Named after a native American word for maple forest, Manakiki Golf Course's defining feature is the abundance of maple trees that line the winding fairways. The course is a classic Donald Ross design. He incorporated a variety of challenges including tricky doglegs, water hazards, up-and-down holes, and two canyon holes.

Grey Hawk Golf Club is a challenging but playable course that is a Cleveland area favorite. It brings resort-quality golf to a remote location in LaGrange that is seemingly in the middle of nowhere. The rolling landscape is the ideal terrain for links-style golf.

Sweetbriar Golf Club is home to 36 holes of some of Ohio's most scenic golf. There are two 18-hole courses that sprawl across acres of natural wetlands and forests. Numerous lakes and ponds also dot the landscape. The Sweetbriar Course is the original course at the club. Built in the 1960s, the golf course has a traditional design that offers a fair amount of challenges.

Chippewa Golf Club in Doylestown sits just a few minutes south of Akron. It's one of the area's most popular public courses. Opened in 1962, the golf course has a traditional layout that sprawls across rolling hills. The undulating landscape provides a variety of elevation changes that range from subtle to dramatic. Accuracy is key since mature trees frame most of the holes and the massive, contoured greens also present a challenge.

Windmill Lakes Golf Club consistently ranks as one of the best courses in the state and is definitely the top golf course in northeastern Ohio. Located in Ravenna, it is the home course for the men's and women's golf teams at Kent State, which is only six miles east of the club.

Arrowhead Golf Club is an 18-hole public course in North Canton. The course is player friendly enough for all skill levels. It's not the most formidable test in the area but it's great for a quick and casual round. It's also an ideal layout for beginners who are just starting out since it provides a few challenges while not being overly punishing.

The 18-hole Heather Downs Country Club in Toledo, OH is a semi-private golf course that opened in 1925. Heather Downs Country Club measures 6250 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 124 and a 70.

The 18-hole Forrest Creason Golf Course in Bowling Green, OH is a public golf course that opened in 1964. Designed by Bob Dudley and Ken Schoeni, Forrest Creason Golf Course measures 6497 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 116 and a 70.

The 18-hole White Pines Golf Course in Swanton, OH is a public golf course that opened in 2002. White Pines Golf Course measures 6778 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 126 and a 71 USGA rating.

Billed as central Ohio's best-kept secret, Royal American Links is a 6,800-yard par 72 that wraps around seven lakes. Designed by Ohio's own Mike Hurdzan, the golf course, as its name might suggest, plays much like a links course with wind playing a large role scoring, especially around the water.

With acres of wetlands, large oak trees, seven ponds and a natural creek, Glenross Golf Club is a daily-fee club with an upscale private-club feel. Opened in 2006, this 6,600-yard par 70, which was designed by Jack Kidwell, features more than 50 bunkers.

The semiprivate New Albany Links Golf Club, designed by Barry T. Serafin in 2000, delivers tee times open to the public with the feel and amenities of an exclusive country club.

Located in Mason, Crooked Tree Golf Course sprawls across a scenic landscape of rolling hills accented with mature trees, sparkling lakes, and meandering creeks. The undulating landscape provides only modest elevation changes, but there are a few uneven lies to watch out for. There are four sets of diverse tees that make the course player friendly enough for beginners.

The Grizzly Course, named after its legendary designer Jack Nicklaus, is one of two courses offered by the Golf Center at Kings Island. The other is the nine-hole Bruin Course and there is an Academy Course with four championship holes as well. Since opening in 1973, the Grizzly has been host to several PGA, LPGA, and Senior PGA events.

Pebble Creek Golf Course wanders across the ridges and valleys of Colerain Township. The design closely follows the natural contours of the landscape and incorporates the mature trees, allowing it to blend seamlessly into its surroundings. Each hole has a different character, making it a true shotmaker's golf course that will have you using every club in your bag.

Windy Knoll Golf Club opened in 2001 but being one of the newer golf courses in Springfield hasn't stopped it from gaining a reputation as one of the area's best public plays. It has a traditional links design that utilizes many of the features of the original horse farm that formerly occupied the site. The course is seemingly easy but there are many risk-reward opportunities that will challenge even the most experienced players.

Situated just a few minutes north of downtown Dayton, Kittyhawk Golf Center offer three 18-hole courses: the Eagle, Hawk, and Kitty. The Eagle Course is the longest of the three. The Hawk is the original layout and the Kitty is an executive course that is made up almost entirely of par 3s with only two par 4s. The Eagle is the most challenging of the three in addition to just being longer.

Jamaica Run Golf Club is located just west of I-75 in Germantown. The course has a fair amount of challenges, but overall it's player friendly enough to appeal to a wide range of skill levels. The small greens are hard to hit and provide most of the trouble.