Trent Jones design in Central Ohio, Champions Golf Course relies on the course’s natural landscape for its unique hole design. With constant doglegs, blind shots, and just a handful of holes that could be considered “flat,” Champions will challenge your shot-making abilities.
5. Westchester Golf Course | 7,120 yards | Par 72
6300 Bent Grass Blvd, Canal Winchester, OH 43110
Another long course, Westchester’s claim to fame (or infamy, depending on how well you play) is their water hazard layout. 6 lakes line the course, daring you to cut corners. Add in 50+ bunkers and you’re in for a perfectly challenging day on the course.
4. The Players Club at Foxfire | 7,077 yards | Par 72
389 Canterbury Rd, Commercial Point, OH 43116
According to the USGA, Foxfire is the hardest public course in Central Ohio, boasting a slope of 147. It ain’t the longest course on this list, but it plays that way. You’ll find yourself being challenged by narrow, wooded holes, immediately followed by a wide-open tee shot as a massive pond stares you down. Throw in some mounds and lots of bunkers, it’s hard to hate this layout, not matter how much it may punish you.
3. Denison Golf Club | 6,559 yards | Par 71
555 Newark Granville Rd, Granville, OH 43023
This famous Donald Ross design won’t kill you for lacking distance, but it will kill you if your approach game isn’t on point. This course weaves through the Appalachian foothills, so you’ll be thrown some elevation changes as well. The greens are meticulous. Trust your putter and you’ll have a blast.
2. Darby Creek Golf Course | 7,074 yards | Par 72
19300 Orchard Rd, Marysville, OH 43040
If you hear me talking about “a tale of two nines,” I’m probably referring to myself playing great on the front 9 and falling apart on the back. But at Darby Creek, the course truly is a tale of two nines. Designed by Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva, “The Links” front nine and “The Woods” back nine give you two entirely different feels in one round. It’s truly a course that keeps you guessing, and is always beautifully maintained.
1. Virtues Golf Club | 7,243 yards | Par 72
One Long Dr, Nashport, OH 43830
This might be a good time to remind you that this list was sourced directly from Central Ohio golfers, so if you’re just getting into the sport, we’d recommend working your way up to Virtues… This course is stunning in every sense of the word. The course layout itself is brilliant, with each hole more reminiscent of a painting as opposed to a Par 5. But as beautiful as it is, it’s equally unforgiving, hence why golfers love it (and hate it) in the same breath. Virtues is the #1 favorite by a longshot.
Want More Golf?
We’ve compiled plenty of guides for you Central Ohio golfers, which you can find here:
- The 10 Hardest Public Golf Courses in Columbus and Central Ohio
- The 5 Cheapest Golf Courses in Columbus & Central Ohio That Are Actually Worth Playing
- This Former PGA-Worthy Golf Course Near Columbus is Now a Hidden Gem Nature Preserve
Plus, we send out a daily newsletter full of the best golf courses, places to eat, and more around Central Ohio. Subscribe here if you would like to stay in the loop!
