If you're looking for top-notch public golf courses near Columbus, OH, you're in luck.
The five best options are The Virtues Golf Club, Cumberland Trail Golf Club, Raymond Memorial Golf Course, Darby Creek Golf Club, and Golf Club of Dublin.
Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of each course and why they stand out.
The Virtues Golf Club (Nashport, OH)
Just 40 minutes from downtown Columbus, The Virtues Golf Club is consistently ranked among the top public golf courses in Ohio.
Designed by renowned architect Arthur Hills, this course offers a challenging yet rewarding experience with stunning landscapes that make every round memorable.
Overview of the Course
The Virtues Golf Club is known for its beautifully crafted design that blends perfectly with the rolling hills of central Ohio.
With a 7,243-yard layout, this course offers both a challenge and a rewarding experience for golfers of all skill levels.
Arthur Hills designed the course with a strategic mindset, using the natural terrain to enhance playability while demanding precision.
The scenic views, combined with a smart course design, make it an appealing choice for anyone who values both aesthetics and strategy in a golf course.
Key Features
The layout of The Virtues makes it an exciting course for players who enjoy a challenge, but it’s not overwhelming for those less experienced.
It offers five sets of tees, ensuring that golfers of all abilities can enjoy a round at their comfort level.
The various tee boxes provide different yardages, so whether you're a beginner or a more advanced player, you can find the right setup for your game.
Strategic bunkering is one of the course’s standout features, designed to make you think carefully about your approach shots and club selection.
The well-placed bunkers test your accuracy, while the rolling hills create natural challenges, especially with uneven lies.
The course’s vistas add to the experience, as the sweeping views of Ohio’s countryside make for a serene yet engaging day on the greens.
Rates
The Virtues Golf Club offers a range of greens fees depending on the time and day you play.
Weekday rates generally fall between $59 and $89, making it accessible for many golfers.
Weekend prices tend to be on the higher end, but for the quality of the course, it’s a worthwhile investment.
You can also look for twilight deals or off-peak times if you’re looking to experience this top-tier course at a lower rate.
Why It’s Recommended
The Virtues Golf Club is highly recommended for golfers who appreciate both a challenging game and beautiful scenery.
The blend of strategic design, varying tee boxes, and natural beauty makes it a top destination for serious golfers looking to test their skills.
Whether you’re aiming for a lower handicap or simply looking for an enjoyable round with friends, this course delivers a premium experience that is both fun and demanding.
It’s a must-play for anyone in the Columbus area, especially if you’re seeking a well-rounded and memorable golfing experience.
Cumberland Trail Golf Club (Pataskala, OH)
Situated just 25 minutes east of Columbus, Cumberland Trail Golf Club offers a well-rounded golfing experience known for its fast greens and diverse layout.
This course caters to players of all skill levels while delivering enough variety to keep even experienced golfers engaged from start to finish.
Overview of the Course
Cumberland Trail is praised for its smooth, fast greens and its ability to provide golfers with a range of challenges thanks to its varied terrain.
The course blends natural landscapes with thoughtful design, creating an environment that both tests your skills and offers an enjoyable experience.
The layout has a reputation for keeping players on their toes, with different hole styles, elevation changes, and plenty of strategic elements that force golfers to think critically about their approach.
Key Features
One of the standout aspects of Cumberland Trail is its flexibility, with five sets of tee boxes offering a range of playing distances.
The course can be as short as 4,800 yards for beginners or stretched to over 7,200 yards for more advanced players, ensuring that everyone can play within their comfort zone.
This flexibility makes the course accessible while still providing the challenge that experienced golfers crave.
The par-3 6th hole is perhaps the course’s signature feature, with its island green offering both beauty and difficulty.
Precision is key on this hole, and it can be a make-or-break moment during your round.
This hole, combined with the overall smoothness and speed of the greens, highlights the importance of accuracy throughout your game.
Whether you’re putting or approaching from the fairway, the conditions here demand focus and careful shot-making.
The terrain at Cumberland Trail offers plenty of variety, with changes in elevation and hole design that ensure each round feels fresh.
From wide-open fairways to more narrow, tree-lined sections, the course balances playability with elements that challenge different aspects of your game, such as driving accuracy, shot placement, and putting.
Rates
Weekend rates at Cumberland Trail Golf Club hover around $70, and this price typically includes a cart, making it a solid value for the quality of play.
While rates may vary slightly depending on time or specials, the $70 range is a reasonable expectation for a weekend round.
The competitive pricing, paired with the course’s enjoyable yet challenging layout, makes it an appealing option for both casual and more serious golfers.
Why It’s Recommended
Cumberland Trail stands out because of its ability to offer something for everyone.
The combination of its fast greens, varied terrain, and the famous par-3 6th hole ensures that each round is unique and challenging.
Whether you're new to the game or looking to improve your precision and control, this course delivers a balanced and enjoyable experience.
It’s the perfect spot for golfers seeking a variety of challenges, all within a convenient distance from Columbus.
Raymond Memorial Golf Course (Columbus, OH)
Located just 10 minutes from downtown Columbus, Raymond Memorial Golf Course offers a classic golfing experience designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr. Known for its accessible location and traditional layout, it’s a popular choice for both locals and visitors seeking an affordable yet high-quality round of golf.
Overview of the Course
Raymond Memorial is a par-72 course that showcases the signature design features of Robert Trent Jones Sr., known for challenging yet fair courses.
What sets Raymond Memorial apart is its proximity to downtown, making it an incredibly convenient option for Columbus residents looking for a quick round without sacrificing the quality of the course.
The layout combines well-manicured bluegrass fairways with bent grass greens, ensuring that conditions are consistently good, even at its lower price point.
Key Features
One of the course’s most unique characteristics is its twin par-3 holes.
While many courses feature par-3s, the twin setup at Raymond Memorial adds an extra layer of interest, requiring players to approach both with different strategies depending on wind and pin placement.
These holes are a notable aspect of the course, offering something distinct to regular players.
The course is well-known for its upkeep, with bluegrass fairways providing a solid surface for every shot and bent grass greens ensuring smooth putting.
While it’s not the most challenging course in the Columbus area, the reliable conditions make it a go-to for players looking for a consistent experience.
Its location, just minutes from downtown, is a major draw for city residents who want to avoid long drives to suburban or rural courses.
Whether you're squeezing in a round before work or hitting the links on the weekend, Raymond Memorial’s convenience is unmatched.
Despite its accessibility, it doesn’t compromise on the quality of play.
Rates
One of the biggest advantages of Raymond Memorial is its affordability.
Weekend rates hover around $50, which is excellent for a course designed by a renowned architect like Robert Trent Jones Sr. The value here is hard to beat, especially given the course’s consistent upkeep and convenient location.
For golfers on a budget who don’t want to sacrifice a good round, Raymond Memorial hits the sweet spot.
Why It’s Recommended
Raymond Memorial is perfect for those looking for an affordable, conveniently located course with a classic design.
It offers a great balance between price and quality, making it a top pick for casual golfers and those who want a reliable course close to downtown Columbus.
The well-maintained fairways and greens, combined with the unique twin par-3s, make it a consistently enjoyable experience for all who play it.
Darby Creek Golf Club (Marysville, OH)
Just a 40-minute drive from Columbus, Darby Creek Golf Club stands out for its distinct layout featuring two different styles of play across its front and back nines.
This course offers a refreshing change of pace and appeals to golfers who enjoy variety and a little extra challenge.
Overview of the Course
Darby Creek is unique because of its dual-nature layout.
The front nine is a links-style setup, featuring wide-open, Scottish-inspired holes where wind can be a factor, and players need to carefully manage their shots to avoid the natural hazards typical of links courses.
By contrast, the back nine takes you into a forested setting, with tree-lined fairways that demand more precision and control.
This change in scenery and style makes Darby Creek feel almost like playing two separate courses in one round, keeping the experience exciting from start to finish.
Key Features
The front nine at Darby Creek is characterized by its expansive, open layout reminiscent of traditional Scottish links courses.
These holes challenge players with wide fairways, undulating greens, and strategic bunkering.
The wind often plays a significant role, making club selection crucial, especially on approach shots.
The back nine, known as the “Woods,” offers a completely different experience, with tighter, tree-lined fairways and more intricate shot-making required.
Golfers must adjust their strategy as the back nine rewards precision over power.
The combination of these two styles in one round creates an engaging dynamic, catering to a wide range of players and offering something for everyone, whether they prefer the openness of a links course or the more controlled play of a woodland setting.
The course’s design makes it fun for casual players while also challenging enough to keep more experienced golfers engaged.
It’s a versatile course that doesn’t overwhelm beginners but still provides enough complexity to hold the interest of more seasoned players.
Rates
Darby Creek is known for offering excellent value, with weekend greens fees around $55.
This budget-friendly pricing is a major draw, especially considering the distinctive two-nines layout and the overall quality of the course.
For golfers seeking an affordable round without sacrificing the experience, Darby Creek is hard to beat.
Why It’s Recommended
Darby Creek is a great pick for golfers who appreciate variety in their game.
The stark contrast between the front and back nines makes it feel like playing two different courses, which keeps the round fresh and exciting.
For its combination of layout, challenge, and affordability, Darby Creek offers one of the best public golf experiences near Columbus, particularly for those who enjoy a mix of styles in a single round.
Golf Club of Dublin (Dublin, OH)
Located just 20 minutes from downtown Columbus, the Golf Club of Dublin offers a unique golfing experience, designed to replicate the traditional Scottish links style.
This course provides a distinctive challenge for those who appreciate the history and strategy of links golf, right in the heart of Ohio.
Overview of the Course
The Golf Club of Dublin is known for its authentic links-style design, featuring elements that are typically found on courses along the Scottish coastline.
With a 7,021-yard layout, this course combines challenging length with the strategic nuances that define links golf.
Its open, rolling fairways and windy conditions require golfers to master trajectory and shot control, while the unique setup rewards those who can adjust their game to the conditions.
If you’ve ever wanted a taste of Scotland’s famed courses without the transatlantic flight, this is as close as you’ll get in Ohio.
Key Features
One of the standout features of the Golf Club of Dublin is its sod-stacked bunkers.
These deep, steep-faced bunkers are positioned to catch errant shots, forcing golfers to carefully consider their strategy and accuracy throughout the round.
The square, fast greens are another signature of this links-style design, requiring precise putting and a solid short game.
The greens roll true, but their speed and subtle breaks can catch even experienced golfers off guard, making every putt a potential challenge.
The overall design of the course is intended to mimic the feel of a traditional links course, which means that wind often plays a major role in your round.
The open fairways, while seemingly generous, can be deceptive due to the way the wind affects ball flight, and the rolling terrain adds complexity to both approach shots and putting.
While the course is long at over 7,000 yards, it’s the strategic elements—more than raw distance—that make this course a real test of skill.
Rates
The Golf Club of Dublin offers a premium experience, and its weekend rates reflect that, with greens fees typically ranging between $86 and $93.
While this places it on the higher end of public golf in the Columbus area, the cost is justified by the quality of the design, conditions, and the overall experience.
It’s an investment in a round that delivers a unique challenge and a distinctive style of play that you won’t find on many other courses nearby.
Why It’s Recommended
For golfers who enjoy links-style courses and the traditional elements of Scottish golf, the Golf Club of Dublin is an excellent choice.
It offers a challenging yet fair test that forces players to think strategically about every shot, particularly when the wind is a factor.
The course is ideal for those who appreciate the subtle challenges of fast greens, well-placed bunkers, and a layout that mimics the famed links courses of the UK.
If you’re looking for a memorable and distinct round of golf, this course is well worth the visit.
Conclusion
In summary, the Columbus area offers a range of excellent public golf courses, each with its own unique features and challenges.
Whether you prefer the strategic design of The Virtues, the links-style feel of Golf Club of Dublin, or the variety at Darby Creek, there’s a course for every golfer.
Plan your next round at one of these top spots and experience some of the best golf Ohio has to offer.
