The Grizzly Golf & Social Lodge - Grizzly Course
About
The Grizzly Course is a collaboration between Jack Nicklaus and Desmond Muirhead. Since opening in 1972, this challenging layout has been host to numerous PGA, LPGA, and Senior PGA events. The golf course features long, curvy fairways lined with towering trees and there are strategically placed bunkers throughout. The three final holes feature water hazards, which are also accompanied by a difficult array of bunkers. It offers a fair amount of difficult holes but overall the course is playable for a range of skill levels, which is why it is an appealing layout for tournaments. In addition to the two courses, the Golf Center also boasts an 11,000-square foot putting green and an Academy Course with four championship holes.
Also known as The City of Mason Golf Center - Grizzly Course.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
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Nicklaus | 71 | 6504 yards | 71.5 | 130 |
Blue | 71 | 6057 yards | 69.4 | 127 |
White | 71 | 5602 yards | 67.3 | 123 |
Gold (W) | 71 | 4987 yards | 68.8 | 124 |
Gold | 71 | 4987 yards | 64.6 | 116 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nicklaus M: 71.7/130 | 366 | 186 | 374 | 518 | 163 | 402 | 377 | 215 | 489 | 3090 | 403 | 500 | 422 | 450 | 175 | 310 | 218 | 390 | 546 | 3414 | 6504 |
Blue M: 69.6/125 | 346 | 176 | 352 | 482 | 157 | 360 | 342 | 195 | 470 | 2880 | 392 | 473 | 388 | 414 | 156 | 294 | 174 | 360 | 526 | 3177 | 6057 |
White M: 67.4/121 | 320 | 166 | 326 | 456 | 130 | 332 | 318 | 177 | 460 | 2685 | 358 | 441 | 343 | 370 | 130 | 265 | 160 | 350 | 500 | 2917 | 5602 |
Gold M: 64.1/114 W: 69.0/124 | 310 | 150 | 287 | 423 | 101 | 302 | 295 | 129 | 374 | 2371 | 337 | 400 | 302 | 338 | 117 | 242 | 128 | 305 | 447 | 2616 | 4987 |
Red M: 60.4/107 W: 63.1/106 | 195 | 150 | 185 | 314 | 101 | 234 | 190 | 129 | 314 | 1812 | 272 | 336 | 261 | 309 | 117 | 161 | 128 | 224 | 373 | 2181 | 3993 |
Handicap | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 10 | 2 | |||
Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 71 |
Course Details
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Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by zCGZa1MLlWALQLKjwkpV on 09/26/2023
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Stars 4 for fairway conditions Photo submitted by zCGZa1MLlWALQLKjwkpV on 09/26/2023
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Photo submitted by u983032896 on 06/12/2019
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Photo submitted by u983032896 on 06/12/2019
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Photo submitted by u983032896 on 06/12/2019
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stacked up on fairway! #Grizzly Photo submitted by todski26 on 11/12/2012
Really gone down hill since City of Mason took over
The course conditions have really gone down hill since city took course over, some of the greens had severe bad spot with fungus and worst ball marked greens I've played this year. Carts were aloud to go everywhere and many spots they had paths right up next to tee boxes. They had rangers on course and they didn't do anything. Last but not least the guy in the cart barn was very rude, making a smart comment about the receipt the pro shop gave me! Really bad customer service!
Always a Safe Option
I’ve played the grizzly a couple times and can’t say I’ve ever been disappointed. The course has a very beautiful lay out but walking this course will seriously test you as it is incredibly big and winds through and under roads in the surrounding neighborhoods many times. If you’re looking for a traditional golfing experience that will leave you satisfied you can’t really go wrong here.
I never found myself stunned or blown away while golfing here but I do find myself instinctively saying “how about the grizzly” more than anywhere else since the consistency can be expected.
Great day for golf
Grizzly was in great shape. Course was wet but recommend to all. Great rate for spring golf.
Good condition in February
For being the start of February, the course was in great shape.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are delighted to hear that you found our golf course to be in great shape for the start of February. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon.
Great course, nice pace
This course is beautiful and very friendly to the even high handicap players. The addition of the GPS on the cars is a plus.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are pleased to hear that you found our golf course beautiful and friendly, and we appreciate your positive feedback on the addition of GPS on our golf carts.
Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing The Grizzly Golf & Social Lodge - Grizzly Course!
Thanks so much for the great review, driver01. We look forward to welcoming you back to our course soon. Thanks for choosing The Grizzly Golf & Social Lodge - Grizzly Course.
Hello driver01. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave an excellent rating! We really appreciate your business. Please let us know what we can do for you in the future to earn that last star and thanks for choosing The Grizzly Golf & Social Lodge - Grizzly Course!
We love hearing about our golfers' experiences, lboldt56. Please tell us more about what you enjoyed during your round. Thanks for choosing The Grizzly Golf & Social Lodge - Grizzly Course!
The City of Mason’s Grizzly Golf & Social Lodge – 50+ Years and Going Strong
Mason, the largest city in Warren County, has been dubbed “Ohio’s Largest Playground.” People flock to Mason for the fun of it all! There are several well-known regional attractions here including the Mason Municipal Aquatic Center, Great Wolf Lodge, and Conference Center, the annual Western & Southern Open, an annual pro tennis event, and, of course, Kings Island Amusement Park. Each year around the 4th of July, Mason puts on the Red, Rhythm, and Boom event, featuring lots to do for the kids such as interactive inflatables, bounce houses, carnival games, and more! A wide variety of food options and adult beverages are available throughout the evening. Mason is also home to one of Jack Nicklaus’ first golf course designs, The Grizzly.
Saying that the Jack Nicklaus-designed Grizzly Golf Course at the City of Mason Golf Center has been around for a while is an understatement; in July 2022, the Grizzly celebrated its 50th anniversary. Nicklaus collaborated with architects Jay Moorish and Desmond Muirhead to build the course in 1972 as well as a 4-hole practice facility, aptly named “The Academy.” The Grizzly name is a natural fit, tying in directly with Nicklaus’ moniker, “The Golden Bear.”
Over the years, The Grizzly has hosted its fair share of professional golf tournaments. Because of the course’s versatility, it has played host to PGA TOUR, LPGA, and Champions Tour events. A year after the course opened, it became the first course where PGA TOUR professionals competed for the Ohio Kings Island Open from 1973 to 1977. The inaugural tournament was won by the host himself, Jack Nicklaus. In 1978 the LPGA moved in and played the LPGA Championship there until 1989. The Kroger Senior Classic called it home from 1990 – 2001.
As you make your way around the championship golf course, you can see the influence that Desmond Muirhead had on the layout. Long multi-curved fairways with large trees create natural hazards. Numerous water hazards and plenty of bunkers provide added intrigue on all three of the finishing holes.
The City of Mason purchased the property including the golf course and facilities in 2007 and recently rebranded it as The Grizzly Golf and Social Lodge. Today, the Grizzly is an 18-hole championship golf course, with a par 71. From the back tees, the course plays 6,504 yards with a course rating of 71.5 and a slope of 130. I found that the Blue tees (6,057/69.4/127) provided a good test of golf and still let me leave with a little dignity. The Gold Tees measure 4,987 yards and provide a great distance for juniors, seniors, ladies, and those just learning the game. In all, there are four sets of tees and a suitable yardage for any level of golfer.
As part of its 50th-anniversary celebration, The Grizzly played the first annual Mason Golf Classic Tournament, which benefits the Mason Food Pantry. The Mason Golf Classic is an individual stroke play tournament with Men’s, Ladies, Senior’s, and Junior divisions flighted by golfer’s handicap. Golfers from around the region competed in the footsteps of legends! The 2nd annual event will be held on July 1, 2023.
The Grizzly Golf Course is part of a master-planned community that is also 50 years old. So, it is doing what many 50-year-olds do…getting a facelift! Not a major renovation, just tending to certain parts of the course that need immediate attention and can carry the course forward for another 50 years. The tee boxes are taking precedence; with the amount of play the Grizzly gets each year, it’s important to rotate the tee boxes to keep them lush and looking good. Plans call for the modification and addition of several tee boxes as well as increasing the size of some. Efforts will be made to improve drainage on a few fairways, and the irrigation system will be replaced. The number of bunkers will be cut in half to speed up play and reduce stress on maintenance personnel.
There are several holes on this golf course that you will remember for a while. The second hole on The Grizzly’s North Nine is a beautiful, picturesque par 3 that plays 176 yards from the Blue Tees over water with sand flanking either side of the green. The green is large with a false front that fools many players. Par is a good score here. The scorecard has handicapped it #3 on the North Nine.
The 9th hole is a risk/reward par five and is pretty straight; from the tee box, you can see the elevated green. The pond in front of the green starts about 100 yards out from the green and deters a lot of players from going for the green in two. For most players it’s a three-shot hole; they make a birdie with a good approach shot into the large, elevated green which is guarded by two bunkers on the right.
Grizzly saves the best two holes for last! Number 17 (8 West) is a par 4 that plays 360 yards from the Blue Tees. Trees line both sides of the fairway off the tee and two bunkers on the left can easily come into play as well. The approach shot doesn’t get much easier with water on the right side and bunkers front left and long.
Number 18 (9 West) is Grizzly’s signature hole. This double dogleg par 5 plays 526 yards from the Blue tees. Unless you’re a longball hitter, there’s no need to worry about the water you see from the tee box; it’s well over 300 yards away. This hole is all about the layup shot; the farther you can play it down the right side – and avoid the water – the shorter your approach shot. Two good shots will leave a mid to short iron approach shot over water into a sloped green fronted by a large bunker with another in back. Par – or better – is a great way to end your round at The Grizzly!
As far as practice facilities go, the Grizzly has an 11,000-square-foot practice green where you can work on both chipping and putting. The greens run at the same speed as the golf course. There are two full-length driving ranges: one for public use and one for members. If you want to take your practice session to the next level, play the Academy Course; 4 championship holes (2 par 4s and 2 par 5s) where you can practice every shot you’ll face on the Grizzly.
Another all-new feature is the Great 18 Bar & Grill. A name that pays tribute to the 18 major championships Jack Nicklaus won on the PGA TOUR and the 18th hole on the golf course, one of the finest finishing holes in the state! Here you can enjoy casual dining inside the newly remodeled restaurant or enjoy the beautiful patio overlooking the golf course. Great 18 is open year-round with specials throughout the year. They are known for their pig roasts, prime rib dinners, and great weekend entertainment. Visit the website often for weekly specials, off-season hours, and weekend entertainment schedules.
Membership does have its privileges and The Grizzly is no exception. For an annual fee, you’ll receive unlimited golf on The Grizzly and Academy Courses, preferred tee times, charging privileges at the restaurant and pro shop, and discounts on guest fees and pro shop merchandise.
A favorite in Mason
Fairways in very good condition. Speed of greens consistent. New carts with GPS a welcome addition.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the fairways, the consistent speed of the greens, and the new golf carts with GPS. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon.
Grizzly-- Easy Fairways -- Hard Greens
From the tees to green the course is good, but
-- Bunkers/Sand need a little work
-- Greens are fast (very)
-- Greens are slopey/hilly
-- whoever picks the hole location has a mean streak (way too close the slopes or edges)
Scoring/Fun would be increased if birdys were possible - most of the time I was just happy to get a 2 putt par and move on (but 3 putts were always on the table) -- for recreational golf going for a birdy should be possible without penalty of a 3 putt, lagging a birdy putt just is not fun
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of our golf course. We appreciate your feedback regarding the bunkers, greens, and hole placements. We apologize if your experience did not meet your expectations and we will take your comments into consideration to improve our course for future players.
Hi, lboldt56. We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. Thank you for the 4 stars! We aim for a 5-star experience, so we always welcome feedback for improvement. Thank you for playing The Grizzly Golf & Social Lodge - Grizzly Course.
Hi, lboldt56. We would love to hear more about your 4-star experience on our course. Please tell us what we can do to earn that last star, and thanks for golfing at The Grizzly Golf & Social Lodge - Grizzly Course!
We're sorry that your experience ended early due to the weather, and we apologize for any inconvenience our cart path only usage may have caused. Thank you for taking the time to review our golf course.