Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Scioto Country Club
Columbus, OH • Private
Scioto Country Club
2196 Riverside Dr
Columbus, OH 43221-4021
United States
Overview
The Donald Ross design at Scioto was the site of three prominent tournaments—the 1926 U.S. Open, won by Bobby Jones, the 1931 Ryder Cup and the 1950 PGA Championship. That course was gone by the time the ’68 U.S. Amateur came to Scioto, replaced in 1963 by a modern design from Dick Wilson, who delegated one nine to associate Joe Lee and the other to associate Robert von Hagge. Several other renovations by Michael Hurdzan and Jack Nicklaus, who grew up playing the course, followed in the 2000s, creating yet a third iteration of the course. Enough, the club said. They hired Andrew Green in 2021 to restore the course to the full Donald Ross version based on drawings, photos and an old aerial illustration from the '26 Open. Green lowered green complexes, emboldened contours, recreated Ross’ sharp-faced bunkering and returned the small green at the par-3 17th to the near side of a creek where it originally was.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1966.
Highest ranking: 22nd, 1987-'88.
Previous ranking: 60th.
2025-'26 ranking: 82nd.
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in Ohio since 1977.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 5th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Donald Ross creation originally designed in 1916 that has been renovated to its original glory by Andrew Green. The rolling nature of the property and the green complexes that have a variety of undulations provide both beaty and challenge. The course is hard enough to hold major championships, but playable enough for the average player to enjoy on a regular basis. Definitely a course where good shots are rewarded and poor shots are punished, as golf should be. The course has a very welcoming membership and a friendly staff. Never pass up the opportunity to play a round on the course where Jack Nicklaus learned the game."
Read More2026
Review
“Just a beautifully well designed and maintained Donald Ross golf course. Some Ross courses are straight up and back, but Scioto flows left, right, up and down. Each hole is unique and just the right mix of fun and challenge."
Read More2026
Review
“This course is a perfect example of a GolfDigest top 100 course. Fantastic conditioning, great layout, greens were firm/fast/perfect. This course is almost under-rated for how good it is."
Read More2025
Review
“Scioto is a proper test of golf. Many of the undulations and design features are really emphasized by the firm and fast playing conditions. While Scioto doesn't offer an outstanding selection of shot options, it still requires a thoughtful approach, and rewards the proper strategy. One example is the par 4 3rd hole...a short - mid length par 4 has a daunting bunker guarding the front of the green. A more aggressive tee shot in the fairway leaves a short enough approach where you can hold the green just over the bunker. Approaching that green from the rough, or from longer distance makes it extremely difficult to keep the ball on the front 2/3 of the green. The par 3s at Scioto offer some nice variety. Not only do you have different clubs and elevation change, but you have really interesting green complexes that offer varying pin locations, challenging putts and chip shots, and they require strategic thinking on each shot. From the consistently interesting and demanding greens matched by the stellar conditions, Scioto is quite worthy of its spot in our top 100."
Read More2024
Review
“wide variance in par 3s long/short uphill and short downhill fun and interesting green complexes with variant sizes and slopes varying from mild to severe bunkering now below green grade with multiple shot options played from tightly mown areas"
Read More2024
Review
“Located in Upper Arlington, 10 min from downtown Columbus, Ohio, Scioto CC opened in 1916 and was designed by Donald Ross. It’s been the site of the the 1926 US Open, 1931 Ryder Cup, 1950 PGA Championship, 1986 US Am, 1986 and 2016 US Senior Championships. Renovated in 2021 by Andrew Green to restore it to the original Donald Ross design, such as widening fairways and restoring bunkers."
Read More2024
Review
“Never pass up the opportunity to play where Jack learned to play. Classy club, terrific Ross restoration."
Read More2023
Review
“Impressive and incredible green complexes protected by bunkers await golfers here. The majority of golfers will find themselves with at least one 3 putt on the day due to the undulations and speed. Couple good strategic holes - can’t bomb every drive, need to think about landing areas and how you want to play shot #2. Bunkering around greens is challenging but also becomes monotonous throughout the round. Routed well through the property and good use of the creek on numerous holes"
Read More2023
Review
“Scioto occupies a wonderful piece of land with gently rolling hills and a creek meandering through the property, extraordinarily well suited for golf. The course layout makes great use of these features with the creek coming into play on six holes, and the gentle valley slopes towards the creek coming into play on even more. Andrew Green's restoration added surface area and slopes to the set of greens here. Short grass chipping areas meld seamlessly into the green surfaces, juxtaposed by creative and diverse bunkering schemes."
Read More2023
Review
“Wonderfully restored Ross gem. Challenging but fair for all levels. A visual experience with great vista's and an varied selection of short and long holes all guarded with beautiful, sharp, bunkering and undulating greens. A must play while in Columbus, OH."
Read More2023
