DEER CREEK STATE PARK GC

The rolling farmland of south-central Ohio provides an unexpectedly muscular test here, where elevation changes of 100 feet create dramatic approach shots to greens perched on ridgelines and tucked into natural amphitheaters. Water comes into play on nearly half the holes, but it's the clever routing through mature hardwoods and across open meadows that keeps you guessing about club selection from tee to green. At this price point, the conditioning rivals many private clubs in the Columbus corridor, making it a legitimate hidden gem worth the drive from anywhere in the Buckeye State.