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.