The Ohio State University Golf Club: Scarlet
Columbus, OH • Private





Overview
Augusta National and Cypress Point architect Alister MacKenzie originally designed Ohio State’s Scarlet course in 1931, but he died in 1934 before construction began. After his death, Perry Maxwell oversaw the construction, though the course is still considered a MacKenzie layout. Jack Nicklaus returned to his collegiate course in 2005-2006 to restore the bunkers and lengthen the course to over 7,400 yards. The bunkers are some of the most penal in college golf, many massive in size and most with tall lips, often requiring high-lofted clubs to get back in play. The greens often play quite firm, making it difficult to hold approach shots close to some hole locations. The Ohio track regularly plays as one of the toughest courses on the Korn Ferry Tour when it hosts an annual event during the tour’s finals series. The course is semi-private and open to those who have an affiliation with Ohio State University.
About
Awards


Ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked inside the top 10, 1991. Ranked inside the top 15, 1987-'89. Ranked inside the top 20, 1993-'97, 2003, 2019-'24. Ranked inside the top 25, 1999-2001, 2005-'18.
2023-'24 ranking: 18th.
America's Greatest College Courses: 4th (2023).
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
“A long standing Mackenzie design that has stood the test of time even after a remodel."
Read More2023
Review
“Very fun, very hard. A true test if you think you’re ready for the big leagues."
Read More2023
Review
“After the Nicklaus renovation of OSU's signature course, almost all the fairway bunkers became half-shot penalties. While the fairways and bunkers are always excellent, the green complexes can be overly firm, which adds an extra layer of difficulty when facing some unfair pin positions on many of the holes. Hole #4 has one of the more impossible greens to hold an approach shot. Holes #10, 11, and 12, are some of my favorite in central Ohio."
Read More2022
Review
“A brute of a course. It will eat your lunch if you are not paying attention. Many bunkers, all deep and vast. A number of very good holes, with a couple of OK ones, and one terrible one (number four). Good conditions, with the greens a little slow on the day I played."
Read More2018
Review
“One of the best university owned courses in America. A good test with lots of variety."
Read More2018
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