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Famous Golfers & Designers from Columbus

Golf legends, designers and rising talent

Central Ohio has produced and shaped some of the most influential figures in golf, from legendary champions like Jack Nicklaus to world-renowned course designers like Pete Dye, along with professionals, collegiate standouts and rising talent who have made their mark on the game.

Legends & Major Champions
Pro Golfers with Columbus Ties
Notable Amateur & Collegiate Players

Golf Legends & Major Figures

Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus, widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time, grew up in Upper Arlington and developed his game at Scioto Country Club.

Nicklaus holds the record for 18 major championship victories, including six Masters titles, along with 73 PGA Tour wins across a 25-year career.

Beyond his playing career, Nicklaus has had a major impact as a course designer. His most notable local design is Muirfield Village Golf Club, home of the Memorial Tournament since 1976. Visit the Jack Nicklaus Museum to see 2,000 pieces of memorabilia and learn about golf hisotry.

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Pete Dye

Pete Dye, born in Urbana near Columbus, is one of the most influential golf course designers in the world. As an Urbana High School student, he won the boys state golf championship in 1943 at the Ohio State Golf Club's Scarlet Course.

Over his career, Dye designed more than 200 courses globally, including local layouts like The Golf Club in New Albany and Little Turtle Golf Club in Westerville.

His work includes some of the most iconic courses in golf, including Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course and Whistling Straits. Dye was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2008.

Professional Golfers with Columbus Ties

Ben Curtis

Ben Curtis, a native of Ostrander, made one of the most unlikely major championship runs in golf history when he won the British Open in 2003 as a 300–1 longshot in his first major appearance.

A former Ohio Amateur champion and Kent State golfer, Curtis became the first player since 1913 to win a major in his debut.

Tammie Green

Tammie Green, a native of Somerset, is a seven-time LPGA Tour winner, including a major championship victory in 1989.

She also won 11 times on the Futures Tour and represented the United States in the Solheim Cup twice during the 1990s.

Jason Day

Jason Day, originally from Queensland, Australia, has called the Columbus area home for several years, living in Westerville.

Day has recorded 13 PGA Tour wins, including the 2015 PGA Championship, and has finished runner-up in four other major championships.

Cathy Gerring

Cathy Gerring, a former Ohio State golfer, won three times on the LPGA Tour and was a member of the winning U.S. team in the 1990 Solheim Cup.

She and her brother, Billy Kratzert, are one of a small number of sibling pairs to win events on both the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour.

John Cook

John Cook played at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes win the 1979 NCAA Championship before turning professional later that year.

He went on to win 11 times on the PGA Tour and was named Comeback Player of the Year in 1992, in addition to winning the U.S. Amateur in 1978.

Rosie Jones

Rosie Jones, though born in California, played collegiate golf at Ohio State where she earned All-American honors.

She went on to win 13 times on the LPGA Tour and later captained the United States team at the 2011 Solheim Cup.

Tom Weiskopf

Tom Weiskopf, a Massillon native, played at Ohio State before building a successful professional career.

He won 16 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1973 British Open, and added four wins on the Champions Tour. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2023.

Meg Mallon

Meg Mallon, who played at Ohio State in the 1980s, went on to become one of the most accomplished American golfers of her era.

She recorded 18 LPGA Tour victories, including four major championships, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017.

Top Public Golf Courses in Columbus

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Notable Amateur & Collegiate Players
 

  • Bo Hoag – Upper Arlington native and Ohio State golfer who won on the Korn Ferry Tour and qualified for the U.S. Open.
  • Neal Shipley – Ohio State standout who was low amateur at both the Masters and U.S. Open in 2024 before turning pro.
  • Ryan Armour – Two-time All-Big Ten golfer at Ohio State who went on to win on the PGA Tour.
  • Thomas Nieporte – Member of Ohio State’s 1951 NCAA Championship team and three-time PGA Tour winner.
  • Stephen Gangluff – Marysville native and Ohio State golfer who earned four wins on PGA Tour Canada.
  • Jerry McGee – Former Buckeye who won four times on the PGA Tour and competed in the Ryder Cup.
  • Maxwell Moldovan – All-American at Ohio State who made his professional debut at the 2024 U.S. Open.
  • Gary Nicklaus – Son of Jack Nicklaus and former PGA Tour player.
  • Chris Perry – Ohio State golfer who won on both the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour.
  • Steve Runge – Former professional golfer and current head coach at Ohio Wesleyan University.
  • Joey Sindelar – Seven-time PGA Tour winner and Ohio State national champion.
  • Chris Smith – Decorated Ohio State golfer with multiple Big Ten honors.
  • Ed Sneed – Four-time PGA Tour winner and former golf broadcaster.
  • Rod Spittle – Ohio State golfer who later joined the Champions Tour, winning once.
  • Ted Tryba – Ohio State golfer who overcame vision loss to win multiple professional events.
  • Pam Higgins – Groveport native and LPGA Tour winner.

 

Designers, Journalists and More

  • Jack Kidwell – After winning the OSHAA State Golf Championship in 1937, he pitched his farming family on the idea of owning a golf course. That led to a career of golf course designing for Jack, who was also a Class A PGA Teaching Professional and Class A member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Over his career, he designed more than 100 courses and founded Hurdzan Golf in 1957, which is headquartered in Columbus.
  • David Shedloski – A professional sports journalist for more than forty years and author of eight books. He holds the distinction as the only writer in golf history to have co-written books with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. 
  • Jack Nicklaus II – President of Nicklaus Design, founded by his father, leading the team that's designed courses on six continents.
  • Patrick Burton – The Columbus native and Ohio State graduate started Burton Golf Design in 2015 and has been part of more than 30 course designs.
  • Jason Straka – A partner at Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, based in Dublin. The firm has design, rebuilt or renovated courses across the country and as far as Italy and the UAE. 

Plan Your Golf Experience in Columbus

Whether you're planning a golf trip or just getting in a quick round, Columbus has everything you need. Explore where to practice, check out upcoming tournaments, book tee times at the best public courses around Columbus, or dive into the history of the game in Columbus.

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