GolfPass ranked the Top 50 public courses in U.S. You'll never guess the only one in Ohio

GolfPass ranked the Top 50 public courses in U.S. You’ll never guess the only one in Ohio

GolfPass released its list of the “Top 50 Public Golf Courses in the U.S.” this week and there’s only one entry from Ohio.

It’s likely not one that you’re thinking of.

It’s not the Virtues Golf Club in Nashport. Or the Quarry Golf Club in Canton. Or Fowler’s Mill Golf Course in Chesterland. Or Boulder Creek Golf Club in Streetsboro — which all rank highly on such lists.

No, it’s the Ashland Golf Club in Ashland. It is ranked No. 34.

The course also appears at No. 9 on GolfPass’ list “Top 25 Public Courses for Best Conditions.”

GolfPass ranks courses on everything from value to layout to the friendliest staff. All the rankings can be found at: www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/best-of.

‘True star of the show at the Ashland Golf Club has and always will be the golf course’

The Ashland Golf Club — which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023 — is an 18-hole, par 72 championship course that measures 6,699 yards. It was originally designed as a nine-hole course by two-time British Open winner Willie Park Jr. in 1921. It was expanded to 18 holes in 1973.

A message seeking comment about the GolfPass honor was left with the club, which is closed for the winter.

“The true star of the show at the Ashland Golf Club has and always will be the golf course,” its website says. “Ours is a traditional-style 18-hole championship course with rolling terrain, tree-lined bent grass fairways, fabulous greens and breathtaking scenery.”

GolfPass generates its annual “Golfers’ Choice” lists through recreational golfer reviews from the previous year. Last year, there were nearly 275,000 reviews. Nearly 3,400 courses received the minimum 10 reviews in 2024 to qualify for consideration.

“The courses represented in our Golfers’ Choice Top 50 run the gamut, from rounds that cost less than $50 to bucket-list experiences like playing along Lake Tahoe at Edgewood Tahoe,” Jason Scott Deegan, managing editor of GolfPass, said in a prepared statement.

“This variety exemplifies the spirit of our lists. Most other course rankings only showcase courses with green fees costing $200 or more. Our lists always offer a nice mix. If you want to splurge, go ahead and do so with the more expensive courses in our Top 50, but there are other options if you are looking for a more affordable experience that overdelivers on what you pay.”