Cincinnati is a great Midwestern city with some fantastic golf. Many of the courses closer to downtown are private, but venturing a little further from the city's core provides some spectacular public venues. Here are the best 5 public courses in Cincinnati.
Stonelick Hills Golf Club: One of the highest rated courses in the entire state, Stonelick Hills is perhaps the best public course in Cincinnati. The spectacular layout has it all, with heavily wooded areas, natural water hazards, and an island green on the par 4 9th, which some call "the most fun golf hole in the state of Ohio". Any golf trip to Cincinnati is not complete without a round at Stonelick which in my opinion is the best public golf course in the Cincinnati area.
Elks Run Golf Club: This Greg Norman design is one of my personal favorites, and well worth the drive out to Batavia. Be sure to bring your camera up to the 8th tee box, a picturesque par 3 in which you can see the entire golf course. Holes 3 and 5 also share one of the largest greens you'll ever see. Elks run is a fun course with some spectatular views.
Looking for a weekend game? Check out the Cincinnati City Tour which hosts weekend tournament at some of the best public and private courses in the Cincinnati area.
Legendary Run Golf Club: Located in Anderson, this course is a story of two nines. The front is wide open, and each hole is named after a British Open course. The back 9 takes sharp angles and has tight fairways, with each hole named after a US Open course. Be sure to grab a cart here though, as there is plenty of space in between holes, especially on the back 9. This course is one of the more challenging public golf courses in the Cincinnati area.
Majestic Springs Golf Course: A hidden gem up in Wilmington, Majestic Springs is a great links style course. It's open fairways and long fescue make it feel like a British Open course, while its meandering streams and smaller greens give it the classic American course feel. This course is off the beaten path, so while it's a great layout and in great condition it's usually not crowded and the rate is excellent.
Blue Ash Golf Course: Consistently rated as one of the best municipal courses in the entire country, Blue Ash Golf Course is a suburban paradise. Conveniently located in the popular suburbs of Montgomery and Blue Ash, this course serves many purposes. It has hosted the City Championship, as well as many different weeknight leagues and is popular with the young and old alike. It also offers some of the cheapest rates in the entire area!
Hope this article helps you play some great golf in the Cincinnati area. Don't see your favorite course on here? Let us know through twitter @nextgolfer. If you area reading this article during the winter, you may want to check out the best indoor golf in Cincinnati article.