
If ever there was a summer when we could all use a day on the golf course, it's this one. In the midst of a year that will long be remembered for face masks and Zoom meetings, a breath of fresh air in the great outdoors feels more precious than ever.
Did we mention that August is National Golf Month? When you get down to it, there may be no better game than golf for the times we're living through. You're outside, you can easily maintain social distancing, and you get to release some tension by hitting a ball really, really hard. We recommend doing just that at these Cincinnati area golf courses.
5820 Muddy Creek Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45233
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Woodland Golf Course is one of Cincinnati's true hidden gems. The 9-hole executive golf course at Woodland makes it a favorite of families, newcomers to the game, and anyone with an hour or two to kill before they have to head back to the office. It's fun, family-friendly, and affordable. Plus, if you're looking to try something new and exciting, Woodland is also home to an 18-hole footgolf course (think of it as a combination of golf and soccer) that has a reputation as one of the best in the Midwest.
4040 Cooper Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45241
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Public golf courses sometimes get a bad rap for being unkempt and poorly maintained. But Blue Ash Golf Course, often cited as one of Cincinnati's finest public courses, makes a strong argument to the contrary. With a reputation for being professionally and regularly maintained, Blue Ash Golf Course offers a fun and relaxing course that can challenge golfers of all skill levels. Golf Digest ranked Blue Ash Golf Course among the 75 best municipal golf courses in America. There are also terrific views to be had from just about any hole on this 18-hole, par-72 course.
5924 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45228
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Another of the top public courses in the city, California Golf Course lies on the east side of Cincinnati, on sloping terrain that overlooks the broad expanse of the Ohio River. You'd be hard-pressed to find a city-owned course with a better view. It's a fun 18-hole course, with tree-lined fairways and challenging greens. California Golf Course is also one of Cincinnati's longest municipal golf courses, with 6,227 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70.
1240 Hickory Woods Dr., Loveland, OH 45140
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Nestled in the community of Loveland, Ohio—about 15 miles northeast of the Cincinnati city limits—Hickory Woods Golf Course is a spot that keeps golfers coming back time and time again. That's partly thanks to the picturesque scenery at Hickory Woods, but also because of its notoriously challenging greens, especially in the back nine. The course makes for a great weekend getaway, equally welcoming to rookies and seasoned golf veterans, and can test just about anyone's skill.
1201 Park Dr., Covington, KY 41011
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Devou Park Golf Course lies just over the Ohio line in Covington, Kentucky. One of its most striking features is its scenic hilltop location, which offers a spectacular view of the Cincinnati skyline. It's also a favorite haunt for local bird watchers, nestled among the rolling hills of Devou Park and right under a major flyway, and is a certified Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International. The staff is friendly and experienced, and the 18-hole course feels secluded and peaceful, despite being convenient to both cities.
1 Aston Oaks Dr., North Bend, OH 45052
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Frequently ranked among the best golf courses in Cincinnati, Aston Oaks Golf Club is a favorite of golfers from across the region. But it's a challenge. With swift greens and rolling fairways, the course is situated on a beautiful landscape that both transfixes and tests golfers of all skill levels. Designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, the course at Aston Oaks Golf Club offers some truly magnificent scenery. It's perched above the Ohio River, and shaded by majestic white oaks and hickory trees. The 18-hole course features 6,908 yards of golf from the longest tees, for a par of 72.
600 Nordyke Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45255
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Although its location on the far east side of Cincinnati might make it seem like a bit of a far-flung destination for some, the Vineyard Golf Course has a lot of great features that attract golfers from all over. A lot of it has to do with the course's handsome scenery, with gently rolling fairways and well-manicured greens lined with mature trees. It's simply a lovely golf course to look at, but the Vineyard offers up a challenging round as well. It's been called one of the best conditioned daily fee courses in Cincinnati and is a favorite of locals and visiting golfers alike.
450 E. 43rd St., Covington, KY 41015
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One of the finest public courses in the region on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, Twin Oaks Golf Course is known for its palatial Southern-style clubhouse as well as its beautifully maintained 18-hole, par-70 course. Twin Oaks was built in 1927 and is still one of the best places in Northern Kentucky to enjoy a day on the links. With a mixture of mature trees sprinkled throughout the course, as well as its fair share of sand and water obstacles, it's always a fun challenge.
4081 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45229
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Avon Fields Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-66 course that's been challenging local golfers since it opened to the public in 1914. It's not only the oldest golf course in Cincinnati, but the oldest municipal golf course west of the Allegheny Mountains. It offers a fun and challenging game of golf to this day, but also has an immense amount of history on its fairways. Avon Fields has historically been very important to the city's African-American community and was one of the few courses in town that didn't discriminate based on race during the era of segregation.
Did we forget to mention your favorite golf course in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area? Let us know in the comments section below!