Three of golf's most significant course architects all have real, standing work in Columbus. Donald Ross built Scioto Country Club, host to a U.S. Open won by Bobby Jones. Alister MacKenzie, the same architect behind Augusta National, designed Ohio State's Scarlet course. And Jack Nicklaus didn't just build Muirfield Village from raw ground, he personally oversaw the restoration of MacKenzie's Scarlet layout decades later. No other city this size can make that claim, and it's a better reason to take Columbus golf seriously than any generic "hidden gem" pitch.
Quick answer: If you only remember five names: Safari Golf Club for the most unique round in the city (it's owned by the Columbus Zoo), The Virtues Golf Club for Ohio's top-ranked public course, Ohio State University Golf Club (Scarlet) for a MacKenzie design you can actually book, Muirfield Village if a member ever invites you, and Scioto Country Club for the deepest championship history in the region.
What's in this guide
How Many Golf Courses Are Near Columbus?
There are roughly 53 golf courses within 15 miles of Columbus, close to an even split between 25 public and 28 private, a genuinely high concentration of private clubs for a metro this size. That private-club density is part of why Columbus punches above its weight in golf circles: a lot of serious architectural pedigree ended up here rather than in a bigger market. John Glenn Columbus International sits just 6 miles from downtown, a 10 to 15 minute drive, so unlike a mountain resort town, you're not adding an extra hour of driving on top of your flight before you reach a first tee.
The Best Public Golf Courses in Columbus
These are the courses anyone can book directly, no membership or member sponsor required.
Safari Golf Club
Genuinely owned and operated by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and every one of its 18 holes is named after a species tied to the zoo's conservation projects. Michael Hurdzan redesigned five holes in 2012, adding real teeth to a course that first opened in 1967. In 2018, Safari earned Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary status, a distinction held by less than 2% of Ohio's roughly 910 golf courses and just 2.7% of courses worldwide. It's a legitimately good round that happens to also be the most unusual one in the city. Book through Safari Golf Club.
The Virtues Golf Club
About 50 minutes east of downtown in Nashport, and worth the drive: it's Ohio's number one ranked public course and sits in Golf Digest's Top 100 Public Courses in America at number 65. Arthur Hills routed it through genuinely dramatic terrain, and the 60,000-square-foot clubhouse is a step up from what you'd expect at a daily-fee facility. If you're planning a full golf day around Columbus, this is the one worth the extra drive time. Book through The Virtues Golf Club.
Ohio State University Golf Club (Scarlet Course)
Alister MacKenzie, the architect behind Augusta National and Cypress Point, designed the Scarlet course in 1931, though he died before construction finished and Perry Maxwell saw it through. It stayed a MacKenzie layout in spirit for decades, and in 2005 and 2006, Jack Nicklaus personally oversaw a full restoration meant to bring the course back to MacKenzie's original intent, right down to the bunker shaping. It's public, it's affiliated with the university, and it's genuinely one of the more significant pieces of golf architecture you can walk onto without a membership anywhere in the country. Book through the Ohio State University Golf Club.
Turnberry Golf Course
Ohio's only authentic Scottish links-style course, an Arthur Hills design from 1991 that runs along Blacklick Creek in Pickerington, about 20 minutes from downtown. Small, elevated greens make the approach shots the real test here rather than the tee shots. It's run by the same city parks department as Raymond Memorial and Champions below, so booking and pricing feel consistent across all three. Book through Turnberry Golf Course.
Raymond Memorial Golf Course
The closest public course to downtown Columbus, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design from 1954 in the West Scioto neighborhood. Its twin par-3 holes were the first of their kind built in the United States, a design choice meant to keep pace of play moving without sacrificing challenge. It's a straightforward, well-maintained round that doesn't require a full day trip to reach. Book through Raymond Memorial Golf Course.
Champions Golf Course
Opened in 1923 as a 9-hole course, then rebuilt into its current 18-hole Robert Trent Jones layout in 1954, making it one of the older continuously operating public courses in the city. Rolling fairways, mature trees, and demanding doglegs make it one of Central Ohio's harder public tests, closer to a private-club feel than its municipal price tag suggests. Book through Champions Golf Course.
Private Courses Worth Knowing About
You won't be able to book these directly, but if a member invites you, both are worth the trip, and both are load-bearing parts of Columbus's golf reputation.
Muirfield Village Golf Club
Jack Nicklaus and Desmond Muirhead built this from the ground up in Dublin, and it's hosted the Memorial Tournament, a PGA Tour stop, every year since 1976. Golf Digest ranked it 19th nationally in 2025. It's central Ohio's most famous course by a wide margin, and the one most golfers in the region would name first if you asked. Learn more at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Scioto Country Club
Donald Ross's 1916 design has hosted three major national events: the 1926 U.S. Open (where Bobby Jones won his second, closing with a 310-yard drive on the 18th that set up the winning birdie), the 1931 Ryder Cup, and the 1950 PGA Championship. Jones's relationship with the course actually started years earlier, playing charity exhibition matches at Scioto in 1918 to support World War I relief and again in 1924 for the American Olympic Fund, before Scioto's head professional helped secure the club the 1926 Open itself. Few private clubs anywhere in the country carry that much tournament history in one place. Learn more at Scioto Country Club.
Columbus Golf Courses at a Glance
| Course | Access | Par | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safari Golf Club | Public | 72 | Most unique round, zoo-owned course |
| The Virtues Golf Club | Public | 72 | Ohio's top-ranked public course |
| Ohio State University (Scarlet) | Public | 71 | Bookable MacKenzie design |
| Turnberry Golf Course | Public | 72 | Only true links-style course in Ohio |
| Raymond Memorial Golf Course | Public | 72 | Closest public course to downtown |
| Champions Golf Course | Public | 70 | Toughest public test in the city |
| Muirfield Village Golf Club | Private | 72 | Memorial Tournament host, Nicklaus design |
| Scioto Country Club | Private | 71 | Deepest major championship history |
Why Columbus Golf Plays on a Shorter Clock
Columbus doesn't have Park City's altitude or Austin's heat working against a full round, but it does have something the other cities in this guide don't: a genuine four-season Midwest climate, which means a real playing season rather than a year-round one. Courses generally open in April and close by late October or early November, roughly seven months compared to Austin's near year-round window. Spring can bring saturated fairways and cart-path-only stretches after heavy rain, and fall brings some of the best conditions of the year, cool mornings, firm greens, and the leaf color turning through the Scarlet course's namesake maples and beyond. If you're planning a trip specifically for golf rather than golfing while you're already in town, September and early October are the sweet spot.
What to Wear for Midwest Golf
The same round in Columbus can start in the upper 50s and finish twenty degrees warmer, especially in spring and fall, which are also the best months to actually play. A single heavy layer either overheats you by the back nine or leaves you cold on the front. Yatta's (Golf Polos) work as a breathable base layer you can pair with a quarter-zip you shed as the day warms up, and the (Women's Golf Polos) lineup covers the same ground for a spring or fall round with the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best public golf course in Columbus?
The Virtues Golf Club and Ohio State's Scarlet Course share the highest golfer satisfaction scores among Columbus-area public courses, but for pure novelty and a genuinely different day out, Safari Golf Club at the Columbus Zoo is hard to beat.
Can visitors play Muirfield Village or Scioto Country Club?
Only as a guest of a member. Neither club takes public tee time bookings. Muirfield Village does open its gates to spectators during Memorial Tournament week each spring, which is the closest most people get to seeing the course firsthand.
Is Ohio State's golf course really open to the public?
Yes. Despite the university affiliation and the course's design pedigree, the Scarlet course accepts public tee time bookings, which is unusual for a course with this level of architectural significance.
Is Cooks Creek Golf Course still open?
No. Despite still appearing on some course-directory sites, Cooks Creek closed for golf operations in August 2021 and now functions only as a driving range and restaurant. It's worth double-checking before you drive out.
Is Columbus golf convenient for a business trip or layover round?
Genuinely, yes, more than most mid-size cities. Champions Golf Course, on the city's east side near Easton, is the most convenient pick if you're working around a flight schedule, and Raymond Memorial isn't far behind despite sitting on the opposite, northwest side of town.
How much does it cost to golf in Columbus?
City-run courses like Raymond Memorial, Turnberry, and Champions are the most affordable options in the metro. The Virtues Golf Club runs notably higher given its national Top 100 ranking, and Safari and Ohio State's Scarlet course land in between.
Wherever you end up teeing off, Columbus golf rewards knowing the season and dressing for a day that can swing twenty degrees, not just picking a course with a famous name attached. Stock up on breathable, layer-ready gear with Yatta's (Golf Polos) and (Women's Golf Polos) before you go, and enjoy the heck out of the round.