Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of The Golf Club
Courtesy of The Golf Club
The Golf Club
The Golf Club
4522 Kitzmiller Rd
New Albany, OH 43054-9565
United States
Overview
The Golf Club, built in 1966, may be the most authentic of Pete Dye’s transition period of design, when he first chose to buck convention and start building lay-of-the-land layouts like those he’d seen during a 1963 tour of Scotland. In doing so, Dye re-introduced deception, misdirection and railroad ties into American golf architecture. Its construction attracted the attention of local boy Jack Nicklaus, who visited several times and made some astute suggestions. That led to a five-year Dye-Nicklaus design partnership. The Golf Club remained untouched for nearly 45 years, until Pete Dye returned in 2014 to rebuild holes, modestly adjusting some of his original green contours to better match present-day green speeds. He also relocated the fifth green, adding a contorted putting surface more reminiscent of his later designs, an inconspicuous reminder how much his design predilections evolved throughout his career.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1969.
Highest ranking: 23rd, 1999-'00.
Previous ranking: 44rd.
2025-'26 ranking: 46th.
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in Ohio since 1977.
2025-'26 ranking: 2nd.
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
“This course has so many strategic opportunities to score if you are willing to hit a risky shot. Par 3 distances are good variety. Tough and deceptive distance tee shots fill the round and preferred angles into each green become apparent as you progress through the round."
Read More2023
Review
“A must play if one can get on this ultra private course."
Read More2023
Review
“The course that first gained Pete Dye wide acclaim. The club is very private and difficult to gain access, but well worth the effort to play if the opportunity arises."
Read More2022
Review
“Hard not to get caught up in the vibe of this place. Such a cool club. That said, the course has fantastic diversity amongst the par 3s and par 4s. I used every club in my bag. The condition was fantastic. Par 5s are also solid, with risk reward a big part of the 2 on the back nine. A very fun course to play"
Read More2022
Review
“This course is a great example of one with an array of shot options on every hole. Each hole demands decisions from the player on each shot. Often there are so many options it make it difficult to commit to those decisions. Challenging hazards usually leads to optimal angles for the subsequent shot. A great example is the par 4 6th hole. Playing away from the diagonal hazard (a creek) leads to a much more challenging 2nd shot while playing close to the hazard off the tee provides a much simpler angle for the approach. There is a great variety of hole lengths and hazard placement. This results in great flow throughout the round of holes that provide scoring opportunities and those that are demanding. And different pin placements on many greens can change the playing strategy, providing variety on multiple plays. The distinctiveness of the individual holes is outstanding. No two holes even remotely similar. It is noteworthy how different each hole is but how well they all fit together as a complete unit. The course is somewhat secluded from the outside allowing the player to get lost in the experience. The condition of the course was excellent, firm and rolling fairways and greens that were receptive to well struck shots from the short grass that rolled true."
Read More2022
Review
“Subtle elegance is the best way to describe one of Dye’s earliest designs. The way he laid the course on this rolling Ohio farmland was tremendous. It sits so naturally and understated within the property."
Read More2022
Review
“Simply put--Pete Dye's best work. They named it the Golf Club so nobody would find it. The first hole is the "worst" hole out there, which Alice Dye had re-designed. The practice green is also the first tee as well as the 18th green. Two holes have different tee boxes so the leader in each match can choose where to hit from. My favorite course I've ever played."
Read More2022
Review
“This golf course is truly amazing. The commitment to being a golf club is easy to see. The place just makes you want to stay and play golf. The modest sized pro shop is connected to an amazing locker room and restaurant that overlooks the eighteenth green and up the first fairway. The practice area is on a different part of the property that is wonderful and may be the best place to practice in the world. The range is quite and the short game area is world class. The course itself is an early Pete Dye design that shows his genius and foreshadows the amazing courses that would come later like Sawgrass, The Honors Course, and many others. The bunkers on the first four holes are mesmerizing. They are unique in size, shape, and placement. The par 3 third has an amazing tiered bunker complex with railroad ties everywhere. The bunkers on number two are quirky and varying in size, but at the same time amazing. The course has some of the best holes in the world. Number six is long par four with a creek in play throughout. The green is long and narrow and requires an accurate approach. The par 3s on this course are all world class. Water, ravines, short, and long, these holes are all good. The final three holes on this course are great. The 16th is a beautiful par 3 over a ravine. The 17th is a great par 5 with water surrounding the left half of the green, and the 18th is one of the best holes that I have played. It is a long par 4 with a demanding approach over water to a narrow green. Quite simply, amazing. If you are lucky to play, you won't forget it..."
Read More2021
Review
“Tough Dye design with lots of great holes. Good use of the creeks and natural terrain. Not as penal as many Dye courses but still a good test of all skills. One of his best and most enjoyable projects."
Read More2018
Review
“Absolutely incredible. Just a beautiful relaxed setting for golf. Probably one of Pete Dye's best."
Read More2018
