The Best Golf Courses in Columbus, Ohio — From First-Timers to Scratch Players

Whether you're picking up a club for the first time or chasing a sub-80 round, the Columbus area has more playable options than most mid-sized cities. This guide covers eight courses across the metro — public, semi-private, and municipal — with enough detail on price, difficulty, and format that you can match the right course to your skill level before you ever call the pro shop.

Bent Creek Golf Course — Best Municipal Value on the South Side

Located on the south side of Columbus off Parsons Avenue, Bent Creek is one of the city's Columbus Recreation and Parks Department courses. Greens fees run around $20–$26 for 18 holes for Columbus residents, making it one of the most affordable full-length rounds in the metro. The course plays as a straightforward, relatively flat layout that rewards accurate iron play over distance. Beginners who have completed a few lessons and want to play a full round without pressure will find this more forgiving than private alternatives. Carts are available to rent separately.

Mentel Memorial Golf Course — Short Course, Low Barrier to Entry

Also run by Columbus Recreation and Parks, Mentel Memorial on the west side of Columbus is a par-3 course, which makes it the most practical starting point for brand-new golfers in the city. A round here costs under $15 for residents. Because every hole requires only a mid-iron or short iron, beginners can focus on contact and course etiquette without losing balls on 400-yard par-4s. It's also one of the few Columbus city courses with consistent junior programming during summer months.

Champions Golf Course — The City's Most Challenging Municipal Layout

Also within the Columbus Recreation and Parks system, Champions Golf Course near Westerville Road is the department's most demanding public track. The layout features water hazards, elevation changes, and tighter fairways than Bent Creek or Raymond Memorial. Resident greens fees run roughly $26–$32 for 18 holes. Mid-handicappers looking to test their game before stepping into a semi-private environment will find Champions serves that purpose well. Tee times book up on weekend mornings, so calling ahead by Thursday is practical.

Raymond Memorial Golf Course — North Columbus Standby

Raymond Memorial, near Clintonville on the north end of Columbus, is perhaps the most consistently busy of the city's municipal courses. It plays as a traditional parkland layout at just over 6,400 yards from the back tees. Greens fees for Columbus residents are comparable to Bent Creek — roughly $22–$28 for 18 holes. The course has hosted Columbus Recreation and Parks' city amateur events, which gives it a slight edge in conditioning compared to some other municipal options. Golfers in the 15–25 handicap range who want a round that feels like real golf without tournament pressure should consider this their default Columbus option.

Blacklick Woods Golf Course — Metro Parks Course with Tree Cover

Part of the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system, Blacklick Woods in Reynoldsburg offers an 18-hole executive-length course set inside the larger nature preserve. Greens fees are low — typically under $20 — and the wooded setting makes it more scenic than most budget-tier courses in the region. Because the holes run shorter, it works well for high-handicap players still developing distance, as well as older golfers who prefer a walking-friendly layout. Metro Parks courses don't take advance tee times the same way private facilities do, so weekend availability can be unpredictable.

Medallion Club — Semi-Private, Westerville

Medallion Club in Westerville is a semi-private facility with a membership structure but public daily-fee access available when tee times permit. Greens fees for non-members typically run $55–$75 depending on day and time. The course plays longer and more strategically than any of the city-run options, with a design that rewards course management over raw power. Golfers in the 5–15 handicap range who want a step up from municipal conditions without committing to a full private membership will find Medallion a reasonable middle ground. It has a full pro shop and club fitting services on site.

Muirfield Village Golf Club — Spectator, Not Player

This one is listed specifically because it comes up in every Columbus golf conversation, and the distinction matters: Muirfield Village in Dublin is a private club that hosts the Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour each June, but it is not open for public play. Tickets to the Memorial Tournament typically start around $50–$60 for practice round access and run higher for weekend competition rounds. If you're a golf fan rather than a golfer looking to play, attending the Memorial is one of the better spectator experiences in Ohio — but don't plan a tee time here.

The Golf Club at Virtus — Newer Option in Pataskala

Located about 25 miles east of Columbus in Pataskala, Virtus opened in 2019 and quickly drew attention from serious Columbus-area golfers for its design quality. The course plays as a links-influenced layout with wide fairways but significant wind exposure and difficult green complexes. Greens fees run approximately $65–$90 for 18 holes, placing it firmly in the upper tier of public access in the Columbus region. Low-handicap players and experienced golfers who want a legitimate challenge without a private club membership should put this on their list. The drive from the Short North or downtown Columbus is about 30–35 minutes.

Planning Your Round

The Columbus Recreation and Parks courses (Bent Creek, Raymond Memorial, Champions) all book through the city's online tee time system and represent the most affordable entry point in the metro. For greens fees, budget $20–$30 for city courses, $50–$75 for semi-private, and $65–$90 for newer or more design-focused facilities. Tee times at municipal courses go fast on Saturday mornings from May through September — booking 48 to 72 hours out is standard practice for Columbus golfers who want their preferred time.