Public/ resort golf near Columbus, OH?

[Shadrach]

I may be in the Columbus area at the end of March. I'll be interested in a round over several days there, hopefully on a pleasant looking but not too-too difficult track. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[MaxBuck]

Good luck with central Ohio weather in late March. For nice-looking but not difficult, it would be hard to beat New Albany Links. The Links at Groveport and Blacklick Woods would also be good choices.

[tjblue]

Check out the Virtues.

It's not cheap and not the easiest of tracks but for the money you won't find better.

[JDFish]

I'm not sure about the not-to-difficult part, but the Virtues and Denison Golf Club are not too far from Columbus. For a city course, Champions inside of 270 is a really good track, conditions depending. And Blacklick can be good also. Hopefully by the end of March courses will have started mowing and rolling the greens.

[grm24]

How is Turnberry in Pickerington?

[Bigswede]

Bent Tree and Foxfire come to mind and fit your criteria.

[Celebros]

Another vote for The Virtues. Great track.

[JDFish]

I don't think Turnberry qualifies as "pleasant looking". It is mostly an "up and back" design with little character. IMO, the 4th hole is one of the worst holes in Columbus. It is built in a lowland so it seems like it is extremely wet until July. I live in Pickerington and play it only as a last resort or last minute choice to get some golf in, or in scrambles to support various school sports programs. We have joked for years that the city should have sued Arthur Hills for malpractice. I think nearby Blacklick is a much better golf course. There's also Cumberland Trail and Westchester that are not too far away that are both better than Turnberry. So is Groveport, which is an older course that used to be a country club and has really small greens. If you are walking, Turnberry, Blacklick and Groveport are easy to walk.

[SilverBullets]

Its a run of the mill muni.

I'd pick Blacklick Woods 10 out of 10 times over Turnberry (it's not too far from Turnberry so it's in the same area). Blacklick is maybe the most underrated course in the city. If only the greens were faster.

For the OP, it's going to depend on what part of town he is in and what the weather gives him. NorthStar is a really solid track North of the city but it's also tough. New Albany Links and Glen Ross are good options East of the city which are nice, well kept, and not overly challenging.

The Virtues is the best public track by a mile but it's also a full hour from the city and even further if hes on the West/Northwest side of town.

[grm24]

Thanks to you and @SilverBullets for the replies on Turnberry. I know that Blacklick is a must play. Have visited the Pickerington area twice in the last year or so (stayed at the Comfort Inn on Hill Road right next to the I-70 exit) but was unable to play. Will have to make it a point to play Blacklick the next time I'm in the area.

[Shadrach]

Thanks to all for the helpful suggestions. I'll confine my list of "maybe"s to those suggested.

Way back when Mike Weir won The Masters, I travelled from my home near Buffalo, NY to Longaberger where the course was offering a fitting day featuring several manufacturers. It was my first visit there, and I learned not only about Longaberger baskets, but also about what a nice looking track it was. When I searched for it before writing my OP, I learned it is now The Virtues.So, should my trip materialize, I'll plan to play whatever-its-name on my way back home.

[Shankyouverymuch]

Champions is closed while they finish the new clubhouse. Mid April projected opening. I play in a league there and I also feel it is a hidden gem for a muni course.

[SilverBullets]

Not sure I would go as far as saying it's a must play, but, if you're in the area its a good spot. I played there a good bit when I lived in Columbus. Really enjoyed the course. The greens are weird. They are so SLOW but yet smooth. That's really my only knock on the course (oh and the first hole is probably the worst hole on the course). There are better public courses in Columbus, but, in that Pickerington area, that's a good choice.

[grm24]

Thanks again for your info. Much appreciated. I was told some years back on another golf forum that Blacklick was a must play after some people had played it after they had an outing @ Cumberland Trail in Pataskala. Hope I can get back out that way later this year.

[OrangeCrush]

When I lived there 18 years ago, my favorite track was Darby Creek in Marysville (NW Cols). The greater Dublin area has some nice courses.

[JDFish]

FYI, even if you wanted to play Turnberry, it is one of the 6 Columbus municipal courses presently closed due to COVID-19.

[Shadrach]

Thanks to all for the friendly and informative responses. My trip seems to have been rescheduled

I'll save your suggestions for next time. Out.