Hole number one at the bend – above picture taken Spring 2208.
Champions Golf Course Hole 1 Columbus, Ohio Fall 2023
378 yard par 4 1st hole at Champions Golf Course
I recently returned to Champions Golf Course for the first time in about two years. When I first moved to Clintonville, I used to almost exclusively head over to Champions for a round of golf as it was convenient and a challenging course. In fact, it was so challenging that the best I ever shot was 86. At the time, I remember that the tee boxes were in terrible condition and the condition of the course overall was fair. At some point, they changed their policy on weekends to where you had to take a cart before noon or 1 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. This change resulted in a greens fee of $45-50 which I felt was ridiculous given the condition of the course. At around this point, I stopped going to Champions.
I learned today that Gene at Bridgeview Golf Course turned 80 today. Gene is currently not working at the pro shop and we sure miss him. Maybe we’ll see him this spring sometime.
Yesterday was an anniversary of sorts for me as well. On April 6, 2002, I hit my one and only double eagle at Minerva Lake Golf Course, Hole #7. It sure was ugly but they don’t draw pictures on the scorecard.
The weather was too inviting to work today (at least it was in the morning – things turned windier and chillier in the afternoon) so I made my way out to Bridgeview Golf Course for the first time this year. They’ve changed things around quite a bit at Bridgeview. Now everyone goes to the range including golf course patrons. From the range, you walk under the bridge and start on what used to be hole no. 6. You end on what used to be hole no. 5. So you get a bridge view at the beginning and at the end.
Bridgeview has new signs for all the holes on each of the tees. They’ve also torn down what used to be the old, old clubhouse. There were rumors of that happening floating around last year. It appears that they have mowed the greens so putting isn’t a complete fiasco. There were plenty of branches on the first par 5 (what used to be no. 2). The wind was so strong today that I drove it over the green on what used to be the first hole – now no. 5.
I guess Bridgeview management figures that most people take a cart so the quarter mile ride/walk to the first tee isn’t bad with a cart. Wonder how they will handle people in carts passing walkers on the ride out to the first tee? Starting with a par 3 and having two par 3’s in the first four holes definitely won’t help the pace of play. I also wonder if they will have a starter on the first tee? We’ll see how the changes at Bridgeview shape up throughout the season.
Columbus weather forecasters were wrong yet again. Having earlier predicted a 40% chance of rain for today, it turned out sunny with highs in the lower 50’s in central Ohio. Despite the wet conditions resulting from melted snow and additional rain, I braved the elements to go play some golf on the first day of Spring. Bridgeview golf course is still closed until next week so I headed out to Minerva Lake Golf Course.
Conditions weren’t too bad. On a few holes, it was particularly soppy and muddy but overall it was much drier than expected. The greens are still in horrible shape however. But for 12 bucks, it wasn’t a bad deal.
Four days after I had announced that golf season was on in central Ohio, a blizzard hits the area. Nevertheless, a friend and I went over to McCann Precision Golf, Inc., at 6511 Proprietors Road in Worthington, Ohio. They have a driving range net set up in the back and we were able to hit a few balls there. I really liked the Raven Undercut Irons paired with the Premier Lite 85 Iron Shafts. They were so easy to hit. It was like butter. McCann Precision can build me a set for an awfully reasonable price. I’m going to look some more and see what else is out there in the world of irons. Of course, my back hurts from shoveling all the snow today.
My apologies to Valeria for moving her down from the top spot.
Tenth green at the former Minerva Lake Golf Course since sold and now a housing development. Minerva had the odd front 10 and back 8 arrangement. 18th hole in background.
March 3, 2008 – I’m going to call this the official opening of golf season in central Ohio. It could’ve been yesterday but today’s temperature of 70 makes March 3 more appropriate. A friend and I tried to head over to Bridgeview but that course is still closed until March 15. So instead we headed over to ol’ reliable – Minerva Lake Golf Course. 10 bucks got us 10 holes on the odd front 10 and back 8 arrangement. It was a little mucky, the greens were a bit shaggy, and a bit windy (40 mph wind gusts) but it was still golf – and a long time coming. There were several others out fighting the wind, wet conditions, and untrue greens. I shot 4 over for 10 holes. Not bad given the conditions. Let’s hope next week brings another respite from the upcoming cold.
Update: Minerva closed on July 4, 2016. I played countless rounds there as it was only 15 minutes from my house. My buddy and I often arrived before sunrise and would wait on the first tee for the sun to come up to start our round. We’d get in a quick 10 holes before work on many a weekday. Despite its short length, Minerva offered many challenges. The elevated green on the par 3 fourth hole would reject errant shots to the bottom of the hill where getting up and down was pretty much impossible. The par 4 tenth would often force you to lay up and then hit a long approach over the ravine that had to avoid woods and a stream on the left. The short par 5 seventh still required accuracy off the tee. Minerva also rewarded golfers with drivable par 4s and a chance at hitting the par 5’s in two. As Columbus gets more crowded, golf courses inside the 270 outer-belt are becoming a rarity. I have yet to drive by the old course location but I should to see what’s become of it and bid a farewell to days gone by.
Westchester’s Par 4 10th hole
I went and played Westchester Golf Course today in Canal Winchester, Ohio. I paid for nine holes and was told that I could pay the difference for 18 if I wanted to keep playing. I finished nine and went back in to pay for the remaining nine. I told the guy at the counter that I had just finished nine and wanted to pay for the remaining nine. He tried to charge me for nine holes at the nine hole rate which was more expensive. I said that I was told that I could pay for the difference.
His brilliant response: “YOU DIDN’T TELL ME THAT BEFORE!”
Sorry, you didn’t get the message the first time. But I did tell you that. It’s too bad you can’t do your job without customers having to tell you two times how to do it.
I recently visited Raymond Memorial after not having played there for a couple years. I generally try to avoid Raymond in the prime golfing months as it gets a whole heck of a lot of play and the people playing there are not too current on their golf etiquette. Despite this, Raymond Memorial does have its charm. And if you visit it when it gets a bit cooler, many of the blue collar crowd will be noticeably absent.
Raymond is known for its huge greens, mammoth sand traps, meaty par 3’s, and surly employees. It is also known for its double greens. Back when it was built in 1952, Robert Trent Jones, the designer, constructed two tees and two greens for each par 3 on the course. The idea was to speed up play. If someone was really slowing you down, you could always pass them on the par 3’s by playing whichever green the others were not playing. It probably led to a lot of confusion and the practice was abandonned but Raymond has always maintained the extra greens/tees. Raymond was using the alternate par 3 for the fifth hole which I had never seen done before in my years of playing there.
Holes of note on the front side include the par 5, first hole. Its a fairly straightfoward par 5, and I remark on it because it can be an easy birdie to start your round with. Just note where the flag is and make sure to hit to the appropriate level on the green.
Fourth hole at Raymond Memorial Golf Course
The fourth hole is a par 4, 90 degree dogleg right. If you are daring, you can take it right over the trees. Aim farther right than you would think. I’ve often ended up past the original no. 5 tees on my drive because I didn’t aim far enough right. On this day, we played from the blues, and I took it way right over the trees and ended up just left of the right bunker in this picture. If I went further right, I would’ve ended up in the trap. It would take a gutsy and powerful drive to hit this green in one but it may be possible.
I always like the short par 5 number 6. It provides for another birdie opportunity as the green can be easily hit in two. No. 7 is a really long par 4. I finally birdied it two years ago, and I believe that that was my only remaining hole that I hadn’t birdied on the front nine.
#9 and Raymond
No. 9 is a dogleg left. You used to be able to take it over most of the trees and leave yourself a short shot to the green. Raymond has planted a lot of new trees which prevent this, and they have added a lot of trees all around the course in general.
Overall, Raymond is a good time – just avoid the crowds in the summer.
Starting in 2008, Bridgeview has reordered the holes on the course. Now you start on what used to be no. 6 – so the order is 6-7-8-9-1-2-3-4-5. Entrance is now at the driving range.
Bridgeview’s par 4 number 1 from the tee
Bridgeview golf course greets you with a 308 yard par 4 first hole but don’t be fooled into thinking you can drive it or be guaranteed a birdie because of its short length. The first hole at Bridgeview sets the stage for a recurring theme: position. If you don’t position your tee shot, the relatively short first hole will have you on your knees begging for bogey.
Looking from the tee, you are faced with a 90 degree dogleg right immediately before the hole. Towering trees on the right and in front of the hole, stand ready to swat down any attempt to shortcut the hole. A hilly fairway with a valley at about 125 yards from the hole almost guarantees an awkward stance for your second shot. Finding a level lie for your second shot requires a 225 yard bullseye to a concave dartboard of a landing area. Compounding the problem is that the fairway ends at about 240 yards from the tee. A mound behind the fairway attempts to stop those shots that result from overclubbing or being struck with a little too much first tee bravado. If not, a chain link fence is the last resort before going o.b. and re-teeing.
First Green at Bridgeview
If, after your first shot, you find you have an angle to the green, you still face a severely sloped green from back to front that will make putting a many-stroked nightmare if you go beyond the flag. Take note of the pin placement and allow for some roll because this green is usually anything but soft to approach shots.
High risk – high reward shot: fade around the corner leading to an easy chip or jail in the trees.
Conservative approach – Drive down the middle or to the left leading to 60 – 115 yard approach.
