The Links at Echo Springs
About
Located in Licking County, The Links at Echo Springs sits at the third highest point in the state. The golf course winds through mature hardwood forests and sits adjacent to a winery. At least half of the holes were carefully carved from the dense forests. The course spills across gently undulating terrain, providing a links-style touch to the layout. The rolling, tree-lined fairways are narrow and the large greens are lightning fast. There are also a few double-tiered greens to watch out for. The course's challenges come mostly from the numerous bunkers that are treacherously lurking throughout. Water hazards also come into play on a few holes. The layout has a fair amount of challenges but it is still gentle enough for beginners to enjoy as well.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blue | 72 | 6875 yards | 73.4 | 133 |
Black | 72 | 6324 yards | 70.6 | 128 |
White | 72 | 5842 yards | 68.3 | 117 |
Gold | 72 | 5102 yards | 64.6 | 111 |
Red(W) | 72 | 4465 yards | 65.4 | 113 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 73.4/133 | 418 | 383 | 517 | 212 | 411 | 559 | 163 | 373 | 409 | 3445 | 520 | 433 | 376 | 174 | 343 | 384 | 512 | 210 | 478 | 3430 | 6875 |
Blue M: 70.6/128 | 353 | 383 | 517 | 172 | 352 | 559 | 144 | 373 | 342 | 3195 | 520 | 352 | 376 | 141 | 343 | 327 | 512 | 164 | 394 | 3129 | 6324 |
White M: 68.3/117 | 353 | 312 | 471 | 172 | 352 | 500 | 144 | 316 | 342 | 2962 | 447 | 352 | 315 | 141 | 291 | 327 | 449 | 164 | 394 | 2880 | 5842 |
Gold M: 64.6/111 W: 69.3/118 | 283 | 254 | 408 | 151 | 297 | 462 | 137 | 292 | 306 | 2590 | 389 | 331 | 269 | 121 | 242 | 281 | 406 | 129 | 344 | 2512 | 5102 |
Red W: 65.4/113 | 261 | 227 | 367 | 103 | 257 | 424 | 120 | 214 | 278 | 2251 | 374 | 283 | 232 | 103 | 209 | 240 | 368 | 104 | 301 | 2214 | 4465 |
Handicap | 3 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 2 | |||
Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
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Bar, Snacks, GrillAvailable Facilities
ClubhouseAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Ohio (2015 #25)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Beautiful fall colors
This course has lot of "personality" as I like to say. This was the first time I played it. Unfortunately it is a 50 minute drive from my house in west Columbus. Just far enough to make it inconvenient. It is well designed and quite interesting. A good flow from hole to hole. About half of the holes are tree lined and half are out in the open. Calling it a links really makes no sense, but that's fine with me because I'm no fan of links style courses.
The course is challenging, without being punishing or unfair. It is relatively straight forward. There are certainly holes you would learn to play better with repetition or by playing with a regular. "Never go here, always miss on the left when the pin is there, never go long with that pin position," etc.,etc. I made a few significant logistical mistakes and only realized it after approaching the green.
Unfortunately the greens had just been aerated and were furry, so putting was nearly pointless. They look like they normally could be quite nice. I also ran into serious traffic on 12 and came to a standstill. I was playing as a single and had Multiple slow playing foursomes pile up in front. I went into the pro shop which happened to be next to the 12th tee and the gentleman working the shop was kind enough to let me go back and play a few holes on the empty front 9 to give the log jam time to clear out. After 5 holes on the front, I went back to 10 and started the back nine over again. Flew through in an hour and a half. I'm sure that considerate gesture totally changed how I viewed the round and how I played. Shot one under on the back with one lip out and 2 putts dead on line but short.... furry greens ; )
The bunkers weren't the best, but bunkers are expensive to maintain and top off every year. The budget isn't there for most courses anymore, especially the affordable ones out in the country.. They were letting some go to natural waste areas and seeding some of them. Understandable. The fairways were also patchy in spots. Bare dirt in places. Had to give the ball a nudge now and then to get it on some grass. They obviously have a grub issue like so many other course in central Ohio. The grubs kill the grass they are under and the animals dig up the grubs and eat them. Too bad. Insecticide is expensive.
All in all, I'd say to not expect a highly manicured course in perfect condition. It just isn't. Part of that is the time of the year and part of it grubs and part of it is the budget. But it Is very affordable. It is fun. It is an interesting layout. It is moderately challenging and makes you play a variety of shots. It is in a very beautiful rolling hill area out east of Columbus. I will absolutely be back to play it again. If it were closer to town it would definitely be in my regular rotation.
Great course
Condition of the course is beautiful. Great mix of wooded and links style holes.
Great round of golf
The pace of play was good and the course was in great condition. I enjoy the course because each hole has a different personality.
Nice course
This was our first time here, and we would come back. The tee boxes need a little TLC, lots of tall grass. Fairways and rough were in good shape, and greens were okay. Bunkers were as hard as concrete- more than once, I had a ball land in one and bounce right out. Given the lack of rain lately, though, I can overlook it.
I enjoyed the elevation changes that this course offers, as several times we were playing blind approaches up and over hills. I thought it kept things interesting. I found the back nine to be a little more enjoyable than the front, so if you're only playing nine, see if you can start on 10.
A GREAT COURSE!!
I love this course. It is challenging enough to be interesting but not to defeat you. It is well kept and a beautiful course.. Staff is very friendly.
Nice layout but needs work
Have played this course over the past 7 years. It has always been in good shape. This year it was not in the best condition. Fairways were rough and it would have been very difficult to play the course "down". Greens were OK but slow. Speed of the greens seem to vary from hole to hole.
Disappointed in course condition
Our group has played this course just about every year. This year we were very disappointed in the course conditions. The layout is challenging and scenic shaggy fairways and very slow greens made for a round that was not very enjoyable. We will not be going back this year.
No houses on course
Well maintained track greens are slow but consistent. Beautiful scenic course.
Ok round
Found the tee boxes , greens and rough to be in bad condition. The fairways had dandelions in them. The greens were bumpy and had bad spots and were hard to putt. I really like this course and was disappointed in its condition. The course was not worth the cost.
About time for some golf weather
Spent a wonderful afternoon with my step bro n law on the links. Still considered early in the year for golf here in central Ohio. The course layout was challenging, but from tee to green was excellent. The greens were unshaven due to the time of year and traps were unkept, but that didn’t stop the enthusiasm for the day. Excellent pace of play in the early afternoon. Love the layout. We will be back when the leaves are out and greens are cut. With a Golfnow discount and promo code, the rate was quite inviting...
Good overall for the time of year
The course is well-laid out and is in decent shape for the early spring. The greens were a bit rough. Love the course and will definitely be back.
Not bad at all!
I’ve played nearly 20 different courses this year and have seen a lot of muddy, dried up fairways. This was a refreshing day at the course. Nice and green. Bunkers need work and greens are hard, yet roll slow. Challenging layout too. Worth the price .
Terrible Greens
I understand u need to maintain a golf course, but they aerated the greens Saturday,?we played Sunday, NOTHING was said or posted until we arrived at 8am.
Where is the maintenance
This was Friday, course should have been crawling with maintenance getting the course ready for a busy weekend of golfers. There was no one and the grass on the Tees, fairways and rough had not been touched in days. The greens were probably long as well but you could not tell due to the 1/2 inch sand and more in spots due to the aeration. It looked like the sand had been dumped in spots and left there.
Rather disappointing today
This was the worst conditions I have encountered at this course. Play was backed up and slow.+ The fairways and the rough were in need of a cutting, it was difficult to find your ball in the rough and sometimes even in the fairways. They had just recently aerated the greens which made the putting tough enough , but there was also a large amount of sand on some of the greens so that at times it was like putting in a sand trap. In all fairness, I am usually quite pleased with Echo Springs, but today was not a good experience. One of my playing partners exclaimed that he will not likely return here.
Echo Springs
The course was in so-so condition in 2018. Most days the greens were extremely slow. The tee boxes needed a lot of work as did the fairways. To be fair, there was a lot of rain this year, but only one or two people mowing just won't get the job done. I hope things improve in 2019. This is one of our favorite courses to play, but not under the conditions we saw in 2018.
Course needs some serious work
There was a time several years ago when this course was top notch... everything from tee box to green. The layout and course setting has more variety than most courses in central Ohio. When there is a course that holds all these great attributes you'd think course maintenance would be at its best and have on its staff the best crew it can afford. Maybe the course owner(s) cannot afford better.
Needless to say the course has severely gone down hill the past few years. I know we've gotten a lot of rain this summer, but the course wasn't in that great of shape last summer either. I can deal with higher than normal fairways and first cut, but the greens need much more attention. Even the tee boxes are a mess. No golfer likes to struggle to get to the green and then find that no matter how you hit your putt it is all luck to get that ball in the hole. These greens are slow, bumpy and way to many un-repaierd divots. Courses should give out divot repair tools for free. Just put your course logo on it and write it off.
I can only say one thing. Hire a darn greens keeper that knows what he/she is doing. These greens need to be top notch to get this course back to a top tier course in central Ohio.