Golf in Ohio
Overview
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This page explains golf in Ohio. The sorter handles the local question by city or ZIP.
Golf in Ohio
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department operates six public golf courses including the historic Champions course (opened 1923), with affordable weekday rates accessible to residents. The Cleveland Metroparks system and similar county park districts around Cincinnati, Dayton, and Akron maintain additional public layouts with seasonal pass options for older residents.
Published local price
Mill Creek Golf Course (Mill Creek MetroParks, Mahoning County) - non-resident 18-hole walking rate; resident rate is $30 walking; senior (60+) rate is $18 walking; rates vary by season
Published range: $18 to $54.
Mill Creek Golf Course - Golf Rates · as of 2025-01Where to go
Golf score
11th of 51 states for retirement golf
Golf score blends year-round playability (34%), playable access (16%), affordability (16%), course pedigree (12%), and statewide course density (22%).
Courses
A sample of marquee courses across Ohio, with where to play and how to book.
Dramatic elevation changes carved through rolling parkland near the Muskingum River · Arthur Hills
Long the top-ranked public course in Ohio, this one rewards a trip out to Nashport. You get big elevation swings and a layout that feels far grander than its green fee.
Opened 1999 · $$$ · Slope 138
Accuracy course with rolling fairways and about ninety bunkers in native woodland · Michael Hurdzan
A longtime stay-and-play favorite in Zanesville that favors a smart, placed shot over raw distance. The rolling fairways and many bunkers keep it interesting without overwhelming you.
$$
Classic Donald Ross routing over wooded hills with elevated, undulating greens · Donald Ross
A genuine 1924 Donald Ross design in Granville that anyone can play. The elevated greens and natural rolling terrain make it a treat for golfers who love the old classics.
Opened 1924 · $$ · Slope 134
Scottish-style links over Lake Erie wetlands with tall fescue and open wind · Arthur Hills
An open links-style course on the Lake Erie shore where walking is welcome and the rates stay friendly. Seniors get a discount, and you can pair the round with a stay at the state park lodge.
Opened 1991 · $ · Slope 129
Twenty-seven holes of rolling fairways, water, and mature woodland near Cincinnati · Arthur Hills
One of southwest Ohio's best public tracks, a short drive from Cincinnati in Lebanon. With three nines you can mix up the combinations, and the conditioning is consistently strong.
Opened 1979 · $$$ · Slope 136
Demanding wooded Dick Wilson design that hosted the 1969 PGA Championship · Dick Wilson
A private Dayton landmark that has hosted a PGA Championship and a U.S. Senior Open. If you ever get on as a guest, the rolling, tree-lined South Course is a real test.
Opened 1954 · $$$$
Hilltop layout with deep bunkers and views toward Lake Erie east of Cleveland · Hurdzan/Fry
A scenic semi-private course in Concord that welcomes public play, about half an hour east of Cleveland. The elevation and deep bunkering give it a memorable, big-course feel.
Opened 2000 · $$$ · Slope 129
We've mapped 12 courses across Ohio so far.
What Ohio costs
Cost of living
93
BEA index, U.S. = 100
State income tax
~3.5% state income-tax planning rate
Social Security
Not taxed
How people start
Most metros list city-run courses with published fee schedules. Those set the affordable floor before any private club enters the picture.
Many courses post a reduced weekday senior rate and a season pass. The difference between pay-per-round and a pass is the number that usually drives the yearly cost.
In warm states the season runs most of the year; in cold ones it is a few months. The yearly cost is rounds-per-year times rate, plus cart and equipment.
Towns in Ohio
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department operates six 18-hole golf courses through its CRPD Golf system, with senior season passes (60 and up) available starting at $575. The department's courses range across the metro including the historic Airport Golf Course established in 1952.
Columbus Recreation and Parks DepartmentCommon questions
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department operates six public golf courses including the historic Champions course (opened 1923), with affordable weekday rates accessible to residents. The Cleveland Metroparks system and similar county park districts around Cincinnati, Dayton, and Akron maintain additional public layouts with seasonal pass options for older residents. Towns like Columbus have their own local options.
Ohio has a cost-of-living index near 93 (U.S. = 100), about a 3.5% state income-tax planning rate, and does not tax Social Security. The full state guide breaks down property tax, sales tax, and long-term-care costs, each sourced.
Sources