Holey Terror: Hole No. 4 at Virtues Golf Club

Virtues Golf Club • Nashport, OH • thevirtuesgolfclub.com • 740-763-1100

Hole No. 4 • Par 5 • 563 Yards

While some golf courses rely on feints, jabs and rabbit punches, Virtues Golf Club goes straight for the kisser with 18 holes of roundhouses and haymakers. The 7,243-yard parkland-style layout, located 40 miles from downtown Columbus, OH, was designed by Arthur Hills and ranks among the “Top 100 Public Courses in America” by Golf Digest. In fact, the course is considered by many publications to be the state’s No. 1 public venue.

The club has a notable history, opening in 1999 under the name Longaberger (developed by the Longaberger basket company). It immediately gained national attention by hosting a “Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf” match between LPGA stars Dottie Pepper and Karrie Webb. The property was purchased in 2013 and later renamed Virtues.

Virtues blends effortlessly with its pristine surroundings. The routing wanders gracefully from ridge top to valley floor, featuring wide rolling fairways and oversized greens framed by stately stands of hardwoods. With panoramic views around every rugged bend and endless shot variety dictated by the varied terrain, it may well be the best and most exciting non-private club you’ll ever have the pleasure of playing.

The course reveals one memorable hole after another — some that are open and lined with thick fescue grasses, others that rise and fall, and are more reminiscent of mountain golf. And then there are times when you play through meadows and gently rolling countryside sequestered on both sides by tree-covered hills. At all times, however, you experience a refreshing sense of isolation as if the course is yours and yours alone.

The par-5, 563-yard 4th hole, designated as this week’s Holey Terror, stands out as the course’s top handicap hole. It begins from a towering tee box, plunging over 150 feet to a wide landing zone, often resulting in an exceptionally long drive. The challenge culminates at the approach shot, where a pond fronts the right half of the narrow, back-to-right angling green. Two deep bunkers guard the left for golfers bailing out from the water. The green complex, like most at Virtues, is beautifully framed by grassy mounds and collection areas.

You can watch John play all 18 holes at Virtues Golf Club here:

Virtues epitomizes everything golfers love about modern golf course design: stunningly beautiful, challenging but fair, meticulously conditioned, and earmarked with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your cart seats. It really is one hell of a ride.

What is the most challenging hole at your favorite TeeTime Golf Pass participating course? Let us know! We would love to feature it in an upcoming issue of our weekly newsletter. Submit your Holey Terror to [email protected].