Champions Golf Course

Hole number one at the bend – above picture taken Spring 2208.

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’m very pleased to report that the course is in immaculate conditions presently. It is definitely a bargain at $28 on weekdays to walk. I would be surprised if it was in much better shape when the course was originally a private country club in an urban setting. If you live near Champions, it almost makes the Columbus Golf Pass worth serious consideration. Of course, the problem with the Columbus Golf Pass is that the city courses are usually crowded. Champions was brisk with business on a Wednesday morning in mid-April. I imagine it’s only going to get more crowded with each passing day.

I’m also happy to report that I lowered my best round at Champions to a 76 with my recent visit (which currently ties the best score reported at ohiogolfguide.com). Now, I’ll be looking for something even closer to par next time out.

Pictured above is the par 4 first at Champions Golf Course. It’s a dogleg left. The bunker about 230 or 240 yards straight out guards against those trying to cut the corner but who don’t go far enough to the left. Champions is usually known for its thick, gnarly rough which exacts a high price on those missing the fairway. This was not so today as the rough was not so punitive.

Approach to 378 yard par 4 1st hole at Champions Golf Course

If you do manage to cut the corner, you can be left with a little 100 yard approach such as this. The greens were true and fast today. The pin placement on the first was right behind the first bunker to the right.

Chamipions Hole #2, par 3 – above picture taken Spring 2008

132 yard par 3 2nd hole at Champions Golf Course

The second is short but well protected with bunkers to the left and right and I believe there is another behind the green. If you miss the green, miss it short as every other choice is a poor one.

 

371 yard par 4 3rd hole at Champions Golf Course

Here we have another dogleg left. If you want you can choose to shoot the gap between the evergreen and the other trees on the left. Unfortunately, new drivers and golf balls have given golfers the choice of just blasting it over everything instead of playing the shot the hole requires. If that evergreen grows another 30 feet, we may be forced to play a draw here.

Approach to 371 yard par 4 3rd hole at Champions Golf Course

If you do manage to squeeze on through, you’re left with about a hundie to the green.

Champions Hole #4 – above picture taken Spring 2008
355 yard par 4 4th hole at Champions Golf Course

Avoid going left off this tee. There’s a little room to the right but the bunker poses a threat to those making sure they don’t go left.

Champions Hole #4 – picture taken Spring 2008

Approach to 355 yard par 4 4th hole at Champions Golf Course

Or you can kaboom one over the bunker and leave yourself about (you guessed it) a hundie to this tiny, but well bunkered, green.

Champions par 3, hole #5 – picture taken Spring 2008 above

135 yard par 3 5th hole at Champions Golf Course

It looks small but the green is fairly accommodating here. Flag was in the back left today (all the way in the back).

Champions Par 4, Hole #6 – above picture taken Spring 2008
398 yard par 4 6th hole at Champions Golf Course

Here’s the number one handicap at Champions. It asks you to play a fade off the tee. We were dead against the wind so you could just hit it straight and hope the wind kept it in the fairway. This is a gorgeous hole.

Hole 6 reverse perspective taken Spring 2008

Reverse perspective of 6th hole above showing change after 15 years

Approach to 398 yard par 4 6th hole at Champions Golf Course

If you miss it, miss it short. Long is no good – see bunker and overgrowth in back right.

Champions Hole #7 – above picture taken Spring 2008
515 yard par 5 7th hole at Champions Golf Course

It may not look like it but this may be one of the toughest par 5’s in central Ohio. What makes it tough is your second shot. If you go for it in two then you bring all kinds of trouble into play.

Champions Hole #7 – above picture taken Spring 2008
Approach to 515 yard par 5 7th hole at Champions Golf Course

This picture doesn’t show the trouble but there are trees to the right. As you get closer to the green the trees crowd nearer and nearer to the fairway. This fools you as from 200 yards or so out, there’s room to the right. If you’re not paying attention, you can overlook the fact that the room to the right disappears as you get near the green.

To the left is a large pond that seems to end then juts out again right before the green. Finally, you can see the bunkers guarding the green. I was about 225 or so out from the green and decided to go for it. I caught it a bit fat which was probably for the better. I saved a par and my buddy birdied this hole. I think it was only his second time playing the course and he birdies #7. Nice!

323 yard par 4 8th hole at Champions Golf Course

This is an extreme dogleg right. You can hit it out there anywhere from 185-235 maybe and then you have about a hundred yards or so to the green. If there wasn’t a group in front of us, I would’ve tried to just clear the trees and take my chances with the bunkers around the green.

Champions #8 Green.  Above picture taken in Spring 2008

Approach to 323 yard par 4 8th hole at Champions Golf Course

The eighth has a two tiered green. If the flag is in back, get your ball on the second tier. If it’s in front, keep your ball off the second tier. Today, the flag was in the far left. This green seemed particularly quick or maybe it was just because I three jacked it.

395 yard par 4 9th hole at Champions Golf Course

The ninth is a slight dogleg right. The bunker and tall trees to the right try to keep you honest.

Clear the bunkers to a relatively expansive green.

Champions Hole #10 – above picture taken Spring 2008

204 yard par 3 10th hole at Champions Golf Course

The tenth hole is one of my favorite par 3’s in central Ohio. It comes complete with pre-packaged rocks to make the creek bank that much more tidier.

Hole 11 Spring 2008

423 yard par 4 11th hole at Champions Golf Course

This is the first of what I will call the double doglegs at Champions. This hole curves to the right in two spots. You can see the second dogleg from this angle. From the tee, you can just aim over the tall tree on the right and hit one straight out. You don’t necessarily have to play a fade here. Because of its length, curvature and fast green that slopes away from you, this is the #2 handicap on the course.

366 yard par 4 12th hole at Champions Golf Course

The twelfth gives you a little break although they do place the tee box over on the far right side of the hole which brings some trees into play off the tee. This also makes you aim a little left bringing the large bunker to the left in play. There’s a valley before the green but no stream crossing the fairway.

Approach to 366 yard par 4 12th hole at Champions Golf Course

A large bunker on the left is known to attract balls.

394 yard par 4 13th hole at Champions Golf Course

This is the prettiest hole on the course. What a gem! Trees to the left but don’t go to far right as you may find a creek on the other side of the cart path.

394 yard par 4 13th hole at Champions Golf Course

Here’s another shot from just off the top of the hill.

Approach to 394 yard par 4 13th hole at Champions Golf Course

Consider taking two extra clubs to get to this elevated green.

Approach to 378 yard par 4 14th hole at Champions Golf Course

Stream at the 378 yard par 4 14th hole at Champions Golf Course

484 yard par 5 15th hole at Champions Golf Course

Here’s the second of the double doglegs at Champions. I tried to take it over the tree to the left but ended up hitting just a tad too far left. My ball got caught in some other trees but caromed out near the bunker. I still think you can clear that tree and go for this green in two, at least from the white tees.

Approach to 484 yard par 5 15th hole at Champions Golf Course

The 15th green is very large. Aim left as everything funnels to the right.

Green at the 484 yard par 5 15th hole at Champions Golf Course

I wasn’t kidding – the green is big.

389 yard par 4 16th hole at Champions Golf Course

You can fade it or just hit it over the evergreen on the right. This is another gorgeous hole.

Approach to 389 yard par 4 16th hole at Champions Golf Course

161 yard par 3 17th hole at Champions Golf Course

This is a circus green at Champions. It does everything and may even have a clown’s mouth somewhere nearby. I somehow found the back bunker despite a strong left to right wind. Oh well, maybe I had too much club.

378 yard par 4 18th hole at Champions Golf Course

Here’s the finishing hole at Champion. I was determined to finish strong. I forgot about the bunker on the left (which you can’t see) but drove just passed it anyway.

Approach to 378 yard par 4 18th hole at Champions Golf Course

I put a 9 iron just over the bunker to about 12-15 feet for birdie. Birdie for a 75 but I missed it just left. I’ll be back Champs. I’ll be back.

Champions Golf Course
3900 Westerville Rd
Columbus, OH 43224
(614) 645-7111