Brookside offers a storied 1927 parkland challenge, enhanced by Brian Silva's acclaimed restoration. State-ranked and relentless tee-to-green, it rewards strategic thinkers and punishes careless play. A worthy detour for golf architecture fans and competitive players alike.
A classic parkland championship test, Brookside brims with mature trees, sculpted fairways, and a modern undercurrent thanks to the Brian Silva restoration. Silva’s work added strategic gravitas—expansive greens, deepened bunkering, and broader corridors—while preserving the vintage aesthetic and shaping a layout that rewards tactical thinking and precision. The course runs over gentle rolls and features a routing that keeps players engaged with a variety of par 3, 4, and 5 challenges, punctuated by an especially demanding set of finishing holes.
Brian Silva’s acclaimed restoration reimagined the course with bolder green complexes and highly strategic bunkering, enhancing its classical roots.
This stout par 5 barreling out from the shadow of the clubhouse sets the tone: at 575 yards, only the boldest and most strategic can make a run for birdie. Thick trees guard both edges, and the green asks for precision on the third shot.
Tee shot placement is everything—favor right center. Second shot should be a smart layup to your favorite wedge yardage, avoiding deep fairway bunkers left.
Stray left or right off the tee or try to get too greedy in two, and thick trees or tricky bunkers await. Miss long on the approach and you’re scrambling for bogey.
Expect polished, high-standard private club turf and greens, with well-defined fairways and true, moderately fast putting surfaces.
A deliberate, sometimes lengthy round—full championship routing and challenging greens can stretch pace, particularly from the long tees.
Traditional, reserved private-club feel. Members and serious competitors set a focused, but welcoming, tone.
Collared shirts and tailored golf attire strongly expected; confirm current club policy before arrival.
With multiple par 3s over 195 yards and a handful of long approaches, controlling your long irons or hybrids will be vital.
Many par 5s are genuine three-shot holes for all but the longest—plan layups and wedge numbers, not hero second shots.
Large greens mean big sections—missing on the wrong tier turns birdie putts into defensive lag efforts.
Brookside is walkable but not a breeze—temper your pace and plan hydration, especially in Ohio summer humidity.
Brookside Golf & Country Club opens, Charlie Lorms design
Brian Silva leads acclaimed restoration and remodel, wins Best New Remodel award
Hosts Ohio Amateur Championship
Hosts U.S. Amateur Qualifier
Hosts Trans-Mississippi Amateur
Ranked #22 Best in Ohio by Golf Digest
Brookside’s 2005 Brian Silva-led renovation transformed the golfing experience—expanding and recontouring greens, repositioning bunkers, and reviving the cerebral test of the original design. Praised by Golf Digest, the project cemented Brookside’s state-level relevance for a new era.
Every spring, aspiring tour pros flood Franklin County for U.S. Open sectional qualifying at Brookside. The club's challenging layout and demanding back tees have sent more than a few punches to the gut of hopefuls aiming for golf’s grandest stage.
Even some seasoned golf travelers mix up Columbus’s Brookside with the more famous Donald Ross design in Canton. But make no mistake: this Lorms-Silva parkland is a championship test with a character—and a competitive résumé—all its own.
Play Brookside from the championship markers and you’ll discover a relentless stretch where the par 5s on both nines require discipline and the closing par 4s can break a good round wide open. Survival, not showboating, is the recipe for finishing strong.
Site of multiple U.S. Open sectional qualifiers—a true championship pedigree
Home to four par 3s stretching 197 yards or more from the back
Recipient of Golf Digest's Best New Remodel for its Silva restoration
Often confused with the Canton/Donald Ross Brookside—this is the Columbus original
Biggest single-hole yardage: 579 yards on the 12th
Jack Nicklaus's tour-proven masterpiece, one of Ohio’s most famous
Historic, strong public-access course close to Brookside
Laid-back alternative and good daily-fee test nearby
Solid modern track for a fun counterpoint to the classics
Regionally strong membership course just minutes away
Dublin or Worthington in northwest Columbus for quick access to all the region’s standout courses
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: Brook Valley Country Club is a natural next stop after Brookside Golf & Country Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Wee Burn Country Club offers similarly polished playing surfaces, making it a compelling counterpart to Brookside Golf & Country Club.
Why it matches: If Brookside Golf & Country Club is your kind of course, Inverness Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
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