By Fred Altvater
If you are heading to Columbus for an Ohio State football game, GO BUCKS!! But, still want to get in a little golf either, pre or post game, here are two courses that will fill the bill.
Indian Springs, in Mechanicsburg and Woodland Golf Club, in Cable, sit just west of Columbus, plus the stadium can be easily accessed via State Route 33. 
Woodland Golf Club is a Jack Kidwell design, which opened for play in 1972. The par-71 has four sets of tees and plays to a very comfortable 4,886 yards, from the forward tees, or a more demanding 6,473 from the Blacks.
It is a beautiful country golf course sitting in the middle of a triangle between Bellefontaine, Urbana and Marysville. It traverses the gently rolling Central Ohio hills and is dotted with lakes and ponds. Several small creeks meander through the course to challenge golfers, which only adds to the course’s overall beauty. The layout features fairways carved from the mature woodlands. The greens are relatively large, manicured and putt fast and true. There is also a driving range and practice putting area to prepare for your round.
Visitors to Woodland Golf Club rated the course 4.5 stars (out of 5) on Golf Advisor and every player said they looked forward to returning to play the course again.
Only 11 miles separate Woodland and Indian Springs Golf Clubs. Jack Kidwell teamed with a young Michael Hurdzan to create Indian Springs, which opened for play in 1990. Hurdzan has since designed several top courses on his own including working as a co-designer of Erin Hills, the site of the 2017 U.S. Open.
Four sets of tee boxes at Indian Springs allow low-handicappers to test themselves at 7,109 yards, average golfers can choose between 6,630 yards or 6,003 yards, while the forward tees offer an enjoyable 5,460 yards.
Indian Springs is slightly more difficult than its sister course, Woodland Golf Club. With several uphill approach shots into greens, the natural rolling terrain creates a beautiful walk, but also adds strokes to your score.
Both a driving range and practice green are available for proper warm up and to become accustomed to the greens, before you hit the first tee.
Indian Springs received 4 stars (out of 5) from GolfNow, with reviewers commenting on the superb conditioning, large greens and the rolling Central Ohio topography.
If you are heading to Columbus to root for the Buckeyes, get in a little golf on the side at either Indian Springs or Woodland Golf Clubs in central Ohio.
Go Bucks!!
