OSU’s Scarlet Course Redefines Golf in Central Ohio – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
by Emily Meyer
Ohio State Athletics Communications
It is the land that Nicklaus worked. More than 30 years after he called the Scarlet Course home, Buckeye legend Jack Nicklaus returned, not to play the course of his collegiate career, but instead to restore it to its previous distinction. Designed by famed golf course architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie, Scarlet first opened in 1938 as one of the top courses in Central Ohio but as time progressed, so did its prestige. Over the years, countless college, professional and recreational golfers tested their skill against the course and in all its use, the course never closed except for minor touch-ups until May 2005. That year the OSU Golf Club closed Scarlet Course for its first major reconstruction and left the prized course in Nicklaus’ hands.
Looking to continue the tradition of the Ohio State golf course, the former Buckeye started Scarlet’s facelift by reshaping and strategically placing its fairway and greenside bunkers to create a challenging par 71 course. In all his work, Nicklaus made certain he maintained the classic MacKenzie design. After one year of work, the course was ready to begin a new era of golf in Central Ohio. Since its reopening in 2006, the updated Scarlet Course has again regained its prominence among the golf world creating a demand for tee times OSU Golf Club general manager Marc Lucas likes to see.
“The members and guest that have played Scarlet really enjoy the changes,” Lucas said. “Every day we are booked until early evening which is a very good problem to have. The course has improved because in the renovations, Mr. Nicklaus strategically positioned the fairway bunkers to come into play for the longer shots off the tee box so the golf course can play very difficult under any type of conditions.”
In only two years, the golf course has already played host to several premier events. Scarlet Course made its debut May 23-26 when Ohio State played host to the 2006 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships. Since then, it has played host to tournaments such as the 2007 Big Ten Men’s Golf Championships, the Ohio State women’s golf team’s annual Lady Buckeye Invitational and men’s golf team’s annual Kepler Invitational, as well as, the 2007 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier. With the wide exposure, Scarlet has proven a hard test for the nation’s elite golfers at every level.
Regaining its reputation around the country, Scarlet Course has won praise from collegiate coaches like Brad James, Director of Golf at University of Minnesota, who led the Golden Gophers to its most recent conference championship in 2007 at Scarlet.
“It’s an outstanding championship course,” James said. “It’s long, it’s tough but it’s fair. It separates the best players from the rest because it challenges every aspect of their game.”
This summer, the course has two more national tournaments remaining on the calendar. Lucas was thrilled to host the American Junior Golf Association’s Rolex Tournament of Champions July 2-6, and is looking forward to welcoming the inaugural Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational July 12-15, the first ever PGA Tour event to play at the OSU Golf Club.
Entering his 35th year at the helm of the Ohio State men’s golf team, head coach Jim Brown, a former Buckeyes golfer himself, is proud to have a highly esteemed course to call home.
“I’ve heard from many professionals we have the hardest course in Central Ohio with the renovations made to the Scarlet Course,” Brown said. “I think Jack accomplished that with the placement of the bunkers and the greens. If it is not the best collegiate course it certainly is one of them because you have to hit a really good shot just to make par.”
With Nicklaus’s help, Ohio State put Scarlet Course back on the map as a golf destination. Upholding its tradition of excellence, Scarlet’s restoration has won back its reputation as one of the most challenging courses for athletes at any level and as the OSU Golf Club’s reservation list shows, more and more golfers want a chance at it.
