15 Best Golf Courses in Ohio 2024
In our age of high definition and three-dimensional televisions, we still struggle to grasp the true beauty and atmosphere that golf courses provide. From the wide-open, windblown terrain of Scotland to the rolling seaside splendor in Hawaii, the best way to experience an Ohio golf course’s uniqueness is by teeing it up.
Eagle’s Landing Golf Club
Situated in the shadows of a superstar of the amusement park world, roller-coasterific Cedar Point, Eagle’s Landing Golf Club offers its visitors a different kind of heart-pounding excitement. Located on the shores of Lake Erie just east of Toledo, the well-conditioned golf course features plenty of risk-reward elements, surely enough to elevate your systolic pressure.
Brian Huntley built this unique links-style layout around eight lakes and injected more than 70 bunkers to capture wayward shots. Golfers will also encounter larger than average greens with plenty of undulation. Voted Toledo’s favorite golf course by readers of the Toledo Blade, Eagle’s Landing contains a great mixture of golf holes.
Eagle Landing Golf Club, 5530 Bay Shore Rd, Oregon, OH 43616; Phone: (419) 697-4653
Cumberland Trail Golf Club
Popular Ohio radio and television personality Jimmy Hanlin, who hosts “Tee it Up Ohio” on Sportstime Ohio and co-hosts a weekly radio golf show in Cleveland, had a vision when he first purchased a stake in Little Mountain Country Club in 2006 – develop an award-winning golf course where the on-course experience was mirrored by all-around service.
Today that vision has become a reality, and it’s expanding. In 2007 Jimmy Hanlin Golf purchased Pataskala’s Cumberland Trail Golf Club. The latest addition to the group’s roster was Highland Heights’ StoneWater Golf Course. Those courses join the nationally recognized Little Mountain, one of only 17 courses in the country to receive a Five Star rating from Golf Digest in 2007, to create an outstanding trio of layouts that offer golfers impeccable conditions, dedicated service, and tremendous value.
Cumberland Trail Golf Club, 8244 Columbia Rd SW, Pataskala, OH 43062; Phone: (740) 964-9336
Tam O’Shanter Golf Course
Once could be viewed as a stroke of luck, twice a nice coincidence, but three times in a row and we’re talking dynasty. For three consecutive years, Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in Canton has been recognized as Stark County’s best public course; quite an honor for the classic layout.
Built on 300 acres of rolling farmland nearly a century ago, Tam O’Shanter features 36 holes of championship golf on two well-conditioned courses (Dales and Hills), a superb practice facility featuring a complete driving range with 30 grass tees, a full-service restaurant, pro shop, and lounge.
Tam O’Shanter Golf Course, 5055 Hills and Dales Rd NW, Canton, OH 44708; Phone: (330) 477-3552
Golf Club of Dublin
Redefining Public Golf in Central Ohio
Located on the outskirts of Columbus and just down the road from Muirfield Village, the Golf Club of Dublin is an authentic experience that pays homage to British links courses.
This 18-hole, par 72 award-winning championship course, which was created by Hurdzan-Fry Golf Course Design, measures more than 7,000 yards from the tips and features lots of layered, sod-faced bunkers, deep and formidable fescue grass and sprawling green complexes.
Golf Club of Dublin, 5805 Eiterman Rd, Dublin, OH 43016; Phone: (614) 792-3825
Granite Golf Properties’ Golf Clubs
A World-Class Resort Experience Right Here at Home
The Quarry in Canton and Shale Creek in Medina continues to earn top honors. From Best Burger with a View to being named a Best New Course in 2008 by Golfweek magazine, The Quarry Golf Club is making a name for itself as a premier golf destination in northeast Ohio.
Not even two-years-old, The Quarry has already captured many other prestigious golf awards including:
- Ohio Top 10, Best Courses You Can Play, 2008, 2009, Golfweek magazine
- Best Ohio Golf Course, Golflink
- Ranked #2 above Little Mountain, Firestone, Canterbury, Longaberger, etc.
- Ohio’s 100 Must-Play Courses, Golf Styles Ohio magazine
- Top Five Golf Course, Akron-Canton, and Cleveland HOTLIST, WJW FOX 8
Rising Ohio golf course architect Brian Huntley has had a hand in each of the three golf courses that make up Granite Golf Properties; the Quarry Golf Club, Shale Creek Golf Club, and the private Medina Country Club. All three courses are located in northeast Ohio, within an hour’s drive of each other. All three offer golfers a world-class experience on and off the course. But it’s the uniqueness and the distinguishing qualities of each individual course that give this triumvirate of layouts such a broad appeal.
Cleveland Metroparks Golf
Fast Play. Fast Greens. Best Value
One of the main directives Cleveland Metroparks operates under is the mission to enhance people’s lives by providing safe, high-quality outdoor recreation. Not only is golf an exceptional outdoor opportunity, but it’s environmentally friendly as well. Thus the partnership between Cleveland Metroparks and the game of golf is a natural fit.
The organization operates seven courses located conveniently throughout Cuyahoga county that vary from sporting par-3 facilities like Shawnee Hills and Mastick Woods to championship-level layouts such as Manakiki and Sleepy Hollow, which challenge even the most accomplished golfers.
Oak Shadows Golf Club
Spanning 197 acres of countryside and surrounded by lush rolling hills, stately trees and acres of protected wetlands, Oak Shadows Golf Club is one of Northeast Ohio’s hidden gems and easily the best track in the New Philadelphia area.
Located south of Canton, the area’s premier 18-hole championship public golf course is challenging, yet playable if attacked from the proper tee boxes. This par 72 course features four tee areas, ranging in length from 5,208 yards to 7,015 yards. Hackers beware, this course has some teeth. Oak Shadows has an impressive course rating of 73 with a slope of 132.
Oak Shadows Golf Club, 1063 Oak Shadows Dr NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663; Phone: (330) 343-2426
Tam O’Shanter Golf Club
A Canton Classic
Built on 300 acres of rolling farmland more than 80 years ago, the Tam O’Shanter golf club features 36-holes of championship golf on two courses, the Dales and the Hills, a premier practice facility featuring a complete driving range with 30 grass tees, a full-service restaurant, pro shop and lounge.
The Dales Course, which was built in 1928 and recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, is slightly longer than the Hills Course. It was built on somewhat flat terrain and is the more tree-lined of the two layouts. However, mounds in the generally wide fairways can cause uneven lies. It was designed by Harold Macomber, who was a disciple of the legendary Donald Ross.
Tam O’Shanter Golf Club, 5055 Hills and Dales Rd NW, Canton, OH 44708; Phone: (330) 477-3552
The Legends of Massillon
Ideally located in the heart of Northeast Ohio, The Legends at Massillon is just a short drive from the areas of Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown. Currently rated four stars by Golf Digest, The Legends was recognized as the 4th best public golf course in Ohio by Great Lakes Golf magazine in their first annual reader’s choice awards.
Owned and operated by the city of Massillon, The Legends opened for play in 1995 and was one of the first all Bent grass public golf courses in Northeast Ohio. Originally just 18 holes, nine new holes have been added since the course was originally built.
The Legends of Massillon, 2700 Augusta Dr SE, Massillon, OH 44646; Phone: (330) 830-4653
The Sanctuary Golf Club
The peaceful and serene Sanctuary Golf Club is one of Stark County’s premier courses and it has become the “home course” for many golfers in North Canton, greater Stark County and surrounding areas.
Visually appealing, challenging and affordable, the Sanctuary is a “back to nature” golf experience that makes you feel right at home.
The Sanctuary Golf Club opened its new course for play in July 2002. The course was designed by well-known Ohio golf architect Brian Huntley, who has built a number of outstanding layouts throughout the Buckeye State.
The Sanctuary Golf Club, 2017 Applegrove St NW, North Canton, OH 44720; Phone: (330) 499-7721
Wilkshire Golf Club
The sleepy northeastern Ohio village of Bolivar is home to less than 1,000 residents, and a beautiful old-style golf course nestled in the scenic countryside of Tuscarawas County just off Interstate 77.
A short drive from Canton, Wilkshire Golf Club is a popular gathering point for avid Ohio golfers. The classic course with tree-lined fairways, forgiving greens and lush landscaping is challenging enough for a single-digit handicapper, but benign enough for beginners from the forward tees.
Wilkshire Golf Club, 10566 Wilkshire Blvd NE, Bolivar, OH 44612; Phone: (330) 874-2525
Eagle Creek Golf Club
Making the Competition Green with Envy
Brian Huntley is the hottest name in Ohio Golf Course design. He’s built a number of notable layouts including Deer Ridge Golf Club, The Quarry Golf Club and Beavercreek Golf Club and renovated courses such as Medina Country Club, but he saved what could go down as his best work for Norwalk’s Eagle Creek Golf Club.
Golf Digest, one of the nation’s most respected and trusted golf publications, has taken notice. The magazine rated Eagle Creek 4 ½ out of 5 stars in 2008-09, an honor the course has held over the past four years.
This rating and Eagle Creek’s reputation have put the par-71 course on a shortlist of the best public-access facilities in the entire state of Ohio.
Eagle Creek Golf Club, 2406 New State Rd N, Norwalk, OH 44857; Phone: (419) 668-8535
Eagle’s Landing
Toledo-Area Thrill Ride
It might not have the large, very visible roller coasters of neighboring Cedar Point, but you’ll still experience similar thrills as you’re challenged by Eagle’s Landing Golf Club on the shores of Lake Erie just east of Toledo. Voted Toledo’s favorite course by readers of the Toledo Blade and considered by the critics as one of the “Top 100 Must-Play Courses in Ohio,” Brian Huntley fashioned a unique links-style layout around eight lakes with over 70 bunkers and large, undulating greens that opened in 1998.
With a couple of reachable par-5s for longer hitters, par-3s that will require a different club to reach each one, and a set of stout par-4s, this peaceful par-72 layout near Maumee Bay State Park provides a relaxing test from any of the four tees measuring between 5,100 and 6,800 yards.
Eagle’s Landing, 5530 Bay Shore Rd, Oregon, OH 43616; Phone: (419) 697-4653
Red Hawk Run
The award-winning Red Hawk Run Golf Club was designed by Arthur Hills and Associates, one of the country’s most sought after golf architects.
As the centerpiece of a golf course community, Red Hawk Run strives to create a comfortable yet challenging experience for the avid golfer.
Nestled between rolling farmland and strands of mature hardwoods, the course also features three secluded ponds and a flowing creek to provide a quaint relaxing atmosphere.
Red Hawk Run Golf Course,18441 US-224, Findlay, OH 45840; Phone: (419) 894-4653
Windy Knoll Golf Club
Windy Knoll Golf Club is built upon a patch of land that has bred well-documented success.
As a world-renowned horse farm, Windy Knoll was originally brought to life in the 1970s by champion thoroughbred breeder Howard B. Noonan. His vision was to bring the grandeur, beauty and prestige of Kentucky’s successful horse breeding farms to Ohio.
The former horse farm that was home to Avatar, winner of the 1975 Belmont Stakes, Native Uproar, and other Derby-quality course has now matured into a links-style layout that dares you to succeed with a bushel of risk-reward decisions.
Windy Knoll Golf Club, 500 Roscommon Dr, Springfield, OH 45503; Phone: (937) 390-8898