Playing Golf in Nicklaus’ Neighborhood
The pros have gathered at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio, this week for the 2013 President’s Cup tournament, but Muirfield isn’t the only great play in Jack Nicklaus’ hometown.
In fact, private-club wise, Columbus is probably the best metropolis in the Midwest, according to our friends at Travel Golf. But in the case you’re not well-connected or are looking for more affordable greens fees, you’re also in luck – because there is currently such an oversupply of public courses, green fees in the area tend to be an absolute steal.
Here’s a few favorites you can find at GolfNow.com:
Longaberger Golf Club – Nashport, OH
50 miles east of Columbus is the area’s best public course, Longaberger Golf Club. The drive is well worth it, because Longaberger simply has too many elements no course closer to the city can offer. With 645 acres, the property is expansive (enough for a second 18 holes that was routed and shaped by Tom Weiskopf in 2000 but never seeded). The existing course, designed by Arthur Hills, is a marvelous canvas for golf: a perfect amount of gentle roll in the ground to go with plenty of unique natural features throughout the round.
Ohio has no shortage of extravagant golf facilities and Longaberger’s is among the most lavish: a 25-acre practice area, as well as an 80,000-square-foot clubhouse. VIPs can dine in a private board room normally reserved for Longaberger execs, or the main dining area offers its own delicious fare and far-reaching evening views.
Riviera Golf Club – Dublin, OH
The Columbus suburb of Dublin is well-known for Jack’s masterpiece at Muirfield Village. But across the street is a private-turned semi-private club, Riviera Golf Club, that golfers attending the Presidents Cup or The Memorial Tournament can make an easy diversion for a round of their own. A traditional parkland course built in 1970 with scattered trees lining fairways and plenty of small ponds and streams, it’s a pleasant and walkable course, particularly considering it’s in private-worthy shape.
Winding Hollow – New Albany, OH
New Albany, a northeast suburb of Columbus, is known on the golf radar for the proudly-named The Golf Club, one of Pete Dye’s early layouts. Nearby, Winding Hollow (formerly a private club named Tartan East) has new ownership, a new name and fantastic course conditions.
Area golfers have certainly come to discover the now-public Winding Hollow; it’s presently in GolfNow’s Top 100-rated courses nationally. Another design by Hills, it’s a narrow, shot-makers course with doglegs and well-guarded greens. The risk-reward par-5 18th feels like a hole made for a PGA Tour finish with a tough tee shot followed by a decision to go at a green guarded by water right and traps left.
New Albany Links – New Albany, OH
Nearby, New Albany Links offers a course that’s wider and more forgiving than narrow and shady Winding Hollow. It was designed by local architect Barry Serafin, who worked under Nicklaus and the team of Michael Hurdzan-Dana Fry.
Read more about Columbus golf at Golf Channel.com.
– The Daily Tee
Featured image of Muirfield Village Golf Club courtesy of Presidents Cup 2013.com.
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