Bent Tree Golf Club

This course has been in our regular rota for the big annual outing I organize (4 courses in 3 days near Delaware, OH) so we play here every other or every third year. In the past this has been a pretty good track but we won’t be back unless I hear about some serious improvements in maintenance. The tee boxes were hacked up and full of crabgrass, the fairways were horrendous — lots of divots, crabgrass and burned out areas, the greens were spongy but actually pretty good. Quite a disappointment — this used to be a nice place but it seems that they are no longer putting any money into the place. There are also hundreds of dead ash trees (thanks, Emerald Ash Borer!) all around this place that they need to take down for a) aesthetics and b) safety, as they will come down at some point on their own.
There are way too many well maintained golf courses around here (Delaware GC, RAL, Blackhawk, Glenross, etc.) to bother with this place in the future… it is out of the rotation.

Just played in a tournament there and it is not in great shape like I heard it used to be. I did like the layout. That is not why I am giving it only two stars. The management was very bad. Our practice round was the day before and they had an outing in the morning. Our tee time was at 12:45 so we got to the tee (and practice green) at about 12:35. We notice a group in front of us waiting and asked why since there was no one on the hole and had not been for a while. They, and the starter, said the outing was not finished coming through. We ended up not teeing off till 1:30. Why didnt the marshal make them play faster earlier. They were so far behind. Then during the tournament they started to make announcements about another outing. And while some of the players in the tournament were still finishing, they sent the outing off and they just plowed though our tournament. Could they have waited till it was done? Or have them not go backwards on the hole of the tournament? It was a joke and horrible management of the course and outings.

Great public course I’ve played on several occasions with great friends from the surrounding area. It has always been in great shape and can be very challenging if you under don’t manage the course. Their are some birdie opportunities so it is possible to shoot some low scores. The greens run true and the speed can vary depending on the weather but they always seem to hold okay. There are a few holes that can frustrate you if you let them especially if you try and kill the ball instead of playing the hole in regulation you will know these holes when you stand on the tee box don’t be tempted.
The club house has decent food and good service and the pro shop can provide you with anything you may have forgotten to bring but a low score. I hope to have a few more rounds here in the future.

I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed this place yet. I think I have been apprehensive about giving away the best kept secret in golf in the greater Columbus area.
The clubhouse is not that nice, but everything else rocks. The electric carts are newer and really fast. The course is maintained very well and is always less crowded than any Columbus public course, usually with half the traffic or less. Yet, the price is always the same (or better) than either the Airport course or Raymond. I played a round monday afternoon with the old man. He was shocked at how nice the course was and how few people were there seeing how our rounds were only $ 27 each.
Not a terribly long course, Bent Tree makes up for it with some narrow fairways that incorporate all sorts of fun obstacles in the landing zones (layered bunkers and/​or water coupled with a pinched fairway on the other side seems to be a reoccurring theme). The par 5’s are not that long, either, but usually make up for it with a very guarded green that incorporates some sort of water on the approach shot, just to give you a little something to think about if you are considering trying to get there in 2. The overall condition of the course is unparalleled in the world of cheap public golf. Fairways are pristine — greens are lush yet firm — rough is thick and evenly trimmed. On the back 9 there are some holes that incorporate a thick heather if you go too far off the fairway, which I found VERY similar to the nasty heather of New Albany Links. For about ¹⁄₃ of the price, I’d much rather hack my way out of the heather of Bent Tree.