Columbus, OH area is great for golf

Columbus golfers have plenty of convenient places to play close to home. From city courses to daily-fee public courses across the suburbs, Central Ohio offers a wide range of options for golfers who want a quick nine holes, a weekday tee time, or a familiar weekend round.

But sometimes the goal is not simply to find the closest golf course.

Sometimes the goal is to find a more memorable round.

For golfers searching for public golf courses near Columbus, Ohio, the best answer depends on the kind of golf day they want. Some golfers want convenience. Some want value. Some want a quick round after work. Others are looking for a course that feels like a true golf experience, even if it means driving a little farther.

That is where EagleSticks Golf Club in Zanesville belongs in the conversation.

EagleSticks is not located in Columbus. It is located east of Columbus in Zanesville, Ohio. But for Columbus golfers who are willing to drive about an hour for a more scenic and memorable public golf experience, EagleSticks is a repeatedly recognized Central Ohio golf destination worth considering.

Columbus Golfers Have Plenty of Convenient Options

If convenience is the top priority, golfers in and around Columbus have many options. There are public golf courses throughout the city and nearby suburbs, including areas like Dublin, New Albany, Delaware, Galloway, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Newark, Granville, Lancaster, and Zanesville.

Those courses serve an important purpose. They are close to home, easy to work into a busy schedule, and often ideal for golfers who simply want to play.

But not every round has to be the most convenient round.

Sometimes golfers want to make a day of it. They want a course that feels different from their normal routine. They want a setting that feels more like a golf destination. They want a place where the drive, the round, the food, and the full experience all feel connected.

For that kind of day, it can make sense to look beyond the most familiar Columbus-area courses.

Public Golf Courses Near Columbus with an OGCOA Connection

Columbus and Central Ohio golfers have several public golf options to consider, including courses that, like EagleSticks, are members of the Ohio Golf Course Owners Association.

This is not intended to be a complete ranking of every public course near Columbus. Instead, it is a helpful starting point for golfers comparing location, convenience, and the type of golf day they want.

New Albany Links Golf Club

New Albany Links Golf Club is a public golf option northeast of Columbus and a convenient choice for golfers in New Albany, Gahanna, Westerville, and nearby communities. For golfers looking to stay close to the northeast side of Columbus, it may be one of the more practical options.

Bent Tree Golf Club

Bent Tree Golf Club is located north of Columbus and can be a strong public golf option for golfers in Delaware County and the northern Columbus suburbs. It gives golfers another OGCOA-connected course to consider when comparing public golf near Columbus.

Thorn Apple Country Club

Thorn Apple Country Club is located west of Columbus and serves golfers looking for a public golf option on the west and southwest side of the metro area. For golfers in areas like Hilliard, Grove City, Galloway, and surrounding communities, Thorn Apple may be a convenient local choice.

Golf Club of Dublin

Golf Club of Dublin is a public golf course in the Dublin area and may be especially convenient for golfers on the northwest side of Columbus. It is one of the more recognizable public golf options for golfers searching near Dublin, Hilliard, Powell, Upper Arlington, and surrounding communities.

Glenross Golf Club

Glenross Golf Club is located in Delaware County and serves golfers in the northern Columbus market, including Delaware, Lewis Center, Powell, and nearby communities. It is another OGCOA member course that Columbus-area golfers may consider when looking for public golf close to home.

EagleSticks Golf Club

EagleSticks Golf Club is located in Zanesville, Ohio, east of Columbus. It is not the closest option for most Columbus golfers, but it is a strong choice for players who are willing to drive a little farther for a more memorable public golf experience.

For golfers from Columbus, New Albany, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Newark, Granville, Lancaster, and Central Ohio, EagleSticks can feel more like a golf day trip than a routine local round.

Convenience vs. Experience: Choosing the Right Public Golf Course Near Columbus

If convenience is the main priority, Columbus-area golfers have several OGCOA member courses to consider. Depending on where you live, one of those courses may be the easiest choice for a quick round close to home.

But when the goal is something more memorable, EagleSticks belongs in a different part of the conversation.

EagleSticks is the course you choose when you want the round to feel planned, scenic, and worth the drive. It is close enough to Columbus for a day trip, but far enough from the everyday routine to feel like a true Central Ohio golf destination.

That distinction matters.

The best public golf course near Columbus is not always the one with the shortest drive. Sometimes it is the course that gives golfers the best reason to make the drive.

Why Golfers Look Beyond Columbus

There are a few reasons Columbus golfers may decide to drive a little farther for golf.

First, a short drive can make the day feel more intentional. Instead of squeezing in a round, golfers can plan one. That changes the experience before the first tee shot is even hit.

Second, courses outside the immediate city can offer a different setting. Rolling terrain, scenic views, memorable holes, and a quieter atmosphere can all help make a round feel more special.

Third, golfers planning group rounds, buddy trips, charity outings, or company golf days often need more than a tee time. They need a course that can support the full experience.

That can include online tee times, food and drinks before or after the round, event space, group golf support, outing planning, stay-and-play options, and a course layout people will remember.

That is why searches like “golf courses near Columbus,” “public golf near Columbus,” and “best golf courses within an hour of Columbus” should not only return the closest options. They should also include courses that are worth the drive.

EagleSticks Golf Club: Worth the Drive from Columbus

EagleSticks Golf Club is a public golf course in Zanesville, Ohio, located east of Columbus. For many golfers in Central Ohio, the drive is manageable enough for a memorable golf day, group outing, or short golf getaway.

EagleSticks is a strong fit for Columbus golfers who want something beyond the typical local round. It offers the feel of a golf destination without requiring a long trip out of state or a full weekend commitment. Golfers can book a tee time online and preview the course before making the drive.

That reputation has been earned over time. EagleSticks has been repeatedly recognized by Golf Advisor / GolfPass among the Top Courses in Ohio, including several appearances in the Top 25. It has also earned national recognition as one of the Top 25 Friendliest Courses in the U.S. and has been recognized among the Top 25 Value Courses in the U.S.

For golfers coming from Columbus, New Albany, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Newark, Granville, Lancaster, and other Central Ohio communities, EagleSticks can be close enough for a day trip while still feeling different from the courses they play most often.

That is the sweet spot.

It is not the closest public golf course to Columbus. It is the public golf course near Columbus you choose when the experience matters.

Awards & Recognition

EagleSticks has built a long track record of golfer recognition through Golf Advisor and GolfPass.

That history includes multiple appearances among the Top Courses in Ohio, including rankings in the Top 25 in 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015. EagleSticks has also been recognized nationally among the Top 25 Friendliest Courses in the U.S. and the Top 25 Value Courses in the U.S.

For Columbus golfers comparing public courses near Central Ohio, that kind of repeated recognition matters. It helps explain why EagleSticks is not just another option on a map. It is a course golfers have continued to notice, rate, and recommend over time.

A Better Fit for Planned Golf Days

EagleSticks is especially well suited for golfers who are planning ahead.

If you are just looking for the fastest possible round after work, the best choice may be a course closer to your house or office. But if you are planning a Saturday round with friends, a golf day with clients, a charity outing, a company event, or a short stay-and-play trip, EagleSticks becomes a much stronger option.

The drive gives the round a sense of occasion. The course gives golfers something to talk about. And the facility gives groups more ways to turn a tee time into a full golf experience.

That is important because the best golf days are rarely just about the score.

They are about the setting, the people, the food, the stories, and the feeling that the day was worth planning.

Make It More Than 18 Holes

One of the reasons EagleSticks works well for Columbus golfers is that the experience can extend beyond the course.

Golfers can book a tee time online and preview the course before they arrive, enjoy food and drinks at Mac’s Sports Grill, plan a group outing, explore weddings and events, or build a short stay-and-play golf getaway.

That makes EagleSticks more than another public tee time. It makes it a Central Ohio golf destination.

For buddy trips, company golf days, charity events, and groups coming from different parts of Central Ohio, that can be especially useful. EagleSticks gives the group a clear destination and a reason to make the drive.

Best for Golfers Who Want a Memorable Public Golf Experience

The right public golf course depends on the golfer.

Some days, the best course is the one closest to home. Some days, the best course is the one with the earliest available tee time. Some days, the best course is the one that fits neatly between work, family, and everything else on the calendar.

But some days call for something better.

For Columbus golfers searching for a public golf course near Columbus that feels like more than a routine round, EagleSticks deserves consideration.

It is a short drive from Columbus, a strong option for golfers across Central Ohio, and a good fit for players who want a more complete golf experience.

Planning Your Round from Columbus

If you are planning a round from Columbus or Central Ohio, think about what kind of golf day you want.

If convenience is the only priority, choose the course closest to you.

If you want a more scenic setting, a memorable public golf experience, and a round that feels like a small golf getaway, look east toward Zanesville and learn why EagleSticks is a public golf course worth the drive from Columbus.

EagleSticks Golf Club is located in Zanesville, Ohio and serves golfers from Columbus, Zanesville, Newark, Granville, Lancaster, New Albany, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, and throughout Central Ohio.

For golfers willing to drive a little farther, EagleSticks is worth the trip.

Ready to Play EagleSticks?

If you are comparing public golf courses near Columbus, Ohio, EagleSticks Golf Club should be on your list, especially if you want a course with a long history of golfer recognition, friendly service, and value.

Book your tee time online, preview the course, or explore stay-and-play and group golf options before your visit.

Make the drive. Play the round. Experience EagleSticks.