Arthur Hills left nothing on the drawing board when he designed The Virtues Golf Club in Newark, Ohio, a mere 40 miles from downtown Columbus. Up until 2016, The Virtues, formerly the Longaberger Golf Club. On your way, you’ll drive by the abandoned basket-shaped office building that was once home to the world-renowned basket company. The Virtues Golf Club is the top-ranked public course in Ohio and #73 in Golf Digest’s 2019-20 list of America’s Greatest Public Courses. In 1999 Virtues hosted Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf featuring Dottie Pepper and Karrie Webb; they also hosted the 2004 PGA Club Professional Championship.
The Virtues Golf Club offers golfers five sets of tees. The back tees play 7,243 yards with a course rating of 75.2 and a slope of 139. The average golfer will have a lot more fun from the White (6,180/70.2/127) or Gold (5,641/67.4/122) Tees. Ladies typically play from the Green Tee (4,985/67.9/115). Don’t bite off more than you can chew yardage wise and you’ll have a great time.
The Course Layout
As you make your way around this magnificent layout, you’ll encounter a variety of holes. Many consider The Virtues a parkland layout, but I think it incorporates several styles. Holes lined with tall, thick fescue grasses are reminiscent of a link-style course, while rising and dropping fairways coupled with blind shots are more like something you’d encounter in the mountains. You’ll play through meadows and rolling countryside, around tree-covered hills. The hitting surfaces are incredible: well-manicured Bentgrass tee boxes give way to Bentgrass fairways, leading to Bentgrass greens.
The Virtues Golf Club is not without its share of hazards – there are over seventy strategically placed bunkers, and water comes into play on eight holes. In addition, there isn’t a lot of level terrain, and because of that and the elevation changes, The Virtues Golf club isn’t the kind of golf course you’ll enjoy walking unless you’re part mountain goat.
Virtues Golf Club is one memorable hole after another. Number 4 is a par-5 that plays 563 yards and is noteworthy not only because of its challenge but also for its views. There’s a significant change in elevation from the tee to the green, and from the elevated tee box, you can see for miles. It also gives long-ball hitters a chance to get home in two. Although the awaiting fairway is generous, finding the green can be an arduous task as it is narrow and angles back and to the right, bringing the water into play that much more. Shot selection on your layup shot is vital as the water can come into play if you hit it too far. Big numbers are easier to make as birdies!
The Best Holes
Number 8, Par-4, 444 yards. There are two ways to play this downhill dogleg left par-4. As you look over your tee shot, you’ll see a large group of trees straight ahead with a fairway on either side. Therein lies your decision: Do you play left or right of the trees? Playing left shortens the hole and if you can carry your tee shot at least 225, by all means, have a go at it; you’ll be left with a short pitch shot into the green. A good drive right will leave a somewhat longer approach shot from a fairway that slopes right to left and can leave some awkward stances. Your approach shot plays downhill into a peninsula green with a large trap behind it. No matter which way you play it, par is a good score here.
Number 16, 527 yards. Yet another risk-reward opportunity at The Virtues Golf Club. The water down the entire right side of this dogleg right hole dares players into biting off as much of the corner as possible. However, a good drive just right of the first set of fairway bunkers on the left, followed by a layup shot over the next fairway trap to the right, will leave a short pitch shot into a large green that slopes down towards the water. As a rule, your approach shot plays half a club longer.
Number 18, 466 yards. If I were naming holes, this would be called “Uphill Journey.” This dogleg left par-4 plays uphill all the way, and finding any of the five fairway bunkers at the corner of the dogleg makes par that much tougher. A draw shot off the tee that finds the short grass over the left side bunkers will leave a mid-iron approach shot uphill into the green. Back-right pin placement can be tricky because of the bunkering around the green. The view of the clubhouse in the background makes for a nice picture.
Practice Makes Perfect
The Virtues also boasts some pretty impressive practice facilities. Before your round, warm up on their full-length driving range, where you can hit every club in the bag. There is also a spacious short game area with a practice bunker and a large putting green nearby.
Off The Course
After your round, be sure to stop by the Overlook restaurant at The Virtues Golf Club. In addition to a wide selection of beers and a full bar, the food is fantastic and well presented. Appetizers include traditional clubhouse favorites such as Mozzarella Sticks, Quesadillas, and Chicken Wings. If salad is more your thing, try the Nut and Berries Salad – tender baby spinach, mixed greens, spiced pecans, chevre cheese, and dried cranberry tossed in a house-made vinaigrette. In addition, they have some unique sandwiches and entrees, such as The BBQ Meatloaf Sandwich, Lemon Broiled Salmon, and a Grilled Ribeye Steak.
Virtues Golf Club offers the best golf membership opportunity in the area, allowing you to play the State’s top-rated public course as often as you like. They offer several different membership plans, including Weekday Golf Memberships, Twilight Golf Memberships, Affiliate, and Junior Golf Memberships. They also have flexible payment plans, with monthly payment options, or you can pay it in one lump sum for an additional discount. Check out the website for more details.
Virtues Golf Club has partnered with several local hotels to create stay and play packages that allow you to play the course a few times rather than just one and done. Or, if you prefer, you can play a different course, Eaglesticks Golf Club in nearby Zanesville. Packages include overnight stays in comfortable guest rooms and access to dining and local attractions. Click on the 9 Stars of Golf icon on their website, fill out the form, and they will get back to you quickly. Playing this course on back-to-back days is a golfer’s dream!
Are you planning a rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, or wedding reception? Virtue’s 60,000 square-foot clubhouse is an excellent location for your next golf outing or special event. In addition to the clubhouse, there are various beautiful outdoor spaces, including a lovely verandah that overlooks the golf course and has provided a picturesque setting for many wedding ceremonies, vow renewals, and alfresco luncheons.
Last Word: To me, this is the most beautiful and challenging Arthur Hills course I have played. The course routing is such that wayward shots are penalized; miss the fairway off the tee, and you’ll find your ball easy enough, but it’s usually going to be in some tall grass or behind a tree. With such forgiving and generous fairways off the tee, the emphasis is on approach shots into the greens. The green complexes are guarded with bunkers that are not too penal but will test your bunker play. Most greens have a lot of undulation and present some challenges, especially if you’re looking to recover from an errant approach. For more information or book your next round, give them a call at (740) 763-1100 or visit them online at www.thevirtuesgolfclub.com.