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
Food & Beverage
Bar, Snacks, GrillAvailable Facilities
ClubhouseAccolades
-
Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Ohio (2015 #25)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Little disappointed
I talk this course up to a lot of Columbus people. It's a gem hidden in the hills. Nice terrain and different looks. Wide open with tall grass and snaking holes through the woods. Booked a tee time for 6:58. Could only reserve a single player, assumed that that meant first tee time of the day. Unfortunately a foursome and threesome teed off before me even though I teed off at 6:45. Slowest players I've ever encountered. The starter made it into position just after my tee shot. Checked my name. I had to laugh. If only he'd have stopped the previous groups my front nine would have been more enjoyable. Skipped holes 5-7. Just to get ahead. When the starter is keeping order this course is a blast.
February Golf
Great course with a lot of diversity to the layout. For February the course was in great shape, enough to trek the 50 minutes from columbus again in the summer. Although there were some issues we had on out visit. First, the clubhouse in under construction and no food or drink was available at the time. And our gas cart died midround with a full tank of gas. had to push the cart back with the other in our group. As for the course though, nothing to complain about!!
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.
Summer hit the course pretty hard
I like this course in general. But we had to play ball in had because of course conditions.
Attention
Played day or two after it rained, bunkers were bad and hole 2,3,&12 were very wet still. Nice layout, nice course.
Very good day
The round went very well, 4 hours to play. Tees and fairways needed to be cut but it had rained a lot recently so have to take that into consideration as well. All in all a great value.
Ftblhens,
Thank you for the 4-Star review! We are glad you found value in the course, and that you had a good pace of play. Come play again soon!
Best regards,
The Links at Echo Springs Golf Management
Decent course affected by weather and POOR staff
I have never experienced a course that is so consistently bad with how they treat paying customers. Arriving at noon on Sunday afternoon, after an outing, and the starter, assistant and head pro, and cart girl were all congregated at the bar/register in the clubhouse and wanted nothing to do with us, as paying customers. Upon arriving, we ask about pace of play and how many groups were in front of us and will be teeing off behind us to have a good mind of time. They said that there were a few twosomes out in front of us and another group that would be going off about 20 minutes after us, but to make sure that we got to the box as it was expected for us to go off on time (we had 15 minutes for our tee time). So, I asked if the starter would need our receipts and if he/she would be on the first tee waiting for us. This is when the head pro asked the starter sitting right next to me and he looked at me and advised that he wouldn't be there, but we need to stay on the scheduled tee time and was VERY rude about it. This is the 3rd time that I had visited this course and will NEVER go back there again. I tried to ignore it the first two times and especially this time, but my playing partners said that it wasn't worth the Hot Deal to even make the trip.
The course itself has a great layout and the greens were in immaculate shape. However, the fairways weren't mowed and the grass was very sparse throughout from tee to green. Pace of play was pretty solid for about 16 holes and we played in 4 hours in 1 minute, yet a twosome that was not in any hurry to play through like the group in front of them did on the 8th hole after the turn, decided it would be a great idea to hit into us on the last 2 holes. Not the courses fault, but just unreal how people think that this is OK. We offered to let them play through and took enough time at the turn to let them, but they wouldn't go. This again, isn't the course's fault, but it was frustrating.
Another frustration was that there wasn't a beverage cart after the front 9. I guess the girl had to be home by 2PM and they had no one else the entire round with no watercoolers on the course.
weavetrain,
We are sorry to learn you did not have a good customer service experience this time around. To apologize, we'd like for you to email us directly at echospringsteetimes@aol.com, so that we can work something out for you. We hope you give us another shot soon, so that we may exceed your expectations for next time.
Best regards,
The Links at Echo Springs Management
Great Atmosphere!
Despite the weather (Rain & Heavy Fog) the course was well maintained! The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Will be back again!
frankiewalker,
Thank you for the wonderful 5-Star review! We are happy to see you recognize the quality of our staff. We look forward to your next visit!
Best regards,
The Links at Echo Springs Management
Etiquette and pace of play are of no concern to new management..
Despite our round being interrupted by the drunk group in front of us (ran onto the green and started throwing and kicking our golf balls like a bunch of five year olds) and informing management, nothing was done. It took 5 1/2 hours to play that day because of the group in front of us, course can't afford a Ranger I guess. If they had one this entire experience would have been avoided. We explained in detail the situation and management sided with the drunks, because we are guessing they knew somebody, so we got the good ole boy treatment. We will never golf here again and I would advise others to follow suit. No class operation under the courses new management..
phibri,
We apologize to see you did not have a good experience at the course this time around and that your round was interrupted. We hope you email us directly at echospringsteetimes@aol.com
so that we may work something out for you.
Best regards,
The Links at Echo Springs Golf Management
Excellent Course
Course was in great condition. Moderately difficult.
Ryan7451244,
Thank you for the great 5-Star review! We are glad you enjoyed the course conditions, as well as the challenge the course has to offer. Come play again soon!
Best regards,
The Links at Echo Springs Management
A Hidden Gem
A great links course layout cut through the wooded & rolling hills 5 miles outside Johnstown. Very well maintained and well worth the 25 minute drive (from Westerville).
gman1973,
Thank you for the fantastic 5-Star review! The course is looking great. We hope you make the drive out again soon!
Best regards,
Links at Echo Springs Management
Good course, horribly overbooked - very slow pace
Our tee time for this date was double booked, as were all the parties around our tee time so the course was extremely backed up on the first tee. We convinced the starter to let us go off the back nine, which was still a very slow pace, but we didn't have to wait 35 minutes to start. Once we finished the back 9 we went back to the starter who warned us there was a new log jam at the first tee... So we played the back 9 twice. Not ideal, but better than a 6.5 hour round. Overall, we love the course, but we were very disappointed by the over booking.
Thank you for letting us know. We are so sorry about this incident and hope that it did not cause you too much of an inconvenience. Otherwise, we are glad to hear you enjoyed our course and we hope you play with us again once this problem is addressed and worked out.
Nice day, but slow play
Nice layout, but not 100% links. Several holes are wooded. Really slow play and large back ups/
emitchosu,
Thank you for the 4-Star review! We are sorry to hear your round was slower than expected, as we understand pace of play is key to your game. We hope you give us another shot soon!
Best regards,
Links at Echo Springs Management
Love it
Love this course.. The price was great
Glad to hear it! Thanks for your review. Please come by and play with us again soon.
Geese
Enjoyable play. Course is in decent shape, however, the Canadian Geese waste is a real nuisance and I think it could become a health issue. I also believe scheduling tee times through 3rd, parties is becoming too expensive. I will schedule future tee times personally. It may take more phone time but a nice savings.
2mailliw2,
We appreciate your feedback. Booking online should give you the best deals, maybe next time try booking a tee time through our booking engine https://the-links-at-echo-springs.play.teeitup.com/
Please, email us directly at echospringsteetimes@aol.com if you have any further concerns.
Best regards,
Links at Echo Springs Management
Echo Springs
Overall a very good course. There were a few dry spots in the fairway but that can be expected in the middle of the summer. Only other issue I had was they had a group of 20 go out before me and they refused to let me play through. Overall the course is very good.
Thank you for your review. We are sorry if the group ahead of you slowed you down. Otherwise, we are glad you enjoyed our course and hope to have you back!
Always a fun course
I played with my son, we are 8 and 9 handicap. The layout is really fun, a lot of variety in hole set up, plenty of chances to score. Tee boxes are rough, the greens are pretty slow but relatively true. If you miss and get in the high grass, the ball is gone! You may find you ball in the woods, in some spots. The only real down side is the ground is hard so the club bounced into a few shots and a couple of balls took hard bounces, OB which was a little annoying. Bunkers not great.
Fun course, worth the drive.
meagolfer,
Thank you for the great 4-Star review! We are glad you had fun and enjoyed the variety in the layout. We hope you make the drive out to see us again!
Best regards,
The Links at Echo Springs Management
Great place to play
nice course to play easy to move about friendly staff. Will be back soon to play again.
jason8530954,
Thank you for the fantastic 5-Star review! We are happy to hear you recognize our staff friendliness. We look forward to seeing you out on the course again!
Best regards,
The Links at Echo Springs Management
littlefarbutworthit
While this location was a little further than I would normally travel, a friend highly recommended this course. He did not disappoint me. With the exception of the traps being a little space of sand, they were still manicured and very playable. The layout was very appealing and could temp my future return. An hour's drive was about the extent of my travel to play golf. With the Hot deal offered by Golf Now, the value was tremendous.
Dear Dan6813388,
Thank you for the excellent 5-Star review! We are glad to hear we come highly recommended! We hope you make the drive out to play again soon.
Best regards,
Links at Echo Springs Management
Very Fun Course
Great course with some very interestingly laid out holes. It isn't your normal run-of-the-mill central Ohio course.
We will be going back!
Bills453,
Thank you for your review! We are happy to hear you found the course layout interesting. Come back again soon, and bring your family and friends!
Best regards,
Links at Echo Springs Management
Enoch8098739,
Thank you for the 4-Star review! Come back again this weekend as we should expect excellent weather for golfing!
Best regards,
The Links at Echo Springs Golf Management