Ohio Golf Destinations
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Dayton
The city of Dayton boasts an abundance of fine public golf courses. Kittyhawk Golf Center is comprised of three 18-hole courses, led by the challenging Eagle layout. Dayton's Community Golf Center has two 18-hole courses, and Madden Golf Center is much more than a "muni" that rises and falls over rolling hills and traverses a stream that cuts through the back nine.
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Cincinnati
When it comes to golf, Cincinnati didn't skimp! Check out Tom Fazio's Belterra Golf Club or the classic Deer Run C.C. that rises and drops over western Cincinnati's hills. The Golf Center at King's Island has hosted professional tournaments and has three courses. For a resort course, play Harbor Links at Sagamore Resort in nearby Liberty, Ind. You have to work hard not to find things to do in Ohio's southern-most city.
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Akron
Akron has come a long way from being Tire City, once the home of Goodrich, Goodyear and Firestone. Golfers will be glad to know there are many public courses around the city, including two munis. J.E. Good Park -- "The Park" -- is an 18-hole course with an nice mix of doglegs, slopes, undulations and trees. Nine-hole Mud Run is a great spot for a quick round through wetlands and woods. Turkeyfoot Lake dates back to 1925 and has 27 tree-lined holes. Chenoweth G.C. is another well maintained course set amid thick forests.
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Toledo
Toledo also has an array of quality golf courses. The classic South Toledo Golf Club (originally known as Heather Downs Country Club) was designed by William Rockefeller in the 1920s and spruced up by Arthur Hills in the 1990s. Red Hawk Run south of town is a water-laden, 7,000-yard top-tier course designed by Arthur Hills. Closer to town, Pike Run tightens the screws for the back nine that squeezes through tall trees, and Valleywood is just minutes from the airport.
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Cleveland
Cleveland prides itself in classic golf, from Riceland Golf Course which began in 1922 to Manakiki Golf Club, a 1920s Donald Ross design. Sleepy Hollow is another Cleveland classic, laid atop and in ravines by designer Stanley Thompson in 1925. For a modern flourish, try Little Mountain C.C. with its views of Lake Erie. It makes the most of the rolling hills and woods and tosses out challenges in the form of 80 bunkers, a large lake, waterfalls and Ellison Creek.
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Columbus
Many top-flight golf courses ring Columbus, from Jack Nicklaus' Muirfield Village Golf Club, to an array of public courses created by the prolific and creative design firm of Hurdzan-Fry. The city's golf offerings include Cumberland Trail Golf Course, StoneWater, Little Mountain and Cooks Creek. Play one of Dr. Michael Hurdzan's earlier works at Mohican Hills. If you're a purist, check out Pine Lakes Golf Club, which opened in 1926.
