Is this the best public golf course in Ohio? Here’s what a new Golfweek ranking shows

Golfweek, one of golf’s leading voices, just released their 2026 list the top 100 public-access golf courses in the U.S. and Ohio earned a spot on the list.

This list is a major national nod for Ohio’s golf scene, with this public course as one of the state’s standout resorts landing inside the top tier.

For the golf-enthusiasts, this list is a map for a road trip to visit the best publicly available course the country has to offer.

(tied for) #73 - Firestone (South)

Firestone South has hosted three PGA Championships, the World Series of Golf/Bridgestone Invitational, and now the Kaulig Companies Championship on the PGA Tour.

• Average rating: 6.72
• 2025 ranking: T67
• Location: Akron, OH
• Architect(s): Bert Way, Robert Trent Jones Sr. (T164 classic)

How the courses are rated

The rankings reflect both hands‑on experience and professional judgment, not just crowd votes or one‑off reviews.

Who contributes:

Golfweek’s rankings are driven by a panel that includes:

• Golfweek editors and staff
• Independent golf experts
• Editorial curation

Contributing factors:

Although Golfweek doesn’t publish a public formula, these elements are weighed together to produce an overall score that feeds into the final ranking.

• Design and architecture
• Playability
• Condition
• Overall experience
• Public access

The list-building process:

It typically works like this:

• Golfweek starts with a long list of public courses across the U.S. that have national or regional recognition.
• Many courses are played and reviewed multiple times, sometimes over several years, so rankings aren’t based on a single visit.
• Experts and editors assign scores or qualitative ratings for the key factors listed above.
• Golfweek’s team compiles those inputs, checks for consistency, and orders the top 100.
• Annual refresh

This course in Ohio being ranked in the top 100 is not just remarkable for the state, it’s a national benchmark built from a multi‑source, multi‑year evaluation process.

Have you ever played at this course? Send me your pics or memories via email at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.