Golf History in Columbus

A Legacy of Courses, Championships & Champions

More than a century of golf history runs through Columbus, Ohio. From early course development and legendary designers to major championships and collegiate dominance, the city has played a defining role in the game.

Home to iconic venues like Scioto Country Club and Muirfield Village Golf Club, and shaped by figures like Jack Nicklaus, Columbus continues to be a destination for world-class golf.

Columbus Golf History by Era

Early Golf History in Columbus (1900-1950)

Golf in Columbus dates back to the early 20th century, with the development of historic clubs and courses that helped shape the game locally and nationally.

1903 // Columbus Country Club opens
1916 // Scioto Country Club opens
1926 // Scioto Country Club hosts the U.S. Open
1931 // Scioto Country Club hosts the Ryder Cup
1931 // Ohio State Scarlet Course opens
1940 // Jack Nicklaus is born in Columbus
1941 // Ohio State Scarlet Course hosts the first ever Women’s Collegiate Championship
1941 // Ohio State Scarlet Course hosts its first NCAA DI Men’s Championship
1945 // Ohio State wins NCAA DI Men’s Championship, John Lorms wins NCAA DI Men’s Individual Championship
1945 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Men’s Championship
1950 // Scioto Country Club hosts the PGA Championship

Fun Fact to Share at the Clubhouse: For over a century, Columbus has been submitting bids to host historic golf tournaments, such as the prestigious Ryder Cup. See a copy of the 1931 Ryder Cup "bid book" submitted by then-Ohio Governor Miles Y. Cooper on behalf of the city of Columbus to the Professional Golf Association of America.

Early Golf History in Columbus (1951-1980)

1951 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Men’s Championship
1951 // Ohio State’s Tom Nieporte wins NCAA DI Men’s Individual Championship
1956 // Ohio State’s Rick Jones wins NCAA DI Men’s Individual Championship
1956 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Men’s Championship
1961 // Ohio State’s Jack Nicklaus wins NCAA DI Men’s Individual Championship
1962 // Jack Nicklaus wins his first major at the U.S. Open
1964 // Columbus Country Club hosts the PGA Championship
1967 // The Golf Club (New Albany) opens
1968 // Scioto Country Club hosts the U.S. Amateur for the first time
1970 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Men’s Championship
1974 // Muirfield Village Golf Club opens
1975 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Men’s Championship
1976 // The first Memorial Tournament is played
1979 // Ohio State wins NCAA Men’s Championship
1980 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Men’s Championship

Golf History in Columbus (1981-2010)

1985 // Ohio State’s Clark Burroughs wins NCAA DI Men’s Individual Championship
1986 // Scioto Country Club hosts the U.S. Senior Open for the first time
1986 // Jack Nicklaus wins his 18th and final major at the Masters
1986 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Women’s Championship
1987 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Men’s Championship
1987 // Muirfield Village hosts the Ryder Cup
1991 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Women’s Championship
1995 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Men’s Championship
1997 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Women’s Championship
1998 // Muirfield Village hosts the Solheim Cup
2002 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Men’s Championship
2003 // Ben Curtis wins in his major debut at The Open Championship
2006 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the DI Women’s Championship

Golf History in Columbus (2011-Future)

2013 // Muirfield Villages hosts the President’s Cup
2016 // Scioto Country Club hosts the U.S. Senior Open for the second time
2020 // Muirfield Village hosts two PGA Tour events in consecutive weeks, due to COVID
2025 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the NCAA DI Women’s Regional
2026 // Ohio State’s Scarlet Course hosts the NCAA DI Men’s Regional
2026 // Scioto Country Club will host the U.S. Senior Open for the third time
2036 // Scioto Country Club will host the U.S. Amateur for the second time