Columbus Golf Trip Planning Guide
Columbus is Ohio's biggest city and Jack Nicklaus' hometown, so the public golf scene benefits from that legacy. The Short North and German Village neighborhoods deliver a walkable bar and restaurant scene, and the Ohio State game-day infrastructure means large-group logistics are second nature here.
5 courses · 4 restaurants · 4 bars · 4 activities
Quick Facts
Spring, Summer, Fall
CMH (15 min drive)
$35–$110
$350/night
4 of 5
~$321/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Columbus. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Longaberger Golf Club — parkland, $69–$110 · 4.5★
Arthur Hills design through Appalachian foothills — consistently rated among Ohio's best public courses
The Top Steakhouse — steakhouse, $$$$
Bexley's retro steakhouse institution since 1955 — huge cuts, strong drinks, and old-school atmosphere
Seventh Son Brewing — brewpub
Italian Village taproom with a great outdoor space — hop-forward beers and a loyal local following
Day 2
The Golf Club at Little Turtle — parkland, $49–$79 · 4.4★
Westerville's best public track — mature trees and well-maintained greens in a residential setting
Short North Gallery Hop & Bar Crawl — 2-3 hours, $20–$40/pp
Walk High Street from Short North through Italian Village — art galleries, breweries, and cocktail bars
Wolf's Ridge Brewing — brewpub, $$
Upstairs fine dining and downstairs taproom — best brewery food in Columbus
The Walrus — dive · Open late
Short North's best dive bar — pinball, cheap PBR, and the kind of unpretentious vibe every crew needs
Day 3
Darby Creek Golf Course — parkland, $35–$59 · 4.4★
Metro Parks course along Big Darby Creek — excellent value with scenic creek-side holes
Topgolf Columbus — 2-3 hours, $30–$60/pp
Three-level driving range with food and drinks — perfect competitive warm-up
Schmidt's Sausage Haus — casual, $$
German Village landmark — giant bratwurst, cream puffs, and an oompah band on weekends
Denmark on High — cocktail · Open late
Speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden in a Short North alley — inventive drinks and a moody atmosphere
Course-by-Course Guide
Columbus has 5 courses worth playing. 4 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Longaberger Golf Club
PremiumArthur Hills design through Appalachian foothills — consistently rated among Ohio's best public courses
The Golf Club at Little Turtle
SolidWesterville's best public track — mature trees and well-maintained greens in a residential setting
Darby Creek Golf Course
SolidMetro Parks course along Big Darby Creek — excellent value with scenic creek-side holes
New Albany Links Golf Club
SolidLinks-style layout in New Albany — open fairways, pot bunkers, and firm conditions
Cumberland Trail Golf Club
SolidHilly Pataskala track through woods and ravines — feels like Appalachian golf for half the price
Where to Stay
Columbus has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $350/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$500–$1500/night
Sleeps 12–16 · German Village and Short North area
$350–$900/night
Sleeps 10–14 · Dublin and Westerville suburbs
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
The Top Steakhouse
$$$$Bexley's retro steakhouse institution since 1955 — huge cuts, strong drinks, and old-school atmosphere
Wolf's Ridge Brewing
$$Upstairs fine dining and downstairs taproom — best brewery food in Columbus
Schmidt's Sausage Haus
$$German Village landmark — giant bratwurst, cream puffs, and an oompah band on weekends
The Pearl
$$Short North oyster bar and seafood — great raw bar, craft cocktails, and a buzzy atmosphere
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 3 stay open past midnight.
Seventh Son Brewing
Italian Village taproom with a great outdoor space — hop-forward beers and a loyal local following
The Walrus
Late NightShort North's best dive bar — pinball, cheap PBR, and the kind of unpretentious vibe every crew needs
Denmark on High
Late NightSpeakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden in a Short North alley — inventive drinks and a moody atmosphere
Pins Mechanical Company
Late NightDuckpin bowling, pinball, and craft beer — the ultimate group hangout spot
Activities Beyond Golf
4 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Short North Gallery Hop & Bar Crawl
Walk High Street from Short North through Italian Village — art galleries, breweries, and cocktail bars
Topgolf Columbus
Three-level driving range with food and drinks — perfect competitive warm-up
Scioto River Kayaking
Paddle the Scioto River through downtown Columbus — urban scenery and an easy float
Pins Mechanical Duckpin Bowling
Duckpin bowling lanes plus bocce and pinball — competitive group fun with craft beer
Getting There
Fly into John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) — it's a 15-minute drive to Columbus. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Columbus Party Bus and Buckeye Party Rides). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.